How long will Pastor Lynne be gone? Pastor Lynne will be on sabbatical from June 1-September 5. Her last Sunday before sabbatical is May 28. She will return to the pulpit Sunday, September 10. Where Did This Come From? According to JFPC’s Terms of Call, and in accordance with the policies of our denomination and Presbytery, the church gives the pastor a three-month paid renewal leave every 5 to 7 years to rest, renew and reimagine. While on sabbatical, the pastor takes a complete break from their pastoral role: they do not lead worship, funerals, weddings, or baptisms or take part in any administrative responsibilities. Afterward, the pastor’s return becomes an intentional period of energizing the ongoing partnership with the congregation, as both pastor and congregation share what they have learned in their time apart. The sabbatical , then, isn’t a “vacation from ministry” but rather an active part of an effective ministry. Much like the body needs regular rest to function properly, the soul also requires intentional down time for recharging and renewal. Why do we offer this? Full-time ministry is demanding, and few people recognize the spiritual and physical toll it takes on a pastor. Lifeway Research reports that 1700 pastors leave the ministry every month! 80% of pastors feel discouraged in their roles. 50% say they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates leave the ministry within the first 5 years. 70% of pastors constantly fight depression. Only 1 out of 10 pastors retire as a pastor. The most common reason for this exodus is burnout. These statistics are not shared to complain about how tough it is to be a pastor. Your encouragement and support make it a joy and blessing for Pastor Lynne to serve (our staff knows how good we have it–our church truly is amazing!). AND….It’s a big job, and that’s why God established the sabbath. God the Creator first modeled the sabbath in Genesis 2:2-3, ceasing work on the seventh day to rest. Jesus also modeled the sabbath when He went off many times to be alone with the Father. He then commanded his disciples to “come away and rest” as a part of ministry. We offer Sabbatical as a Biblical response to caring for our pastor so they can care for themselves, continue to grow spiritually, and consequently better care for us. Why now? Clergy sabbaticals are typically taken every 5-7 years. This will be Pastor Lynne’s first sabbatical in her 15 years of ordained ministry. Pastor Lynne accepted her call to JFPC in lieu of a sabbatical at her previous congregation, and this sabbatical, delayed because of the pandemic, was a part of Pastor Lynne’s Terms of Call from the time of her hire