Photo by Niklas Weiss on Unsplash.
A much-needed sabbatical just became more feasible for some PCA pastors, thanks to a new grant program announced this week. Beginning in 2024, Geneva Benefits Group will offer matching grants of up to $10,000 through its new Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Program. Aimed at low-income pastors and low-budget ministry organizations, the program seeks to alleviate the financial barriers that may have previously prohibited the possibility of a sabbatical.
Geneva provides retirement and benefits services for the PCA, but their mission extends beyond HR logistics. The group seeks to support and improve the health and wellbeing of those who work in ministry, and making sabbaticals more accessible is one step towards that aim. As Jon Medlock, Geneva’s VP of People & Culture explained, “We believe that this program is a transformative step toward supporting the holistic health of pastoral leaders. By partnering with churches and ministries to make sabbaticals financially viable and encouraging the adoption of best practices, we’re not only investing in the wellbeing of pastors but also nurturing the spiritual vitality of their congregations and communities.”
The word sabbatical finds its origins in the word sabbath. More than vacation or time off, a sabbatical is meant to be a prolonged and restorative time away from ministerial duties, with intentional goals in place. For the pastor in particular, this can be especially vital. A study on pastoral wellbeing found 25% of pastors suffering from conditions like burnout and declining health and another 25% felt themselves declining towards that state. And that was before a global pandemic introduced a host of new stressors, and in some cases tragedy, to the life of the church. A March 2022 study from Barna reported that 42% of pastors have considered leaving full-time ministry. Despite these figures, recent survey only 30% of PCA pastors have had access to a sabbatical, and that figure included a “significant number” of crisis situations.
A sabbatical requires immense planning, not only in desired professional and spiritual outcomes, but also in the practical preparation for both pastor and church.
Even prior to Tuesday’s announcement, Geneva Benefits sought to encourage and provide resources for pastors preparing for sabbatical. As their website states, “Sabbaticals offer pastors and their families invaluable seasons of rest by offering time away from the duties and pressures of ministry. During this time, they can focus on themselves, their families, and their relationship with God. Once completed, they can return to their congregation refreshed and renewed for the next season of ministry.”
A sabbatical requires immense planning, not only in desired professional and spiritual outcomes, but also in the practical preparation for both pastor and church. Church leaders must give significant attention and preparation to communication, logistics, and of course, finances. The Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Program is not intended to replace the financial planning, but rather incentivizes and empowers churches to plan and save by matching the amount raised up to $10,000.
In order to qualify for a grant, candidates must be an ordained PCA teaching elder in good standing, and the church must have planned and saved for a sabbatical. Additionally, the church must collaborate with a Geneva Benefits financial advisor to ensure best practices are in place both financially and spiritually throughout the process. Mutual commitment on the part of both church and pastor is also a requirement; the former to continue salary and benefits during the sabbatical and the latter to stay on as pastor for a minimum of one year after the sabbatical.
The Ministerial Wellbeing Sabbatical Program is funded through a grant from the Lilly Endowment, a private family-founded philanthropic organization that seeks to support causes of “religion, education and community development.” Since 2015, the Lilly Endowment has been awarding grants through their National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leadership. With the launch of the sabbatical matching program, Geneva hopes to be able to award up to 10 matching grants in 2024.
The deadline to apply for a grant is November 15, 2023. Interested organizations can obtain an application by submitting a request via email to relief@genevabenefits.org. To explore Geneva’s entire collection of sabbatical resources, visit genevabenefits.org/sabbaticals.