Supporting Grace Sabbaticals
As we roll out the intentional offering of sabbatical to our pastoral staff, our church family may reasonably have some questions about what a sabbatical is, what is required, and how to best support Pastor Dustin and Ansley, as they seek God’s best during this time. Keep reading for answers to the most frequently asked questions about sabbatical.
What exactly 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.
This sabbatical time is designated for a pastor or minister of the gospel to remove himself or herself from the routines of regular ministry and to experience a change in perspective, to receive spiritual nourishment, and to deepen one’s relationship with God. It is a time to rest and reflect; to be renewed and refilled.
My company doesn't give me sabbatical time — is this normal??
Taking times of sabbatical are normal occurrences in pastoral ministry and in academic institutions. Many churches and ministries have established policies of sabbatical leave, most often granted after every seven years of ministry. Pastor Dustin and several other pastoral and ministry staff have been serving with Grace for over fifteen years now.
Sabbatical leaves are not common outside of ministry or academic institutions. To many people in the business community, this can seem like a strange idea. However, pastors and ministers are not CEOs. Their role is to shepherd and lead God’s people and to do so requires them to seek God’s voice and spend time engaging God in different rhythms.
What will Pastor Dustin be doing on his sabbatical?
Dustin and his family will be doing a number of things related to developing a deeper understanding of God’s voice in their lives including reading, counseling, and extended times of silence, meditation and reflection.
A sabbatical is designed so ministers can receive, rather than give, by providing the time and space necessary for spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational renewal. It provides an intermission within the unending demands of daily ministry life. It is not additional vacation, an academic leave, nor an escape. Dustin will spend his time resting, recharging, and being with his family. During this time, he will be accountable to the elder board and an intentional sabbatical coach.
If you are curious about each phase of sabbatical, download the specifics here!
How can we, as a church, best support Pastor Dustin?
First, recognize that any ministry is not its leader. The ministry of Grace Bible Church does not belong to Dustin. It belongs to Jesus, who “lives and moves and has His being” in and through every believer serving Grace vocationally or volunteering.
Second, lean in, not out. It’s very normal to think this would be a great time for you to take a break from giving or volunteering. Our hope is that this won’t be the case for you. Grace still needs all of its parts doing what they do best.
Finally, pray for the Woods family. Though there are many great things about experiencing a sabbatical, it can also be a struggle. Disconnecting from relationships for a period can be painful and changing the day-to-day rhythms can leave one wondering about their purpose. Pray for Dustin’s journey through sabbatical and for his energy, vision, and endurance for ministry to be renewed.
Who will lead Grace during his absence?
Because this house of God isn’t led by one single person, we have the full team of pastoral and elder leadership who will continue all operations per usual. Our teaching team will share the weekend worship responsibilities and the pastoral staff will handle inquiries, meetings, and other elements of Pastor Dustin’s work as needed. We have a great team of dedicated ministry staff and volunteers that are fully capable of leading during this time.
What if I need Pastor Dustin for something?
Dustin will be unavailable throughout the period of sabbatical and it is requested that you do not try to contact him through email, Facebook, or by phone. If there is a ministry need, you can contact the church office and one of our staff will be perfectly able to help you.
Will Pastor Dustin be returning to Grace after his sabbatical?
We do not presume to speak for God or His leading in the lives of any of our staff. However, the intent of the sabbatical is for Dustin to return to the ministry refreshed and renewed, ready to move forward into the next phase of mission and vision in the life of Grace. While Dustin will not be seeking any other position or speaking at any other ministries throughout this sabbatical, he will prioritize hearing from the Lord and receiving counsel from his advisor and coach during this time.
Okay, this seems sudden, though. Is everything okay? Are there any health problems or leadership issues we need to know about? Was Pastor Dustin forced to do this?
Though you may be just hearing of this now, Dustin and the board of elders have been planning this for nearly a year. There are no negative reasons attached to this sabbatical and Dustin is expected to resume regular ministry and continue to lead alongside the Grace team when he returns.
