Ministry Sabbatical Policy Development Guidelines

Issues to be addressed and included in the preparation of a Ministry Sabbatical Policy for your church:

Purpose and Parameters of the Sabbatical
Eligibility
- Does the policy include part-time staff?
- Does the ministry leader need to have served for a certain period at the congregation before the sabbatical?
- Will there be an expectation that the ministry leader remain at the congregation for a period of time after the sabbatical?
Length: Typically, a three month sabbatical every four to seven years is recommended.
Scheduling and Priorities
Accountabilities
Funding Options and Plan
- Congregation may want to set aside funds each year to save for a sabbatical year.
- Congregation may offer to match funds that a ministry leader sets aside for a future sabbatical.
- Congregations have held fundraisers to finance the sabbatical period.
Sabbatical Covenant