Sabbaticals Sabbaticals 101 FAQ Process Benefits Sabbatical Planning Guidelines Preparation Rest Re-entry Policies YFC/USA Central Minnesota YFC Appendix Greater Cleveland YFC Resources Retreats and Counseling Centers The following resources will help your chapter develop appropriate Sabbatical Policies and provides resources and tools for you and your staff to utilize in planning for them to meet the intended sabbatical goals. For additional resources or assistance contact leadershipdevelopment@yfc.net . Sabbaticals - FAQs What is a Sabbatical? It is a time to disengage from normal ministry and leadership involvement to allow a time of rest, spiritual renewal, personal growth, serious evaluation of life and ministry, or professional development and/or research. It is not the same as a leave of absence or vacation. How long are Sabbaticals? Depending on the purpose and your length of time in ministry, it can be from 1 to 6 months When should you take a Sabbatical? The NSC suggests their staff take a 2 to 6 month Sabbatical every 7-10 years. Other instances might include a change of ministry location or direction, burnout, family or marital difficulties. What do you do during a Sabbatical? All Sabbaticals should include a time of physical rest, soul care, renewal with family, and reevaluation of current ministry roles. The specific activities of this rest look differently depending on the individual. How do you begin the process? The long answer can be found in the Navigators Sabbatical Guidelines. A summary can be found below under “Sabbatical Process”. Where do you take a Sabbatical? It is beneficial to spend some of the time away from your normal physical location. This could include time at a retreat center, visiting distant friends or family, camping – some place that facilitates filling up your soul. How would my responsibilities be met while I’m gone? It is recommended that planning for a Sabbatical begin 6 months before the projected start date. That allows time to discuss with your supervisor, Board of Directors, or Ministry Director which of your responsibilities will be picked up and by whom. It is also recommended that your Sabbatical be taken during a “slower” time of your ministry calendar. 2 What if my chapter doesn’t currently allow for Sabbaticals? The concept and value of Sabbaticals is now becoming more recognized as essential soul care. Take time to educate your board on the value to staff and the chapter. Examining the resources here and speaking with others about their Sabbatical can help. How can I explore further what a Sabbatical might mean to me? The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan is highly recommended reading. Other books include Leading on Empty by Wayne Cordiero and Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton. This all sounds good to me, but is it really Biblical? While “Sabbatical” is not used in the Scriptures, regular periods of rest from work are part of God’s plan since the beginning of Creation (Genesis 2:1-3). Obviously God didn’t need to rest but was establishing a pattern for all of His creation. He reiterated times of rest in Leviticus. In fact He set up the Sabbath just for us (Mark 2:27) and Jesus called His worn-out disciples to a time of rest with Him (Matthew 11: 28, 29). Isaiah 30:15-17 reminds us, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”, but it was as hard for the Hebrews to accept God’s rest as it is for us, so we will “flee and be pursued” (by our driven-ness and our ‘enemies’), “yet He longs to be gracious to us” (v.18). 3 Sabbatical Process Pre-Sabbatical – In the 6 months prior to Sabbatical Obtain permission for Sabbatical Submit written request if mandatory Determine the purpose of your Sabbatical Line up Advisor/Mentor, Liaison to Supervisor (if necessary), and Sabbatical Support Group Determine how current job responsibilities will be handled while you are away and by whom Write Sabbatical Plan (see SAMPLE RRR Worksheets). Include time for rest, family, spiritual listening. Sabbatical – Journal major lessons learned and insights gained Rest, Renewal, Recovery – “Doing something you want to do” Get away from current location (includes lots of physical and mental rest) May include counseling or spiritual healing if necessary Reflection – “Lord, is there anything You want to say to me?” Include extended time alone (meditation, quiet space to consider what God wants to say about your current job responsibilities) Refocus, Realign – “Lord, am I doing what I should be doing? What changes in life and ministry should I make?” Re-entry – Slowly enter back into work responsibilities. (Depending on length of time gone this might look like part time for the first week or two) Meet with supervisor and key staff to debrief what has happened in you Meet with supervisor and key staff to debrief what has happened at work while you were gone Make changes in personal schedule and work responsibilities to align with insights gained Arrange an accountability partner to make sure alignment is followed 4 Sabbaticals - Benefits YFC Staff Experiences “Very refreshing. Great time to reflect and refocus. Haven't solved all of life but made good decisions and several changes.” “It was such a blessing to have the space to spend extended time each day with Jesus so I could really be filled and challenged. I came into my sabbatical really tired and in need of a break and I came back refreshed and ready for another year of ministry. After the sabbatical I felt more in love with Jesus and knew him in some very new ways.” “The luxury of no schedule is a rare treat that I am still grateful for.” “A new commitment to Sabbath rest every week and Sabbath moments every day; I never understood this before.” “A deeper intimacy with Jesus and a love of silence and solitude.” “I came back to a mess in the office. I don't think I would have made it had I not had a sabbatical prior to this. God knew what I would need even more than I did.” “Perspective. New social media habits. Greater commitment to not overdoing it. And maybe a heightened sensitivity to the signs.” “Rest! Re-ignited passion and confirmed commitment to the mission. Family that gets all of dad and husband for extended time. Home projects done. Memories made. Hopefully insight from the training time.” “Scored huge points with my family. It gave me the energy and renewed purpose to do this another 7 years. It gave me time to think big thoughts and not just go 90 miles per hour.” 5 Sabbatical Overview Excerpted from The Navigator’s Sabbatical Guidelines What is a “sabbatical”? We are not talking about a vacation but rather disengaging from normal ministry and leadership involvement for a period of time to allow for soul rest and serious evaluation of life and ministry. It is a time to make space to hear God. Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message) Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” But what if I don’t feel tired? While physical rest is an important component of a sabbatical, this time is more importantly about slowing down, removing yourself from your normal routines in order to make space to hear God in a new way. It is amazing that when we slow down our adrenaline driven bodies, our souls and physical strength have a chance to catch up – and we might realize how tired we are from the duties of ministry. CAUTION: IT IS BETTER NOT TO TAKE A SABBATICAL THAN TO DO IT INCORRECTLY! Without a proper understanding of sabbatical and preparation and helpful oversight, the experience can result in potential lost, expectations dashed, and opportunities missed. Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). Especially if it is not your habit to take a weekly Sabbath, expect to feel stressed as you transition into the rest phase. Change is always stressful. To prepare, read the rest of this article and as desired, the other articles found at www.training.yfc.net/sabbaticals. Contact the YFC Sabbatical Director and choose a Sabbatical Advisor. Five Sabbatical Phases Sabbatical Phase I – Release and Relinquish: Exiting from leadership roles and ministry responsibilities During this first phase, you disengage from ministry and leadership responsibilities, if necessary get needed funding, and draw up a plan for your sabbatical. Choose a Sabbatical Advisor (prerequisite - they have taken a sabbatical). Typically, this phase starts 3-6 months before the sabbatical begins. At the beginning of Phase I, your Sabbatical Advisor helps you and your spouse develop a sabbatical plan. Begin by meeting with your supervisor to get his/her input. Your plan revolves around your identified priority needs and the following inventories found on page 46 and following of The Navigators Sabbatical Guidelines: A Season of Renewal: 6 http://www.navigators.org/www_navigators_org/media/navigators/events/SabbaticalGuidelines-PRT.pdf Role Fit Inventory Burnout Inventory (as needed) Personal and Marital Survey Once you (and your spouse) identify your priority needs, your Sabbatical Advisor works with you to come up with possible resources and action steps. You then create a sabbatical plan draft that includes your funding plan, priority needs, action steps, and other resources. Your Sabbatical Advisor and supervisor read the draft and give you input and suggestions. The sabbatical plan is an initial framework for direction, based on your priority needs. It’s a dynamic tool that can be tweaked throughout the sabbatical process. Early phases often have more detail than later phases. A copy of the finalized sabbatical plan should be sent to your Sabbatical Advisor Questions your Sabbatical Advisor will ask you: 1. How are you feeling about disengaging from the ministry? 2. Are you worried about losing financial support while on sabbatical? How’s your funding? 3. How have other staff and friends reacted when they learned about your sabbatical? 4. How does your spouse feel about your sabbatical? 5. Since drawing up your sabbatical plan a couple of weeks ago, have you had any further thoughts? Do you still believe it reflects your priority needs and desires? 6. Does the starting date for Phase II: Rest and Recovery still seem realistic to you? 7. What excites you most about your sabbatical? 8. What are your priorities for the next couple of weeks? 9. What can I do to help you? 10. How can I be praying for you? Sabbatical Phase 2 – Rest and Recovery: Establishing Margin and Managing Pace of Life It isn’t unusual for staff on sabbatical to have trouble letting go of the ministry. Some don’t quite believe it’s really okay to step out. It’s important that you and your Sabbatical Advisor make sure ministry commitments have been handed off or finished. During this phase, be sensitive to feelings of isolation or lack of significance. Often, staff who are no longer “doing ministry” struggle with their identity. You should be out of regularly scheduled YFC ministry but not out of fellowship. It’s also common for staff to treat their sabbatical as another Type-A frenzied activity. As you consider your sabbatical inevitably extra ministry opportunities will pop up. The guiding principle is, “Keep the sabbatical the focus.” Extra opportunities should be examined individually and cautiously. Generally we suggest you make a full break from ministry activities. “Rest” in this phase doesn’t mean ceasing from all activity. Rather, you pull back from ministry 7 activities and (where possible) other areas of stress. This gives you room to explore and discover what God wants to say to you, what relaxes you and what restores you emotionally. What Others Have Done During This Phase To Rest Duck hunting Reading novels Started fly-fishing Sleeping more Playing softball Gardening Home projects (enjoyed seeing tangible results and working with their hands) Travelling Questions your Sabbatical Advisor will ask you: 1. How would you define or explain rest? 2. Do you feel that you’re resting? What rests you? 3. Are you experiencing any obstacles to rest? 4. Have you noticed significant changes in your eating or sleeping habits? 5. What things are stressful for you right now? Can anything be done to remove or reduce them? 6. How’s your relationship with your spouse? With your children? 7. What are your thoughts since our last meeting? What kinds of feedback are you getting from others? Do you think they understand you? 8. Is your sabbatical going the way you expected? How so? 9. What are your priorities for the next two weeks? 10. Is there something I can do to help you? Phase III – Reflect and Refocus: Experiencing God and Self in New or Deeper Ways This is the work phase of the sabbatical. During this phase, you should be asking the question, Lord, is there anything You want to say to me? God speaks to us in a variety of ways. You should consider how God has spoken to you in the past and position yourself to hear His voice. Extended time alone with God for reflection is the focus of this phase. This is the time to go after whatever it is you want to pursue. What Other Staff Have Done During This Phase Extended times alone with God Getaway to a retreat center Written a personal development plan Developed a “Marriage Partnering Plan” Focused on Emotional Healing Journaled what God is teaching Read books of interest Crystallized personal passions 8 Received counseling Met with a Life Planner Questions your Sabbatical Advisor will ask you: 1. Are you aware of anything that would hinder God from speaking to you during this phase? (Busyness, unforgiving spirit, conflict, unhealthy habits, unconfessed sin, etc.) 2. Is there anything that would be helpful to discuss? 3. What things are currently stressful for you? Can anything be done to remove or reduce them? 4. How’s your relationship with your spouse/children? 5. Is there anyone particular who is speaking into your life? 6. Is your sabbatical going the way you expected? How so? 7. What are your priorities for the next two weeks? 8. Is there something I can do to help you? Phase IV – Realignment: Empowering for Maximum Contribution This is the application phase of the sabbatical. During this phase you want to answer the question, “What changes in life and ministry should I make as a result of hearing from God in the Reflection Phase?” This might involve changing your ministry role or you may want to change how you’ve been handling your current ministry role – what realignments do you need to consider? What Other Staff Have Done During This Phase Reviewed and reaffirmed their calling Updated their resume Received input from sabbatical advisor Received counsel from friends and staff Visited possible ministry locations Entertained options with various entities Completed Debriefing Questions Developed a plan for what to do differently in their role Questions your Sabbatical Advisor will ask you: 1. With what you’ve learned in the last phases, do you see any adjustments you need to make in your life or ministry to more accurately reflect your design and desires? 2. What do you sense God has for your future? 3. If you lack clarity about the future, what specific steps might you take to see more clearly? 4. Can you describe your perfect job? Be sure to include elements or functions you consider essential. Also pinpoint those that should NOT be your primary responsibility. Phase V – Re-Entry and Re-Engagement: Re-Engaging at the right pace 9 At the beginning of this phase, be aware that your pace of life will increase and that transition is stressful. Expect emotional disorientation and spiritual warfare as you re-engage. What Other Staff Have Done During This Phase Formally end sabbatical with a celebration event sharing what they’ve learned and a time of “dedication prayer” with those on their support team, Sabbatical Advisor with a (preferred) in-person gathering, or Skype call, Conference call, mass letter or email. Resumed ministry responsibilities half time for the first month. Set up accountability relationships to help with changes they want to make in life and ministry. Coached ministry and teammates on their desired changes. Scheduled no major responsibilities for at least the first 4 months. Questions your Sabbatical Advisor will ask you: 1. What changes have you experienced as you’ve re-engaged? 2. What help do you need as you re-enter ministry? Helpful Tips and Lessons Learned 1. If you have school-aged children, consider taking a sabbatical during the school year rather than summer. 2. It’s okay to sleep more. 3. This is not a sabbatical from life. Expect to spend time on family responsibilities and daily living tasks. 5. Plan for your spouse to have sabbatical time as well. 10 Sabbaticals – Sample Prep Rest Renewal Re-entry Sheet Paul Nurmi Sabbatical Jan 7 to July 8, 2013 Rest Renewal Re-entry July 8 to 21 Return Dec 2012 Prep Read Navigator Sabbatical Guide. Use guide during Sabbatical Royal cover World Link; Virginia cover Missionary Care emails Planning Days meetings Devotional Sharing (1-5-13) Letter to donors and Missionary Care people Set up people to write donor letters during leave Invite sabbatical advisors: Jerry Wheeler & One other Establish a support group: Meet monthly over coffee. Get-a-way trip with Virginia Projects around the house & with family. Play with new hobbies... Harmonica/Photography Focus on the Lord Journaling Scripture reading Unplug: Watching News, Emails, YFC Contact. Reading plan Listen to DVD Plan Self evaluation Sessions with counselor Possible couples retreat w/counselor. Monthly contact advisors Monthly smeetwith support team. Check in with YFC Establish Job Description Plan out the following ministry year. 11 Sabbaticals – Blank Prep Rest Renewal Re-entry Sheet (Name) Sabbatical (Dates) Rest Renewal Re-entry (Dates) Return 12 Sabbatical Leave Policy Version #: 1.0 Last Revision Date: 10.12.2011 Last Author: L.Downey Effective Date: 6.1.2003 Classification: Personnel Sabbatical Leave Sabbatical leave is defined as leave for the purpose of rest, spiritual renewal, personal growth, professional development and/or research on a subject benefiting both the individual and YFC. It is not the same as a leave of absence and may not be in correlation with any other leave of absence. Eligibility Sabbatical leave is only considered for Missionaries, Professional II and III, Managers, Directors and Executive employees who have worked full-time at YFC for at least 7 years, including work at the National Service Center for at least the last three years. Employees must also have been performing at an acceptable performance standard. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval. Procedure 1. Application for a sabbatical should be made in writing at least six months before the planned time. The supervisor will submit the application with his/her recommendations to their department head, who will present it to the Executive Cabinet for approval. A sabbatical “plan” must be submitted, detailing what the employee intends to do while on the sabbatical. Sabbatical types include study, projects or possible YFC overseas or other assignments, but cannot be used for outside employment or extended vacations. 2. Sabbaticals are typically scheduled after the first 7 years of YFC employment, and then every 7 years subsequently, based on eligibility criteria above. Time allowed is as follows: Vice Presidents and Above Up to 2 months Directors, Managers and Professional II Up to 6 weeks 13 3. Staff members who are granted a sabbatical leave must agree to return to YFC/USA for a minimum of one year after the end of the sabbatical period. 4. The employee will be paid at his/her regular full time salary with benefits during the defined sabbatical time period. 5. The employee must work out with the supervisor how his/her workload will be covered while away. If undue hardship would occur for YFC due to the request for sabbatical, an employee may not be given approval until such concerns are addressed and resolved to the employer’s satisfaction. 6. Progress will be monitored and at the conclusion of the sabbatical the employee will submit a final report to their supervisor summarizing the accomplishments of their sabbatical plan. Attachments # Change History Date Attachment Name # of Pages The following table tracks the changes that have been made to this document: Version # 1.0 1.5 Change Date 6/1/2003 10/12/11 Change Description Original Minor Edits to Job Grades & Approval Process Changed by Laura Downey Approval Date 10/13/11 10/13/11 10/13/11 Person Department Point Person Board Member (Cabinet) Human Resources Gatekeeper Name Laura Downey Debi McCusker Laura Downey Initial LD DMC LD 14 Central Minnesota Youth For Christ Sabbatical Policy Purpose: Biblically, taking a sabbatical is an application of the scriptural principle of rest. It is a time to deliberately trust God with the unfinished. As an act of faith, there is disengagement from regular work for the purpose of worship, rest, renewal and repair. Who: Sabbaticals will be considered for full-time ministry staff members at Central Minnesota Youth for Christ (CMYFC). Timing and Length: The timing of a staff sabbatical will take the following information into consideration. 1. Seven to ten years of full-time ministry staff commitment to CMYFC. 2. The ministry staff member and the CMYFC Executive Director will determine the timing of the sabbatical by taking the following into consideration (this is not an all inclusive list): a. Needs of the individual b. Needs of YFC c. Current staff duties/commitments d. Other pending staff sabbaticals 3. The timing of the sabbatical will require Board approval. 4. The length of the sabbatical will be between two and three months 5. A sabbatical should not be taken by a staff member who is already planning a transition out of CMYFC. The purpose of a paid sabbatical would not be to plan that transition. 6. Upon completion of the sabbatical it is expected that the staff member will continue employment at CMYFC for two years, barring any extenuating circumstances. Funding: A sabbatical will be a paid leave of absence. Other funding for workshops, etc. during the sabbatical need prior planning and approval (see 3.m. and 8.a-d. under “Process”) Process: 1. The staff member will meet with the CMYFC Executive Director (the CMYFC Board chair will serve in this role when the CMYFC Executive Director is scheduling a sabbatical) and the SEED representative to discuss the timing of the sabbatical. 2. This group will also work with the staff member to identify a sabbatical advisor. The following should be considered when selecting a sabbatical advisor: a. Someone that has successfully completed a sabbatical b. Lives in the same geographic location c. Understands the critical role of a sabbatical advisor d. Is willing to take the initiative and commit the time necessary to serve in the role 15 3. The staff member should work with the CMYFC Executive Director (the CMYFC Board chair will serve in this role when the CMYFC Executive Director is scheduling a sabbatical), the SEED representative and the sabbatical advisor to develop a written plan for the sabbatical. It should take into consideration the following important components (not all are required but they should be consideredrequired components are marked with an *). Appendix A to this policy provides some excellent guidance and direction for planning a sabbatical. a. Sabbatical timing* b. Choice of sabbatical advisor* c. Monthly meetings with the sabbatical advisor* d. Mid-sabbatical report* e. End of sabbatical report* f. Goals for the sabbatical* g. Sabbatical care interview/inventory h. Sabbatical support group i. Marriage retreat (if married) j. Consider how to include your spouse/family in the sabbatical k. Spiritual transformation l. Personal contribution assessment m. Budget (details should be shared with the CMYFC Executive Director or the sabbatical advisor but need not be shared with others)—any anticipated reimbursable expenses during the sabbatical need to be reviewed and approved by the CMYFC Executive Director and the Board.* n. Consider the different sabbatical phases o. Sabbatical debriefing questions (this could be used as your end of sabbatical report to the Board) 4. The written sabbatical plan will need Board review and approval. It should be presented by the staff member with support from the CMYFC Executive Director and the SEED representative. The purpose for Board review and approval is to assure that sabbatical preparation has been well planned and according to guidelines. The specific sabbatical plan will be different for each staff member. While the Board will provide oversight it will be careful to allow the staff member, CMYFC Executive Director, SEED representative and the sabbatical advisor to prayerfully develop an appropriate sabbatical plan without undue interference. 5. Once approved, the sabbatical may be scheduled. 6. Monthly meetings must occur with your sabbatical advisor. 7. A mid-sabbatical and end of sabbatical report needs to be provided to the CMYFC Executive Director and the SEED representative. The report will be shared with the Board. The mid-sabbatical report can be verbal. The end of sabbatical report should be written and should be presented to Board by the staff member within two months of return from the sabbatical. The contents of the report are left up to the individual staff member but should include a summary of how your goals for the sabbatical were met. 16 8. Sabbatical Expense Guidelines- need prior discussion and approval by CMYFC Executive Director/Board: a. You may raise extra ministry funds to meet additional ministry expenses expected during sabbatical. b. Expenses for rest, relaxation and recreation are considered personal and not ministry related. c. Expenses for retreats, workshops, etc. may be ministry related expenses. This may also include meals and travel expenses for you and your spouse. d. When reporting sabbatical ministry expenses, fill in the ministry purpose with the “why” of the expense (spiritual/prayer retreat, met with sabbatical support group, professional development, etc.). Include comments on how this relates to your sabbatical. 17 Central Minnesota YFC Sabbatical Policy Appendix A Why take a Sabbatical? – Biblically, taking a Sabbatical is an application of the scriptural principle of rest – times we deliberately trust God with the unfinished. As an act of faith we disengage from our regular work for the purpose of worship, rest, renewal, and repair. Definition of Sabbatical: When using the word “sabbatical”, we’re not talking about a vacation but a guided process where we deliberately trust God for the unfinished as we disengage from our normal ministry and leadership involvement to allow for serious evaluation of life and ministry, Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase on Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message captures this thought: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or illfitting on you. Keep company with me and learn to live freely and lightly. This is a time to quiet the noise of life and hear the voice of Jesus. What should be done during a sabbatical? 1. Release & Relinquish - Disengage & establish a plan for the sabbatical – initial framework for direction reflecting priority needs. 2. Rest & Recovery – not the ceasing of activity but stopping ministry activities and, where possible, other areas of stress. You consider what restores you emotionally and feeds you spiritually. This phase requires sensitivity to feelings of isolation or lack of significance. One should be out of regularly scheduled ministry activity but not out of fellowship. 3. Reflect & Refocus – In this phase you are asking, “Lord, is there anything you want to say to me?” Consider how God has spoken to you in the past and posture oneself to hear His voice. Scheduling extended time alone with God is a priority. 4. Realignment and/or Reassignment – This doesn’t necessarily imply a change of roles. During this phase it is important to review and reaffirm calling. The goal is to experience maximum contribution in this next season of life. 5. Re-Entry/Re-Engagement – In this phase you transition back into ministry. Expect emotional stresses, pace issues, spiritual warfare, and struggles in working out desired changes in life and ministry. Also expect the joy of being refreshed physically, reaffirming His vision for you, and gaining renewed perspective! 18 Sabbatical Guidelines Established Establish Primary Players 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. SEED Team Sabbatical Director Supervisor Sabbatical Advisor Sabbatical Support Team You SUPERVISO R INITIAL DISCUS SION SEED SABBATICA L DIRECTOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT YOU SABBATICAL ADVISOR SABBA TICAL JOURN EY SABBATICA L SUPPORT TEAM Initial Discussion – Discussion with staff person, supervisor and the SEED Sabbatical Director to determine the timing of the Sabbatical. This is also where the discussion begins and plan is developed to secure the Sabbatical Advisor. Plan Development – Supervisor and Sabbatical Advisor help to identify the direction and focus of the sabbatical. Sabbatical Journey – the staff person and Sabbatical Advisor interact with the Support Team for feedback and community during the journey. Selection of Sabbatical Advisor This is a collaborative effort between the supervisor, staff person and SEED Committee Sabbatical Director. Where possible, a sabbatical advisor is selected from someone who: Has completed a sabbatical Lives in the same geographic region Understands the critical role of a sabbatical advisor. Is willing to take the initiative and commit the time necessary to serve. The role of the sabbatical advisor is to shepherd the staff through the sabbatical process. 19 Sabbatical Care Interview When the sabbatical is confirmed, the Sabbatical Care Interview should be set up with a pastoral care specialist. Just as one takes an annual physical to check the body, the beginning of sabbatical is a great time for a spiritual and emotional checkup. The pastoral care specialist meets with the staff person and, where applicable, with the spouse. The interview takes 2-4 hours per person. Before the sabbatical care interview, the staff (and spouse) complete and turn in inventories as follows: Role fit inventory Burnout Inventory Personal & Marital Survey All inventories and surveys are kept confidential, and seen only by the pastoral care specialist. The interview will result in suggested “priority needs” (typically 2-4) and a list of possible resources to help meet the needs. The staff person is presented with a copy of these suggestions.. The staff person and sabbatical advisor then take the suggestions and create action steps that are incorporated into the sabbatical plan. Sabbatical Support Group Anyone taking a sabbatical is in danger of experiencing lack of community, loss of perspective, and a sense of isolation. While we all need times alone, we live and minister in community. To meet this need for community, everyone on sabbatical is encouraged to establish a sabbatical support group. Ideally, this group consists of 3-5 couples for married staff or 3-5 people for singles (both YFC and non-YFC where possible) who have a good relationship with the staff person. This group meets with you (and your spouse) each month to help process your journey in a safe environment. The staff person facilitates the meetings, sharing first their current progress and then asking for input. (When possible, the sabbatical advisor will participate in the group.) Ideally, people in the sabbatical support group should meet the following criteria: Have the staff person’s best interest at heart Willing to speak the truth People who the staff person is willing to be transparent and vulnerable. (Transparent = open and honest about yourself. Vulnerable = invite others to speak into your life.) Willing to meet monthly for the duration of the sabbatical. Marriage Intimacy Retreat People in ministry often become so involved in giving to others that their personal lives are neglected. They focus on the biblical principle found in Matthew 10:8, Freely you have received, freely give, but may not experience another principle from Galatians 6:6 – Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with him who teaches. An intimacy retreat is designed to help couples better understand and meet each other’s emotional intimacy needs, is a time of personal renewal and encouragement exclusively for 20 ministry couples. It’s a time to freely receive and to be reminded that the Great Commandment to love others begins at home. (YFC pays for the cost of the retreat; transportation is the staff person’s responsibility.) - Ideas for Intimacy Retreat options include: Example of Sabbatical Orientation Workshop To help staff make the most of their sabbatical a 3 & 1/2 day workshop is conducted for those starting a sabbatical. The workshop might include: Listening Prayer – the simple but profound process of hearing from God Healing Prayer – allowing God to heal our wounds and speak truth into lies we’ve learned to believe about life. Establishing a Sabbatical Support Group: how to benefit from this lifeline of friends who will help keep you on track. Developing a Sabbatical Plan: those who report a positive sabbatical also report having begun with an accurate assessment of priority needs and a realistic sabbatical plan. Learning God’s Lessons from Life’s Experiences: through instruction, group dynamics, time alone, and sharing with a group facilitator, you crystalize life experiences into life lessons that will instruct and motivate you in life and ministry. (More time is devoted to this in Phase 3 of the sabbatical.) Personal Contribution Assessment Process: discovering the importance of understanding, developing and employing your God-given design and desires. Soul Care: practical suggestions for nurturing your soul. A Word to Spouses “When do I get my sabbatical?” is a sentiment often expressed by spouses of staff on sabbatical. This is especially true for a wife whose main ministry is mothering and maintaining a household. Her work continues and may even increase when her husband is at home. Her opportunity to rest, reflect & refocus is often limited. When putting together the sabbatical plan, a sabbatical advisor should acknowledge the spouse’s workload, encourage the husband and wife to examine parental and household responsibilities, and consider how the load can be lifted or shared during this sabbatical so both can participate as much as possible. 21 Spiritual Transformation Spiritual transformation is a major focus during the sabbatical. Experiencing inner freedom and more Christ-like character occurs as we allow the Holy Spirit, the Word, and others to speak to our inner person. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost parts. (Ps 51:6) The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. (Proverbs 18:15) Spiritual growth does not occur by changing our behavior, but by changing what we believe. Dallas Willard As we come to understand what we believe about God, the world, ourselves, and others, and as we allow Jesus to touch those beliefs, we become more transformed into the image of God and experience more of the freedom of the Gospel. The Reflection Phase is a good time to look at issues like lack of brokenness, false identity, unresolved sin and woundedness, addictions, hiddenness, shame fear, guilt, pride, anger, etc. Dealing with these below-the-line issues in our lives helps us move from living from the heart of flesh to living from the heart Jesus gave us. Personal Contribution Assessment Make careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your life. Galatians 6:4-5 (The Message) Assessment Part 1 – Discovering Your Design o Question – How has God designed me? o Topics What are my preferences? What are my personal values? What are my spiritual gifts? What are my primary roles? o Desired Results = A Personal Design Profile Assessment Part 2 – Defining Your Contribution o Question – How has God directed me? o Topics What are my circles of concern? Ministry Focus Assessment Life Lessons Personal Mission Statement o Desired Results = Personal Contribution Summary 22 Assessment Part 3 – Developing Your Capacity: o Interpersonal Relationships o Vocational Fit o Team Building o Personal Growth o Avoiding Common Pitfalls Sabbatical Expense Guidelines General Principle: Only ministry-related expenses will be allowed during a sabbatical. Some sabbatical expenses (meals, recreation, etc.) are personal expenses. For tax purposes, a sabbatical is a leave of absence with pay and is a self-defined benefit in and of itself. General Guidelines 1. You may raise extra ministry funds to meet additional ministry expenses expected during your sabbatical. 2. Expenses for rest, relaxation, and recreation are considered personal and not ministry. 3. Going someplace local alone is a personal expense ( a movie, local coffee shop for prayer/reading/reflection). 4. Expenses when you or your spouse travel overnight for a prayer/reflection retreat are ministry expenses. 5. Expenses for meals alone are allowed only when you are away from home overnight on ministry business. (Meal-Travel). 6. When reporting sabbatical ministry expenses, fill in the Ministry Purpose with the “why” of the expense (spiritual/prayer retreat, met with sabbatical support group, professional development, etc.). Include comments on how this relates to your sabbatical (part of approved sabbatical plan, approved by ______, went by myself, also spent 2 nights doing ____, etc.) Examples of Reimbursable Sabbatical Ministry Expenses 1. Counseling for ministry-related issues 2. Overnight prayer retreats 3. Professional development books/seminars/courses 4. Sabbatical support group meetings 5. Sabbatical Orientation Workshop 6. Marriage Retreat 7. Meeting with Sabbatical Advisor 23 Helpful Tips and Lessons Learned 1. If you have school-aged children, consider taking a sabbatical during the school year rather than summer 2. It’s okay to sleep more 3. This is not a sabbatical from life. Expect to spend time on family responsibilities, expense reports, updating your supervisor, etc. 4. Expect to feel stress as you transition into the rest phase – change is stressful. Sabbatical Phases (Explained on page 1) Release & Relinquish Rest & Recovery Reflect & Refocus Realignment and/or Reassignment Re-entry & Re-engagement Sabbatical Debriefing Questions Personal Questions o How are you feeling about your ministry assignment? o What major lessons did you learn and how do you anticipate these lessons making a difference in your future? o How would you rate your sabbatical from 1-10? (1 is low, 10 is high) o How has God spoken to you during your sabbatical? o Do you have any emotional healing or relational healing issues you want to work on? What’s your next step? Process Questions o What activities were most helpful during each phase of your sabbatical? o What activities were least helpful during each phase? o What would you do differently? o Would you consider being a sabbatical advisor to another staff? o Do you have ideas, suggestions, or comments to help us improve the sabbatical process? Benefits to YFC and Staff 1. Healthy Staff 2. Empowering emerging YFC leaders to “fill the gap” raising their level of leadership while others rest, recover, and regain a new vision for mission. 3. Promotes longevity in professional ministry versus a “sprint, crisis, recover” culture. 4. Avoids burning out 5. Spiritual Growth: passion, wisdom, humility, and understanding. 6. Vocational gifts developed and enhanced. 7. Family’s health and commitment to mission enhanced or restored. 8. Witness to the community of the love and trust YFC has for its leadership. 24 SABBATICAL POLICY GREATER CLEVELAND YOUTH FOR CHRIST After 7 years as a full-time ministry staff member with Cleveland Youth for Christ, the Board of Directors authorizes a two month leave, with pay. The purpose of this leave is to: Recognize and acknowledge a major contribution to the Cleveland YFC ministry Provide an incentive to keep up the demanding pace of this job Provide the staff person with an opportunity to totally get away from the burden and responsibility of ministry Provide a time for staff to hear from the Lord in a special way concerning ministry and direction The following conditions apply: The staff must take all leave in the year offered; it cannot be banked into the next year without Board approval. The staff member must be raising 100% of his personal support to take advantage of this opportunity. No ministry responsibilities will be expected of the staff member during sabbatical, with the exception of personalizing his/her donor receipts. The staff member is required to receive some type of formal spiritual input, of their own choosing during the sabbatical period. The Board will make it their responsibility to try to raise the cost of any such training or education. The staff member is encouraged to have an outside mentor during sabbatical time. Last approved by GCYFC Board, 10/15/2012 25 Sabbaticals – Resources Creative Disruption NONPROFIT SABBATICALS IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY Sabbaticals for nonprofit leaders can be a relatively inexpensive but highly productive capacity-building tool that yields measurable results. Creative Disruption: Sabbaticals for Capacity Building and Leadership Development in the Nonprofit Sector provides emerging evidence of the benefits to nonprofit organizations, leaders, funders, and the sector. Read more… slow down, you move too fast stewarding rest and margin Steve Brown and Dave Legg, People Resources Team Imagine you wake up one morning and feel so weighed down that the thought of preparing a Bible study is just too much. Or perhaps you are beginning to resent your calling. What happened to that energy you used to experience? The answer may lie in how you are stewarding rest and margin in your life. the principle of rest It is interesting to note that the third thing God blessed in creation was rest (Genesis 2:2,3) and the third thing God cursed after the Fall was the work of man’s hands. (Genesis 3:17–19). In our fallenness we often get the ways of God backward. Today we curse rest and exalt work. the precedent of the Sabbath (read more…) Navigator’s Sabbatical Guidelines You’re holding in your hands a copy of The Navigators’ Sabbatical Process, which over the last ten years has been shaped by hundreds of Nav staff who experienced life-changing sabbaticals. We’re aware that if you think it might be time for a sabbatical, you’re probably already tired. Instead of saying joyfully, “Oh, how nice of these people to send me all this information!” you’re likely leaning more toward, “Do I have to read the whole thing?” We created these suggestions to give you both the big picture and some details as you consider a sabbatical. (Click to download) 26 Sabbaticals – Retreats and Counseling Centers Retreats & Counseling Centers Sonscape - Counseling intensives in group setting for pastors and ministry personnel in Colorado, Tennessee, and Georgia - Contact Shepherd’s Heart - One on one counseling intensives for full-time Christian workers in Colorado and Michigan - Contact Potter’s Inn - Counseling intensives and week-long retreats in Colorado - Contact Alongside Ministries - 2-3 week intensive counseling sessions - Contact Caring for the Heart – Marriage counseling sessions - Contact Hilltop Renewal Center – Private retreats, spiritual guidance available - Contact A'nesis Christian Retreats & Counseling Sabbaticals – Exclusively for women in Colorado and Tennessee - Contact Locations for Personal Retreats Marytown Retreat House – Private Retreats in Illinois - Contact St. Meinrad’s Archabby – Private Retreats in Indiana - Contact Abby of Gethsemani – Private Retreats in Kentucky - Contact Quiet Waters – Private Retreat in Central Illinois – Contact Paul Nurmi: (217) 377-9444 Marble Retreat – 8 day counseling intensives in group setting for pastors and ministry personnel in Colorado. As an interdenominational Christian counseling center, Marble retreat provides a doorway to healing for those who are tired and hurting. Contact Independent Christian Counselors Dr. Michael Cuzak – Private practice counseling in Colorado - Contact Dr. Ron Rickner – Annual YFC Institute speaker, private practice in Florida - Contact 27