PASTOR CHRISTINA’S SABBATICAL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS A SABBATICAL?
The word sabbatical has its roots in the Biblical concept of Sabbath (“to rest” or “to cease”). Sabbath keeping is setting aside time that God consecrates and makes holy. Sabbath includes elements of rest, disengagement, study, exploration, reflection and prayer. Sabbatical is a time for Pastor Christina to shift gears, to experience a change in perspective, to receive spiritual nourishment, and to deepen her relationship with God, herself, and her family.
Pastors serve a variety of roles in their privileged position at the center of congregational life: preacher, teacher, spiritual guide, pastoral visitor, friend, confidant. The responsibilities are continual, and the pace and demands of parish life can be relentless, often leaving even the most dedicated pastors recognizing the need to replenish their own spiritual reservoirs to regain energy and strength for their ministry.
Life-giving experiences—strengthening relationships, renewing a sense of call, meeting and serving the neighbor in a new way, finding joy and purpose in a simplified life, traveling to new lands and unfamiliar territories, creating opportunities where members of the congregation can exercise their gifts for ministry— are common themes of these renewal times. Profound discoveries that pastors and their congregations describe as “life-changing events” occur as they participate in this program. Ministry is profoundly important, not only to the people directly served, but also to the larger community and society.
ARE SABBATICALS FOR CLERGY COMMON?
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Metropolitan Chicago Synod encourage sabbaticals for rostered leaders every seven years of ministry. ELCA churches are paying more attention to the care and long-term support of their professional leaders; consequently, a growing number of clergy and lay rostered leaders are taking sabbaticals.
HOW LONG IS PASTOR CHRISTINA’S SABBATICAL?
Pastor Christina’s sabbatical is 12 weeks, divided between 2024 and 2025. This year, her sabbatical is from August 3, 2024 through September 17, 2024, and next year, from sabbatical August 5, 2025 through September 15, 2025.
WHO WILL LEAD WORSHIP AND PROVIDE PASTORAL CARE NEEDS FOR THE SIX WEEKS THIS SUMMER?
Vicar Timothy Colon-Geistlinger will lead worship, preach sermons, and provide pastoral care. Those in need of pastoral care visits are encouraged to notify the church office, during regular office hours (M-Th, 9am-4pm). Vicar Tim can provide many pastoral services, such as pastoral care concerns and funerals. Worship and pastoral care will be covered by local ELCA pastors for presiding at the table and when Vicar Tim is away,
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE A PASTORAL EMERGENCY?
The church office will be open during its regular hours (M-Th, 9am-4pm). The office manager Pat Godek, council president Ryan Gray, and Vicar Tim will make arrangements to cover funerals, weddings, baptisms, and so on. There will be pastoral staff on-call at all times during the six weeks. Please call the church office to be connected to the pastor on-call for that week.
WHO WILL ADMINISTER THE CONGREGATION DURING SABBATICAL?
The congregational president, executive committee, congregation council, and staff each have particular roles in administering the congregation during Pastor Christina’s sabbatical.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE PASTOR’S SABBATICAL?
A sabbatical is investing in the future of a pastor and the congregation. There is mutual benefit when pastors are granted a sabbatical. Pastors stay vital and growing, spiritually and professionally. Healthy pastors enhance the life and ministry of the congregations they serve. Most pastors return from sabbaticals with renewed energy and enthusiasm for ministry. They come back relaxed and refreshed, with new ideas, updated skills, and a fresh perspective on the congregation. They also have had opportunity to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, self and family.
Congregations often experience change or refreshment during the pastor’s sabbatical as well. People gain confidence in their leadership abilities. Lay leadership can be expanded in new and creative ways. New people are willing to try new things or experiment with different ways of approaching traditional ministries. The congregation has opportunity to experience new voices and see ministry from different, expansive perspectives.
WHO COVERS THE EXPENSES OF THE SABBATICAL?
Full compensation and benefits, excluding travel reimbursement, for Pastor Christina will continue through the sabbatical. Pastor Christina applied for and received a grant to cover travel and educational expenses for her sabbatical, as well as congregational expenses like pulpit supply and renewal activities.
WILL PASTOR CHRISTINA BE IN CONTACT WITH THE CONGREGATION WHEN SHE'S ON SABBATICAL?
No. Sabbaticals are meant to be a time away from the congregation and the routines of pastoral ministry. The congregational leadership has made arrangements for pastoral needs to be covered in her absence so she will be able to take full advantage of her time away. The congregational president and Vicar Tim will be able to reach Pastor Christina in the unexpected event that this is necessary.
HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SABBATICALS?
Members of the Personnel Committee and the Executive Committee can share more information. Pastor Christina also plans to share her sabbatical reflections with the congregation upon her return in September.
Much of the information on this FAQ sheet was taken from Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning, by A. Richard Bullock and Richard J. Bruesehoff, Alban: 2000.