Sabbaticals
last updated on: 10th Feb 2012
Information Concerning Sabbaticals
1. Purpose
The prime purpose of a sabbatical is to step back for a period of three months from the everyday work of ministry and provide space for prayerful reflection, professional development and personal enrichment. As such, renewal, retreat and rest are all important elements to take into consideration when planning a sabbatical. It can be a significant time to reflect on your work, and on the way it is shaping you, to look back and look forward, as well as being an opportunity to give concentrated attention and sustained time to a subject or project which matters to you and your future ministry and which may benefit others in the church.
Because part of the purpose of a sabbatical is to live for a while in a different rhythm, it is recommended that the three months be taken as a block. However there may be good reasons, given the focus of a particular sabbatical, to take the time in shorter installments, but these are exceptional.
Please also remember, you do not have to have to justify your sabbatical with works. At all costs, avoid the temptation to fill up three months with a succession of busy undertakings. Having said this, holiday or annual leave is distinct from the sabbatical and should not be counted as part of the sabbatical time. In general, it is best to plan your holiday at a separate time from the three months given to the sabbatical.
2. Eligibility
Stipendiary clergy who have been ordained at least ten years are eligible. A sabbatical is understood to incorporate a period of extended study related to the ministry of the individual. Sabbaticals will normally be for a period of three months. Prior service in a similar ministry in another diocese or Church will normally be recognised. For those exploring the possibility of a second sabbatical, these are normally granted only after a period of at least seven years has elapsed since the last sabbatical. A sabbatical will not usually be granted during the first two years of a new appointment or within two years of retirement. It may, on occasion, be possible to grant a shorter period of 'study leave' in order to work on a particular project. Such study leave needs to be discussed first with the relevant Archdeacon and is not eligible for a sabbatical grant.
3. Procedure
Due to the growing pressure on sabbatical funding, and the decrease in clergy numbers, there are restrictions on the number of Sabbaticals available in anyone year. (Current status, as of 2011 is that there is some funding for 8 sabbaticals available, per year). Sabbaticals must be applied for in the 9 months preceding the requested sabbatical period. Application forms are available from the School for Ministry, and a preliminary conversation is recommended. Applications will be considered by the Head of School for Ministry and The Director of Mission and Ministry, in consultation with the Archdeacons, in the April and November of each year. Applicants who are unsuccessful in their application may re‐apply.
Please remember when making plans to:
• think them through carefully with family and friends;
• discuss them with ministerial colleagues (e.g. Churchwardens);
• give thought about letting go of responsibilities and how to take them up again when re-entering the regular working context, perhaps finding creative ways to mark the return.
4. Cover
Those taking a sabbatical will also be asked to consult with their Area Dean and/or Mission Partnership Convenor, to ensure that the deanery/mission partnership is aware of the sabbatical. It is the responsibility of the person asking for the sabbatical to ensure that proper cover is in place for pastoral duties and services during the time of sabbatical. It is expected that PCCs will assist in arranging cover and take responsibility for any costs involved. It is good practice to ensure that any other ministry team members are fully aware of plans well ahead of time and that where a first-post curate/reader is involved, that arrangements have been made for ‘supervision’ for the period of the sabbatical.
5. Finance
Licensed, stipendiary clergy will be entitled to a grant of up to £500 (either claimed back piecemeal via expenses or as a one-off grant of £500). In addition clergy may use their annual CME grant towards sabbatical costs. All CME grants are subject to the agreement of the appropriate Head of the School for Ministry and budget availability.
There are additional sources of sabbatical funding, and the following list may be useful:
•The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group: Ministry Bursary Awards Scheme
The EIG Bursary Award Scheme is open to those in full time stipendiary ministry in a Christian church and can provide a grant towards a work-related project, contribute to a study course away from a demanding ministry, or support research in the UK or abroad. EIG write that "Due to the nature of their work and the demands of busy ministries, most members of the clergy rarely manage to make sufficient time to carry out imaginative projects to improve their ministries or to simply take time to refresh themselves through a spiritual journey. The Ministry Bursary Awards are here to help them achieve just that."
Successful applicants have used their awards to help fund projects such as travel, study courses and pilgrimages, as well as periods of reflection and retreat. The closing date for applications for awards for each year is generally the end of September of the previous year. For more detail, see the EIG website, www.ecclesiastical.com and in particular www.ecclesiastical.com/ourproducts/insurance/churchinsurance/mba/index.aspx
• The Alexis Trust: Small grants (c£50) for Christian based activities. Write to Prof D W Vere, 14 Broadfield Way, Buckhurst Hill, Essex, IG9 5AG
• The St. George’s Trust: Grants to people involved in the service of the Church of England and churches in communion with her, including clergy grants towards sabbatical expenses. Write, with details of the project its likely cost and an indication of available funds, as far in advance as possible before March or September each year, with an sae to St. George's Trust, Senior Trustee, Saint Edward;'s House, 22, Great College Street, Westminster, London, SW1P 3QA.
• Women may also make applications to: the Women’s Continuing Ministerial Education Trust - contact the Ministry Division at Church House for details, 0207 898 1000
Please do inform the Director of Mission and Ministry of any other useful sources of funding you come across so that these can be shared more widely via this website.
6. Getting the most from your Sabbatical
As mentioned above, three important dimensions of a sabbatical are renewal, retreat and rest. While the word sabbatical is now used in secular institutions to mean only a time of professional development in the church we should not lose sight of its roots in rest and renewal. Every sabbatical will be unique, but it is good to consider these three elements when preparing the proposal.
6.1 Renewal
This is the element of professional and ministerial development which might well take the greatest part of your three months. It is usually the key element in the sabbatical. It can involve some element of learning probably through study and theological reflection. It should be designed to widen horizons or deepen thinking in a particular area, rather than simply revisiting familiar territory. Most people have some idea of what they want to do with this time, but it is good to ensure that it is something which benefits a variety of needs including your own ministry now and in the future and the wider work of the church.
6.2 Retreat
The sabbatical should include some time which is by nature of retreat. For some people that may mean going on a “Retreat”. But there are other ways of retreating. The principle is that some time of your sabbatical should be set aside for you and your own relationship with God. This means retreating from church, work, family and responsibility to refresh your own personal spiritual life in a way which is best for you. It is wise to discuss this element with your spiritual director or mentor if you have one.
6.3 Rest
A sabbatical is not a holiday. Nonetheless the biblical pattern of Sabbath does include rest as a vital part of its very nature. It is, therefore, appropriate and necessary that the three month includes some time of physical rest and refreshment. And ideally plenty of fun and laughter! It is particularly wise to include a few days at the beginning of your time to adjust to a change of pace and prepare yourself to get the best from your sabbatical.
7. Sabbatical Proposal document
Before final approval is given a Sabbatical Proposal document must be submitted to the Director of Mission and Ministry. This document can be downloaded below.
8. Report
You will be expected to report to the Director of Mission and Ministry or Head of School for Ministry on your sabbatical when it is completed. This report should include some reference to what has been gained through the different elements of the sabbatical and your own theological reflections and personal learning arising from the time. In addition to this brief report, some people will wish to prepare a longer more detailed report of their work for the benefit of others. This is fine. It is good to give some consideration to ways in which what has been learned from your sabbatical may be of use and benefit to the wider church in the Mission Partnership, Deanery or the Diocese. Furthermore there are opportunities through the Diocesan Theological Research group to feed back learning in the form of a paper – please see the Head of School for Ministry if interested.
You will find some examples of notes written up following sabbaticals in 2009 attached at the bottom of this page along with the Sabbatical Proposal document
Sabbatical opportunities through St Philip's Centre
Sabbatical Reflections
James Shakespeare - Into the Desert - Mirfield Notes
Simon Harvey - Sabbatical Notes
Martin Court - Sabbatical Reflection
