The prime purpose of a sabbatical is to offer an individual an opportunity for professional development but it is should also be a time of personal enrichment. In order to achieve this a sabbatical should include three elements: renewal, retreat and rest.

Sabbaticals should be offered every ten years and are of benefit to the individual and to the Diocese. All licensed ministers (lay and ordained, stipendiary and non-stipendiary) are eligible including diocesan officers who are Licensed or Commissioned in order to carry out their role. They are aimed at those in active and healthy ministries, and are not, therefore, the right course for those who are recuperating or recovering from a crisis of one sort or another! Sabbaticals will normally be for a period of three months. Prior service in a similar ministry in another diocese will normally be recognised. A sabbatical will not usually be granted during the first two years of a new appointment or within five 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 Area bishop and is not eligible for a sabbatical grant.

This may begin with an invitation from the Area/Diocesan Bishop, possibly following an Episcopal Review or following a review with your Head of Department. Alternatively, an individual may approach his or her Area Bishop, or where appropriate, the Diocesan Bishop.

After the initial request, the Area CME Adviser will discuss the sabbatical with the applicant. A sabbatical proposal should then be drawn up by the person seeking to take the sabbatical, setting out the details of the plans. It is advisable to allow a period of 12 months preparation/consultation before the proposed sabbatical. This will allow time to ensure adequate pastoral cover and also the identification of a supervisor if appropriate.

The Bishop will give final approval to the Sabbatical Proposal following advice from the appropriate CME staff. This will then release any approved grants. Before giving final approval to a sabbatical, the Bishop will check that consultation has taken place in the Deanery and that proper ministerial cover can be provided within the Deanery and/or Episcopal Area. Clergy are expected to ensure that their PCC’s are aware of the nature, purpose and results of a sabbatical.

Those taking a sabbatical will also be asked to consult with their Rural/Area Dean, to ensure that the deanery 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 responsiblity for any costs involved.

Licensed, stipendiary clergy (this is deemed to include full-time house-for-duty clergy)will be entitled to a grant of up to £1,000. Other licensed ministers may use their CME grant towards sabbatical costs. It is not generally appropriate to use both CME grant and Sabbatical grant. All grants are subject to the agreement of the appropriate CME Adviser and Bishop and to budget availability, which is held centrally. There are additional sources of sabbatical funding, such as the schemes offered by EIG and some of the Mission Agencies.

The plans for the sabbatical should include three elements: 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.

This is the element of professional and ministerial development which is probably going to take the greatest part of your three months. It is the key element in the sabbatical. It will 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.

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, if you have one.

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. Maybe even some fun and holiday! 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.

Before final approval is given a Sabbatical Proposal document must be submitted to the Area CME Adviser. This need be no more than one side of A4. It should include the following elements:

1. Details of the plans and timetable
2. What you expect to get from the time in terms of the three elements renewal, retreat and rest
3. How you will fund the proposal
4. Details of cover for your current work
5. Confirmation that the deanery has been consulted/informed
6. How you plan to report on the sabbatical afterwards.

You will be expected to report to your Area Bishop (or Head of Department) and Area CME Adviser 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 Deanery or the Diocese.

March 2005

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