Sabbatical Leave

Planning and Conducting Worship

A sabbatical period typically covers at least 13 Sundays. Pastoral charges can choose from several options to cover pastoral care and ministry duties during this time.

Some pastoral charges choose to have a supply minister appointed for the sabbatical period. It is the responsibility of pastoral charge to work with presbytery on this appointment.

Alternatively, pastoral charges may wish to rely on lay worship leaders and weekend or Sunday supply. The sabbatical period is an ideal time to invite guests to share their particular ministry with the pastoral charge.

The Ministry and Personnel Committee and related committees, such as Worship, Christian Education/Development, and Visitation committees, where applicable, are encouraged to use the six-month period from the announcement of the sabbatical to its beginning to make such arrangements as are deemed necessary.

• Read sample planning strategies [RTF: 1 p/16 KB]
• Read a congregation's testimonial on the benefits of sabbatical [PDF: 1 p/16 KB]

Top

Pastoral Care during Sabbatical

The pastoral charge is required to ensure pastoral care continues through the sabbatical period. Congregations are able to manage this in a number of ways. If presbytery-appointed leaders are in place for the sabbatical period, pastoral care may fall in their scope of duties.

Some congregations are able to take this task on through pastoral visitation groups and other volunteer committees.

Congregations and church boards need to be aware that the Ethical Standards and Standards of Practice must be respected by anyone participating in care and services normally provided by ministry personnel recognized by the United Church.

• Comprehensive plan for sabbatical period [PDF: 19 pp./156 KB]

Top

Funding

Pastoral charges will need to plan ahead to be able to ensure that funding is in place to cover the extra expenses implicit in a sabbatical period for ministry personnel. As this is a recognized part of the continuing education component of the pastoral relationship, it is prudent to have a plan in place for raising funds, or to have an ongoing fundraising program to cover a sabbatical period and other continuing education expenses.

Interim Ministry Sabbatical Leave Fund

Interim ministers are rarely in a pastoral relationship long enough to accrue the full 60-month requirement of service preceding a sabbatical leave request. As service can be spread across the denomination, the funding mechanism for sabbatical for interim ministers is shared by all pastoral charges that benefit from interim ministry. Pastoral charges that appoint interim ministers are required to contribute the equivalent of two full weeks of pay, including the employer portion of all benefits, for each year an interim minister serves in that pastoral charge (pro-rated for terms shorter than one year). Contact your Conference personnel minister for more information. The Record of Appointment form (PR 433 AP) has been modified to include this provision at the time of the appointment of an interim minister.

Top

Resources

• Sabbatical Policy [PDF: 4 pp/185 KB]
  This document includes the background of the policy, obligations of ministry personnel and pastoral charges, and additional resources that may be helpful in planning for a sabbatical period.
• Sabbatical Leave: Sunday Supply Grants [PDF: 3 pp/53 KB]
  Grants are available to help offset the cost of Sunday Supply while ministry personnel are on sabbatical. Application deadlines are January 15, April 15, and June 15.