To the Oakridge Bible Chapel family,
At our November 2024 family meeting, the elders announced the desire to bless Josiah with a three-month sabbatical leave in the summer of 2025. The details below aim to clarify the reasons behind pastoral sabbaticals in general and provide prayer fodder for Josiah’s upcoming sabbatical in particular.
PASTORAL SABBATICALS, GENERALLY
Faithful pastoral ministry demands a unique toll on the worker. Pastors shoulder the blessed burden of daily concerns and anxieties for the believers entrusted to their care (see 2 Cor. 11:28). The unceasing strain of hurting marriages, straying sinners, suffering saints, and spiritual warfare don’t neatly fit into set office hours. So, Oakridge Bible Chapel believes it wise to require a season of rest for our pastors. We are convinced that when a pastor is refreshed in Christ, his oversight will be coloured with wisdom, patience, and compassion. On the other hand, an exhausted pastor will be less able to serve with zeal and weakened in his fight against cynicism. This manner of ministry isn’t good for anyone (see Heb. 13:7)!
While the name and concept of sabbath find their roots in the Mosaic Law (e.g., Gen. 2:1–3; Ex. 16:26; 23:10–11; Lev. 25:1–5; Deut. 15:1–2), modern sabbatical practices are typically understood as a prolonged hiatus from vocational responsibilities for particular purposes. They are not an extended vacation. During the time away from ministry, the pastor should focus on recovery, renewal, preparation, and re-visioning for ministry. We might say that it is a different kind of work, an investment in his relationship with God, his relationships with his family, his capabilities as a servant of Christ, and his prayerful vision for the years ahead.
Below are our recommendations for providing sabbatical opportunities in the future.
- Length: This can be flexible depending on the candidate, but two months every five years or three months every seven years is a good place to start.
- Requirement: Pastors should be required to take a sabbatical every five to seven years, encouraging them to use the blessing and providing a healthy work-rest rhythm.
- Eligibility: Sabbaticals will be made available to all full-time shepherds.
- Pay: Salary and benefits will continue uninterrupted during the leave. The elders may also offer an additional stipend to help with travel, counselling, further training, etc.
- Goals: The pastor will provide a detailed list of sabbatical goals to the elders for review and approval. An appropriate version of these goals will then be distributed to the assembly as a whole for accountability and prayer.
JOSIAH’S SABBATICAL, SPECIFICALLY
On May 16, 2025, Josiah will begin his three-month sabbatical leave. Below is a tentative schedule for that time away.
May 16: The sabbatical begins
May 16–July 11: Family road trip to see family and friends
July 14–18: Oakridge Bible Chapel VBS
July 21–25: Summer camp for the Boyd children
August 15: The sabbatical concludes
Below is a list of goals and commitments for the summer months, keeping in mind that the aim of the sabbatical is refreshment and edification.
Family Refreshment
- Tentative six-week road trip
- Half-day getaways with each of the five children
- Time alone with Patricia, one day per month (three days total)
Physical Refreshment
- Exercise at least five days per week
- Complete one formal running race
Spiritual Refreshment
- Read through the Bible once
- Take at least one full day away alone for pulpit planning and prayer
Intellectual Refreshment
- Read at least twelve books on needed topics of study for ministry
- Audit one seminary course
- Finish and submit a book manuscript
The summer pulpit schedule is listed below. It’s with thanksgiving to the Lord that we can meet this temporary teaching need with servants from within our church family! During these months, as always, if you need pastoral care or have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact another elder or deacon.
- May 18: Cliff Donaldson
- May 25: Harold Peasley
- June 1: Mike Lyon
- June 8: Brian Hartnett
- June 15: Godsgrace Agu
- June 22: Mani Kunadian
- June 29: Andrew Longmire
- July 6: Stephen Hawkins
- July 13: Jim Rennie
- July 20: Jim Rennie
- July 27: Jim Rennie
- August 3: Stephen Hawkins
- August 10: Brian Hartnett
- August 17: Cliff Donaldson
