Jesus said in Mark 2:27-28 “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
The Hebrew word for Sabbath means to “close or rest” and is connected with the last day of Creation when God rested. (Gen. 2:3) God both models and commands Sabbath rest for his people. “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” (Ex. 20:8-11)
A Biblical Perspective can be gained from a study of these and other passages:
Genesis 1 and 2
Psalm 23
Exodus 20: 8-11
Exodus 23: 10-12
Mark 2: 27-28
Leviticus 25: 1-7 (Sabbatical Year)
Leviticus 24: 8-25 (Year of Jubilee)
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
Roy Oswald of the Alban Institute suggests that the rapid change and complexity of congregational life and ministry raises the need for three months of sabbatical rest and renewal every four to seven years. He believes that 20% to 30% of any professional ministry audience he addresses are in a state of severe burnout. Another 20% of the same audience is on the way to severe burnout.
Richard Bullock and Richard Bruesehoff in their Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning "Clergy Renewal" suggest some strong motivations for considering a ministry sabbatical.
• The very nature of being an effective minister involves continual spiritual growth.
• The rapid changes in parish ministry. The danger that without renewal those in ministry face a stronger chance of exhibiting the key characteristics of burnout.
• The lethal effect of burnout that makes ministry and the minister, dull, hollow and uninteresting.
• The pastoral role that involves long, hard hours without weekends off.
• The opportunity for congregations to examine their tendency to become overly dependent on their professional church workers.
“A sabbatical? For me? Parish pastors and rostered lay ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America might well ask these questions, and the answer is “Yes, consider the possibilities!” A sabbatical for a parish pastor or rostered lay person is a time for rekindling the sense of calling, for growing in one’s knowledge, and for deepening one’s spiritual life. It is a time for renewal and refreshment for those who serve others. It is also a time for a congregation to rediscovering its own resources for lay leadership within the congregation and to be itself renewed as a result of the sabbatical.
"Pastors and rostered lay leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are encouraged to discuss a sabbatical with their congregation, to determine the sabbatical policies of their synod, and to explore the possibilities for a “Sabbath” in the midst of their ministries. The ELCA is grateful for the support of Wheat Ridge Ministries for these life-giving and spirit-renewing times of Sabbath."
Pastor A. Craig Settlage
Division for Ministry
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"There are natural rhythms in the order God created that, even in a fallen world, are health-giving and spirit-enhancing. Failure to appreciate and connect to these rhythms propels us toward disease and ill-health. Acknowledging and coming into “sync” with these rhythms strengthens our resilience and creativity.
"There are many such rhythms. One of them is time off and away, of which Sabbath-keeping and sabbatical-taking are two manifestations. It is in the best interest of both parish and church worker to consider both of these. It is in support of the latter, sabbatical-taking, that this portion of Wheat Ridge Ministries’ website is dedicated. The motivation for sabbatical-taking is not exclusively remedial or preventive. It is simply health-giving and spirit-enhancing. It promotes wellness and wholeness. I encourage congregational leaders and workers of the church to begin their conversation about sabbatical-taking now, or to continue the conversation in earnest. Everyone will be enriched."
The Rev. Bruce M. Hartung, Ph.D.
Executive Director of the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Associate Professor of Practical Theology
Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis
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