Pastoral Sabbatical Matching Program Alleviates the Financial Burden of Sabbaticals

Lawrenceville, GA – Geneva Benefits Group, the leading provider of retirement and benefits services for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), is pleased to announce the application window for its Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Matching Program. This visionary initiative is made possible through the generous support of a grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. Beginning August 1, 2024, eligible organizations can apply for grants and the application deadline is October 15, 2024.

The Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Matching Program is designed to improve the overall health and wellbeing of pastoral leaders by removing the financial burdens of sabbaticals and incentivizing organizations and pastors to plan for them. Additionally, Geneva is committed to preparing pastors for how to spend their time during sabbatical so that they can reap the most benefits from their time of rest.

“God has hardwired rhythms of work and rest into creation,” said Jon Medlock, VP of People & Culture at Geneva. “Our hope is that through this program, under-resourced churches and ministries can support the holistic wellbeing of their pastoral leaders by providing opportunities for rest and renewal which will in turn promote the spiritual health of their congregations and communities.” 

One recent beneficiary of the program found that “the best thing that came out of the sabbatical was learning how to rest well and at least begin the process of saying, OK, how do we incorporate regular rhythms of rest into our weeks and into our seasons?” Another discovered that, “No matter how much I think this church needs me to do everything. It’s God’s church, not mine.”

Since 2022, Geneva has granted a total of 17 matching sabbatical grants to under-resourced churches. In 2022, a total of $40,000 was granted to four churches and in 2023, a total of $102,400 was granted to 13 churches. 

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for a grant from Geneva’s Sabbatical Matching Fund, organizations must meet the following criteria:

• Have planned and saved for a sabbatical for an ordained PCA Teaching Elder in good standing.
• Demonstrate adherence to financial best practices to ensure both the pastor’s financial and spiritual wellbeing
• Willingly collaborate with a Geneva Financial Planning Advisor to assess the pastor’s call package and ensure compliance with best practices.
• Exhibit significant financial need, with a focus on supporting low-budget, solo-pastor churches, and pastors with lower incomes.
• Commit to maintaining the pastor’s salary and benefits during the sabbatical period.
• Pastors must commit to serving in their pastoral role for at least one year following the sabbatical.

Application Process:

In 2025, Geneva plans to offer up to 10 organizations with matching grants. Organizations interested in benefiting from the Sabbatical Matching Program can request an application via email at relief@genevabenefits.org. The application deadline is October 15, 2024. To explore our entire collection of sabbatical resources, visit genevabenefits.org/sabbaticals.