BRIDGE FELLOWSHIP: AN MARBC MINISTRY
  • About Us
    • Our Executive Director
    • Church Directory
    • Join Us
  • Resources
    • Bridge Fellowship Church News
    • Bridge Fellowship Blog
    • The Messenger
    • Pastoral Resources
    • Protect Young Eyes
    • CPR Ministry
    • For Sale or Giveaway Items
  • Events
    • Regional Associations
    • Annual State Conference
  • Revitalize
  • Plant

 The Messenger Newsletter

Organization News & Updates

Baptist Testimony Volume 51 Number 8 September 2005

9/1/2005

0 Comments

 
From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

A Treatise For Local Churches On Pastoral Sabbaticals
​

I have been contemplating this subject for sometime and decided that I needed to give attention to writing about it. When statisticians tell us that fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches, fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce and seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression, something certainly needs to be addressed. Have you ever considered that your pastor might need a time away from ministry in order to be refreshed and possibly even extend his years of service to the Lord and His people? In my study I am finding that Baptists are far behind some denominations in caring for their pastor’s physical and spiritual welfare, many even having a “sabbatical policy” in their constitutions. There is not space to say all that I have written about this subject but I would be glad to send “A Treatise for Local Churches on Pastoral Sabbaticals” to any church leaders who are interested. Simply drop me a note or an e-mail. Hopefully I can entice you to do so by sharing with you a brief summary.
The term “sabbatical” comes from the Bible word, “Sabbath,” which means “to cease, to rest.” In Genesis 2:2 it states that, “On the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” The Sabbath or sabbatical is referenced in many passages of Scripture: a rest for the land every seven years called the Year of the Release (Leviticus 25:1-5; Deut. 15:9; 31:10); the setting free of Israelitish bondservants (Exodus 21:2; Deut. 15:12); and creditors required to release debtors (Deut. 15:1-6, 12-18) are just a few. It principally means to stop or cease from what you are doing.

Primarily there are two types of sabbatical – one for study and the other for rest and renewal. A sabbatical referenced within the academic world of education often allows for a period of private study with full recompense after seven years of teaching. There are occasions when a church may give a study sabbatical for their pastor to pursue further education. My primary interest is the consideration of the local church in giving a sabbatical to their pastor for the purpose of physical and spiritual rest, renewal, refreshment and re-vigoration. A temporary “stop” or “ceasing” from his present ministry.

Many pastors experience what Elijah experienced after extended service for God. The victories, defeats, blessings and burdens over the years take their toil on body, soul and spirit. Elijah, exhausted both from serving God and running from the conflicts of ministry, found himself under a Juniper tree crying out to God to take His life. That was Elijah’s wish but not God’s will. God’s will was to restore him through rest and nourishment so that he could finish the work that God wanted Him to do. Elijah wanted God to take his life, but God wanted Elijah to go and touch a life. And that he did, when he called out Elisha to follow him and eventually take his place. God wants all of His servants to finish well. In order to do this, periodically, they need times of rest and renewal, just like our Lord did (Matt. 14:23; Mark 1:35), in order to fulfill the tasks of ministry.

Pastoral ministry is a 24/7 commitment to the care and nurturing of a congregation. The demands upon a pastor in today’s world are becoming more and more urgent. In the midst of such demands it is very easy for the Lord’s servant to lose focus, purpose and even a sense of God’s leading in the affairs of the church. Joy can be replaced by despondency and discouragement. Without a period to renew and recharge, a weary pastor may think that a change in ministry might be the answer. This is seldom true, for he will simply carry his “needy” soul to a different location. The pastor is a giver every day and there comes a time when he must receive.

The primary intent of a sabbatical (Sabbath rest) is to abstain completely from everyday work. It is a time to relax mind, body, and soul in order to be renewed, nourished, and free from worry about how things are going and what needs to be done next. It is not a time for running away from the problems and perplexities of life, but an opportunity to receive grace to face them, refresh fellowship with God, review past spiritual commitments, reshape commitments for the future, and restore the joy of salvation and the blessing of service to a holy, loving and righteous God.
​
A large majority of our pastors having served a number of years in ministry have never had the privilege of a “pastoral sabbatical.” Granted, God has blessed them and given them the needed strength and grace but some refreshing times away could have made the journey so much smoother. In case you haven’t noticed before, in all of Paul’s epistles to the local churches He opens by saying, “Grace and peace unto you,” but to Timothy and Titus He says, “Grace, MERCY and peace unto you.” Evidently, just grace and peace will not do for preachers, they also need MERCY! Again, if you are interested, in this treatise I deal with timelines for a sabbatical; some activities the pastor might be involved in during this time; how to handle staffing during the pastor’s absence; options for funding; and a suggested Pastoral Sabbatical Policy, which could be incorporated into the church constitution. I hope to hear from some of you, and so do many of our pastors!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    November 2015
    June 2015
    November 2014
    July 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    November 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    June 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    November 2006
    September 2006
    August 2006
    July 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    February 2005
    January 2005
    December 2004
    November 2004
    October 2004
    September 2004
    August 2004
    July 2004
    August 2003

    Categories

    All
    Annual Conference
    Annual Conference 2012
    Annual Conference 2013
    Annual Conference Audio 2014
    Annual Report
    Articles
    Audio
    Baptist Testimony
    Book Browsing
    Calendar
    Church Ministries Conference
    Church Partnering Relationships
    Church Strengthining Seminar
    Day Of Prayer
    Events
    Feature
    From Where I Stand
    Ken's Road Report
    Links
    MARBC Churches
    MARBC News And Notes
    Men Modeling The Master
    News
    Ordination
    Pastoral Meditation
    Practical Ideas For Growth
    Resources
    Retreats
    Talents For Christ
    The Barnabas File
    The Word Has It
    Video
    Welcome

    Subscribe



    RSS Feed

The Bridge Fellowship is a regional partner with the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches.
5760 Cannonsburg Road NE
Belmont, MI  49306-9089
​(616) 364-5688

Site powered by design.faith
© 2022 The Bridge Fellowship, a ministry of the Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches. ​
  • About Us
    • Our Executive Director
    • Church Directory
    • Join Us
  • Resources
    • Bridge Fellowship Church News
    • Bridge Fellowship Blog
    • The Messenger
    • Pastoral Resources
    • Protect Young Eyes
    • CPR Ministry
    • For Sale or Giveaway Items
  • Events
    • Regional Associations
    • Annual State Conference
  • Revitalize
  • Plant