Preparing for a sabbatical

18 months ago, the wise and funny spiritual accompanier that I meet with from time to time said that I needed to start organising my sabbatical, due for summer 2025. She shared some very helpful resources from a different denomination to mine that she had drawn on for her own sabbatical. Of course I made a note in my diary to pay attention to drawing up a some ideas. I had grand plans and vast ambition about what would be achieved – exotic international travel, multiple courses and CPD options, house and DIY projects galore!

But life happens, and sadly I’m not a globe trotting megachurch pastor so the bank balance doesn’t quite match some of those ambitions! However what I have ended up with is a beautiful smorgasbord of all of the elements that I was hoping to enjoy: some rest, some travel, some learning and thinking time – more on that to come.

What I have enjoyed more is the process of working with my church community to make sure that all the necessary tasks of day-to-day mission and nurture of the church are looked after. I have enjoyed thinking with the leadership team about who we/ they could ask to invite to contribute in some way – to offer a thought or reflection, to lead prayers or a craft activity or meet up with someone. Paying attention to who is contributing to the life of the church (in various ways, not just in our gatherings) is really important to me. Being a multi-voiced community, where everyone is invited and encouraged to participate is a priority, but even so, there is something about the opportunity of doing things differently when the minister is away. We are a small, active church where people are used to leading in different ways already, so in many ways it is just an extension of that co-creation and collaboration which is already happening.

Some people think that ministers shouldn’t take sabbaticals. They consider it indulgent or selfish, arguing that many people in ministry also have jobs outside of ministry responsibilities that they can’t take time off from. Or that most people can’t take that kind of time off work, so why should ministers? While it is true that it is a real privilege to have this time off, supported by my church and also my paid work outside of my church role, I think that the argument should be made for everyone to be encouraged to take a regular sabbatical, rather than that no-one should. Sabbaticals are important for so many reasons: time to rest, to re-evaluate your life, to be reminded that you are more than what you do or can achieve, and also that the world/ your church/ your ministry networks can still go on and survive without you.

The last time that I took a sabbatical (yes, shockingly, I have been in ministry for that long!) I was in a very different place. While I loved the people that I was serving alongside, I was struggling in various ways and knew that I was not in the right place for my skills, passions and gifts to have expression and develop. I was wondering about my next steps, even wondering whether my time in ministry was coming to an end. I applied and was offered a place on a government fast-track programme to qualify as a social worker. When the opportunity to consider the ministry role in Peckham came up, I said to God that it was the last roll of the dice. I would give this ministry a go but if it didn’t work out, then I was out.

I am approaching this sabbatical after nearly 7 years with this church. The first 3 – 4 were particularly challenging and there was a point that I was really wondering if the church could survive. But we are in a new season and I am feeling excited and energised as I go into my sabbatical. I am also feeling tired and in need of a break to refuel my creative batteries, travel, read, spend time with my family. I can’t wait.