Sabbaticals help recharge clergy

By Carla Hinton

Published: July 19, 2008

What is your pastor doing this summer?

How about the minister next door?

Maybe not what you think.

Some faith leaders are taking trips to Europe, visiting retreat centers and singing their way across the country by way of clergy sabbaticals.

These sabbaticals are seen as ways to re-energize ministers and combat burnout.

The Rev. John Regan will return to his pulpit at Western Oaks Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in August after a 90-day sabbatical. He said sabbaticals can benefit a pastor and his congregation because they help refresh a preacher's passion for ministry and overall zest for life.

"I'm excited. I have lots of ideas. I'm rested. I'm looking forward to the next five years,” Regan said from his current destination of choice, Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery in Pecos, N.M.

The Rev. Diana Northcutt, director of local church youth ministries with the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference, agreed with Regan's assessment. She said she decided to take a 30-day sabbatical because she knew she needed some self-care and she did not want to burn out.

"Preachers are the worst about taking care of themselves. I think it's hard for us to get away because we have so many responsibilities,” Northcutt said.

"Since I've done it, I will definitely be doing it again.”

Regan said his sabbatical is funded through a $32,500 grant from Lilly Endowment. The Rev. Greg Bunton, an associate pastor and music minister at First Christian Church of Edmond (Disciples of Christ), also received a grant from the same foundation to go on his current sabbatical to perform at churches across America.

The Rev. Chris Shorow, First Christian Church of Edmond's senior pastor, said Bunton discussed his sabbatical with the church's pastoral relations committee.

In May, Bunton, 36, of Edmond held a kick-off concert for his musical tour promoting his album "Keep It Simple” at the church, 201 E Second. He is traveling with his wife, Julie, and two children, with plans to visit 31 cities and perform 19 concerts. He said churches provide love offerings to help support the tour, and 10 percent of those funds are going to charity. He said he also is planning to attend the Gospel Music Association's Music in the Rockies event in August in Estes Park, Colo., for a week of workshops dealing with worship leadership, songwriting and singing.

Meanwhile, Regan, 46, said he shared information about the grant with his congregation at Western Oaks, 8100 NW 23, and members thought the sabbatical was a good idea.

Regan said to obtain the grant, he had to submit a proposal outlining what he would do on sabbatical. Since beginning his sabbatical in May, Regan has visited Europe with his two teenagers. He went on retreat at the monastery in Pecos before his European trip and is there now.

The time with his children and the opportunity to read many books and travel has been invaluable, the Edmond resident said.

"As a pastor, your family makes a lot of sacrifices. I missed a lot of soccer games and weekend events,” Regan said.

"For this sabbatical, they are it. It's a priceless treasure.”

Northcutt, 56, of Oklahoma City said she fulfilled a long-held dream when she visited an ecumenical community in Ione, Scotland, and took a tour of the British Isles from May 24 through April 25.

She said the United Methodist denomination allows for sabbaticals, including a 30-day sabbatical for renewal. She said she was required to submit her sabbatical plan and secure approval from her district superintendent.

"I did a self-directed prayer, meditation and recovery type of retreat (at Ione), then took the tour of the British Isles,” Northcutt said.

"Coming back to this job in the summer and being able to deal with anything that comes up at the youth camps and youth conferences, I know that it (the sabbatical) helped me.”

Northcutt said she thinks United Methodist leaders allow for sabbaticals because "they realize that if our cups are empty, it's really hard to fill someone else's cup.”

The Rev. Tom Cole, a Southern Baptist minister who is executive director-treasurer of the Union Baptist Association, just returned from a sabbatical.

Cole, 65, of Norman said he asked the association's personnel committee to consider his sabbatical request and traveled to Europe when committee members gave their approval.

Northcutt said she paid for the sabbatical trip. Cole said his trip was partly funded with some association money that was available and with his own funds.

He said he and his wife, Carolyn, an Oklahoma Baptist University professor, did a study following the path of the Protestant reformers including Martin Luther and John Calvin. They visited France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and other places.

Cole said he is encouraging Southern Baptist churches within his association to allow their preachers to go on sabbaticals.

"It doesn't have to take the form that mine did, but it can be a time away,” he said.

"For me, it was a change of pace. I was greatly inspired.”

Editors note: The story originally listed the address for Western Oaks Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 8100 NW 82. The church is located at 8100 NW 23.

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