(This proposal was carried as a motion at the Cabinet meeting of August 8, 2006)
Proposal Concerning Pastors' Sabbaticals
Whereas the St. Paul Area Synod in 2006 recommended:
"After every six years of service in a current call,
this synod recommends a pastor be given a sabbatical
from six weeks to three months with full pay, in
lieu of two weeks continuing education time. The
pastor would be expected to return to the present
call for at least one year following the sabbatical";
and whereas we are at a good place in our congregation's
life to consider sabbaticals seriously;
and whereas having a policy for sabbatical renewal for
our pastors is one of the best ways of supporting ministry
in our congregation as well as gaining benefits for all of us;
and whereas the cost to the congregation would range from
the cost for pulpit supply (approximately $2,000.00) up to,
if we were to hire an interim pastor, double the cost of
our pastor's salary and benefits;
Therefore
We ask the congregation to adopt this sabbatical policy for our pastors
and establish the opportunity for up to a three-month study leave after
every six (6) years of active ministry. Pastors would submit their
proposal for approval by the cabinet after consultation with the
pastoral support commission. The purpose of the sabbatical is
ministry-oriented and renewal, an opportunity to reach out in a
new direction or deepen a current dimension of ministry.
The sabbatical period, or anniversary date would be 2007 for
Pastor Glenn and 2010 for Pastor Amy.