NC Conference Sabbatical Policy

This is a good example of how the Conference and the Local Church can work together to provide a sabbatical that is healthy for the pastor and church. It gives clear steps and guidelines.

The Pastor’s Sabbatical and Tax Implications

While churches desire a sabbatical to be both beneficial to the pastors and a blessing, when it comes to taxes, many common practices surrounding sabbaticals create unanticipated adverse consequences for both churches and pastors. Several questions commonly arise from the practice of sabbatical programs offered by churches.

Pastor, Take a Break Before You Quit – Lifeway Research

This article gives insight into the declining mental health of pastors, and what pastors can specifically do to combat this challenge. There are practical steps given in the article to a successful sabbatical, facts on pastoral mental health, and why pastors specifically need sabbaticals.

How Rest & Sabbath Can Strengthen Pastoral Well-Being – Barna Group

This article is not filled with practical steps that a pastor can take, but it does give pastors some great information on why they desperately need to rest. Specifically, there is staggering research on the consequences of ministers that do not rest well and what that does to their own lives.

A Sabbatical Guide For Pastors – Soul Shepherding

This article contains some wonderful research and practical steps that pastors can take on their sabbaticals. On top of that, this article gives insight into precisely why pastors need to take time such as Sabbath days and sabbaticals so that they can care for themselves and return to care for their congregations at an even greater capacity.