SABBATICALS
Guiding pastors toward gospel rest for the renewal of life and ministry.
Why Sabbaticals?
God hardwired rhythms of work and rest into creation, yet pastors often struggle to unplug because taking time off can feel selfish—even though neglecting rest ultimately harms their work, health, and relationships. Sabbaticals address this by providing pastors and their families with invaluable, extended time away from ministry pressures to focus on personal well-being, family, and spiritual renewal so they can return to their congregation refreshed.
Resources
Sabbatical Matching Grants
Geneva’s sabbatical matching program is designed to improve the overall health and wellbeing of pastoral leaders by removing financial burdens of sabbaticals and incentivizing organizations and pastors to plan for them. By providing matching funds to alleviate the financial burden often associated with sabbaticals, the program enables congregations to invest in the long-term wellbeing of their pastors, benefiting not only the pastors and their families but also the church community.
PCA Churches or Pastors interested in benefiting from the Pastoral Sabbatical Matching Program can download the application packet to learn more about the eligibility criteria and submit a completed application. Applications are now open and will be accepted through October 15, 2026.
Geneva’s sabbatical matching program is funded by a grant from the Lilly Foundation. Please note – this is a matching grant, not simply a gift of funds. For qualifying churches, Geneva will only match money dedicated and actually spent by the church to support their pastor’s sabbatical.
Download our practical guide on pastoral sabbaticals.
A sabbatical raises many practical questions for church leaders and church members. Our guide addresses some of the most common issues to help you structure and communicate the sabbatical to benefit all involved.
FAQs
Why does my pastor need a sabbatical? Part 1 - Work Pressure
Why does my pastor need a sabbatical? Part 2 - Relational Pressure
We already give our pastor vacation time. Is a sabbatical something different?
Yes — while vacations provide short-term rest and time away, a sabbatical is a longer, intentional season designed for deep renewal, reflection, and disconnection from the ongoing demands of pastoral ministry. Watch this short video as Rev. Jon Medlock explains the key differences between vacation time and sabbaticals, and why pastors need both for true rest and renewal. For a full transcript of the video, click here.
What if our pastor goes on sabbatical and never comes back?
One concern we often hear from churches is the fear that if their pastor goes on sabbatical, he might not return. Watch this short video as Rev. Jon Medlock shares practical ways churches can build regular rhythms of sabbatical rest into their pastor’s call package and their church’s ministry calendar. For a full transcript of the video, click here.
How can the church grow while the pastor is away?
We believe that when a pastor leaves for a sabbatical, the Lord is also providing a unique opportunity for the church to learn and grow. Watch this short video from Rev. Jon Medlock to learn how the church staff and congregants can grow even while their pastor is away on sabbatical. For a full transcript of the video, click here.
Why is a sabbatical important?
The pastoral vocation is uniquely challenging. Work such as sermon preparation, preaching, teaching, counseling, and day-to-day administrative oversight of the church are difficult and time-consuming enough. But pastors bear the additional burden of being “always on.” They get calls at night and on weekends, and wherever they go, they are seen in their pastoral role. For long-term wellbeing, pastors need occasional seasons away from these all-consuming demands provided by sabbaticals.