Pastoral Sabbatical: Sample Sabattical Policy
SABBATICAL POLICY
Richland Center Church of the Nazarene
Adopted by the Church Board on June 8, 2006
PURPOSE OF SABBATICAL
We, the congregation of Richland Center Church of the Nazarene, wish to provide long-term pastoral staff and their family the opportunity of a sabbatical leave for the purpose of professional development, personal and spiritual renewal, rest, and visioning. By means of a sabbatical leave, the congregation wishes to express gratitude and affirmation to our pastors and their families.
At the same time, it is the intent that the church will be challenged to a special time of renewal as well as an enlarged vision of its ministry.
SABBATICAL TIME FRAME FOR THE SENIOR PASTOR
A sabbatical leave of eight weeks will be provided to the senior pastor after the completion of each eight - ten years of consecutive full time employment with Richland Center Church of the Nazarene.
It is preferred that the eight week sabbatical be taken in consecutive weeks. Any division of the Sabbatical period must be approved by the Church Board.
The scheduling of the sabbatical leave shall take into consideration the needs of the congregation, the scheduling needs from the pastor's proposal, and other pertinent concerns as may be established.
SABBATICAL TIME FRAME FOR ASSOCIATE PASTORS
A sabbatical leave may be provided to full time associate pastors at the discretion of the senior pastor and the Church Board. A sabbatical leave provided for an associate pastor shall follow the same guidelines as for the senior pastor and as set forth in this outline.
SABBATICAL PLANNING
The use of the eight week sabbatical will be primarily planned by the pastor and shall require church board approval. It is recommended and preferred that the sabbatical include activities and events that will carry out the purpose of the sabbatical as stated above.
The church board shall appoint a Sabbatical Committee to receive and review the pastor's proposed plan of sabbatical leave. It shall help establish specific expectations of the sabbatical and present the plan to the church board for review and approval. It shall help develop a plan for implementing the sabbatical leave and carrying on the ministry of the church in the pastor's absence.
These specifics shall be followed:
1. It shall be the responsibility of the board to initiate the planning by setting aside funds on a regularly scheduled basis to finance a sabbatical. A budget line item shall be established to track the accumulation of funds. (Pastor and Sabbatical Committee are encouraged to seek grants and other sources of funding to supplement local church resources.)
2. At the end of the pastor's seventh year of employment, the board shall appoint a committee of a minimum of three individuals from the board and the congregation. The committee will serve from the date of receipt of the pastor's sabbatical plan until the sabbatical evaluation is completed upon the pastor's return.
3. At the end of the pastor's seventh year of employment, the board shall ask the pastor to prepare a sabbatical leave itinerary to be presented to the church board. The pastor's proposed plan shall be received by the Sabbatical Committee six months prior to the planned date of commencement of the sabbatical. The proposed plan should focus on the specific objectives of the leave.
PROCEDURE FOR CONTINUING THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH DURING THE PASTOR'S SABBATICAL LEAVE
The pastor and the Sabbatical team will provide a proposed plan for the continuing ministry of the church during the sabbatical. The pastor and the Sabbatical team will be responsible for appointing persons from the pastoral staff or arranging for interim leadership to carry out the administrative duties, congregational care ministries, and pulpit responsibilities.
It is recommended that only normal activities and regularly scheduled events in the ministry of the church (i.e. Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening services, regularly scheduled board meetings, regularly scheduled meetings) are to be carried out. It is recommended that special events and programs or fellowship gatherings are limited during the sabbatical.
All Sabbatical proposals and ministry plans are subject to the approval of the Church Board.
During the sabbatical, contact with the senior pastor should be limited to the following:
1. Serious illness or death of a member of the congregation;
2. Any event that the Sabbatical Committee and the interim pastor jointly determine to be an emergency situation; and/or
3. A specific prearranged request by the senior pastor.
4. The pastor will not be expected to return for any pastoral duties during the time of the sabbatical leave.
5. Contact with the pastor should be made only by persons designated by the Church Board.
FINANCING OF SABBATICAL LEAVE
The church shall make the following financial commitment during the pastor's sabbatical leave:
1. The pastor's full salary and benefits will continue. There will be no reduction of salary or benefits during the duration of the sabbatical.
2. Seminar or educational expenses incurred by the pre-approved sabbatical plan will be supported by the church according to professional development policies.
3. A sabbatical budget will be established with the amount to be approved by the church board after consideration and approval of the sabbatical plan. The budget may assist with additional expenses (e.g. travel expenses).
4. Spouse and family involvement will be at the discretion of the Church Board.
THE PASTOR'S FAMILY DURING SABBATICAL LEAVE
The pastor and his or her spouse shall determine the role family members will take in the sabbatical leave. That role shall be included in the proposed plan for sabbatical that the pastor submits to the Sabbatical Committee for board approval.
The pastor's immediate family members may, but are not expected to, attend regularly scheduled services and/or activities. The pastor and family members shall be free to communicate with the church community as they desire.
However, to enable the sabbatical to accomplish the intended purpose, it will be requested of the congregation and the board that no direct communication is made with the pastor or the pastor's family members. (If the pastor’s spouse or family is at home while the pastor is away they may be contacted for friendship purposes but no contact should be made concerning any church business.)
RETURN FROM SABBATICAL
Upon return from sabbatical leave, the pastor shall first meet with the Sabbatical Committee and interim pastor before reentering his duties of ministry. A date shall be scheduled for this meeting prior to the commencement of the sabbatical leave. The purpose of the meeting shall be twofold. First, the committee and interim pastor will inform the pastor of all issues that have arisen in his absence, bring him up to date on all activities, and discuss the effect the sabbatical has had on the church. Second, the pastor may in turn give a brief oral report to the Sabbatical Committee on his activities and what he feels transpired with regard to carrying out the goals of the sabbatical.
The pastor and the Sabbatical Committee shall each prepare a written report at approximately one month following the pastor's return.
The first Sunday worship service following the pastor's return should be planned as a celebration of renewal for the pastor and congregation.
STIPULATIONS
1. Sabbatical leave will not negate any of the pastor's earned vacation. Vacation days may be used to extend the length of sabbatical leave only with Church Board approval.
2. Sabbatical leave will be in addition to board approved events or seminars throughout the sabbatical year.
3. No more than one member of the pastoral staff may be on sabbatical leave at any one time.
4. No personnel shall be hired or terminated while the senior pastor is on sabbatical, unless approval is given by the senior pastor.
5. Pastor’s taking sabbatical leave are strongly encouraged to plan on staying in Richland Center Church of the Nazarene as pastor for at least one to two more years after the sabbatical has ended.
6. The pastor should submit a full expense report supported by receipts at the end of the sabbatical leave. Determination of reimbursements will be made from this report.
7. This sabbatical leave policy shall be reviewed periodically.
8. The purpose of this policy is for direction and is not intended to be all conclusive. Proposed changes or additions in the above policy may be submitted to the Sabbatical Committee and presented to the church board for approval.