ON SABBATICAL
As I approach my time of sabbatical in a little more than a week’s time, I believe this is the right time to provide some teaching on the practice.  It will also give you a good idea as to what will be happening for my sabbatical time.

What is Sabbatical?
The most common occurrence of sabbatical in our culture is for professors in Universities.  Every so often, a professor will take a year off in order to conduct research or to write a book in their field of study.  In other words, they leave the daily task of teaching in the classroom in order to engage in the field in ways they are unable to while being present in on campus.  I have also run into other experiences of sabbatical by people in business who take time off in order to renew their vision, perspective and themes for when they return to productivity.  A pastor’s sabbatical shares similarities with this.

Perhaps it is easier to say what a sabbatical is not.  A sabbatical is not an extended vacation but it does invite rest.  It is not cessation of activity but the re-orientation of activity.  Words associated with sabbatical are: renewal, revitalization, discovery, exploration, re-energizing, re-invention, attentiveness, growth.  Sabbatical provides the space for interaction and experience that is not possible within the regular realm of daily pastoral ministry.

The concept of sabbatical is rooted in the biblical command of Sabbath.  God created for six days and on the seventh day he “Sabbathed.” (Genesis 2:2-3)  In other words, God ceased from the act of creation to take in what he had done.  Sabbath was also re-established for humanity in the Ten Commandments when the fourth commandment stated, “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it sacred.”  (Exodus 20:8-11)   Leviticus comments on what is known as the Sabbath year, a year in which the land is not to be planted or harvested.  Instead the Israelites were to trust God and live upon what the ground naturally yields up.  (Leviticus 25:1-7)  Sabbath is God’s way of inviting us to stop and smell the roses (that he made)!  To trust him and discover the meaning both of creation and creativity.  The reason why he had to make this a command in later times was because in our sin and need for control, we would not naturally Sabbath.  We too are to stop and take in the wonder of God’s creation.

A Matter of Trust
I was supposed to write this article months ago but I held off because I myself struggled with the idea of sabbatical.  In fact, two years ago, I actually changed our church’s original pastoral salary and benefits package and made the sabbatical shorter and less frequent.  I still think it was a wise decision at that time, but I knew I could not skip the sabbatical the second time around under the new guidelines.  When I looked into my own heart, I realized that I needed to learn to trust God with F3C.  I needed to learn to trust the staff, the elders and the members.  I am not the centre of F3C – Jesus is.  It is the Holy Spirit who leads our church and not me.  I have to trust that not only would the church do fine without me but that it would thrive.

And so I trust Pastor Diana to be the acting lead pastor and that the Spirit gives her wisdom to lead.  She has my full confidence and this will be an important learning experience in her calling.  I also trust the elders of the church to continue to care for, teach and guide the church, providing both a listening ear and care for the church.  I trust you, the church, the people, that you will still love one another and listen to the Spirit of God.  That we depend on God and not a single person not matter who that is.

Trusting God is the single most difficult lesson in the human life.  Trusting that God works in the hearts of those around me and that he works in me despite all our imperfections and stumbling.  I am learning to let go.

Redeeming the Time
So, if I’m not on some long vacation, what is it I am actually doing?

Well, first on my list is to let me be me.  I need to reorient myself so I see myself not as a pastor but simply as a person.  Who am I without the daily duties of caring for others?  I need to ask God to reveal things about myself apart from my vocation and ordination.  I will listen to hear what God has for me and for F3C.

Second, I am going to explore.  I will do this through reading, writing and travelling.  I already have a stack of books I have collected over the years that I want to get to.  They are books that cannot be read quickly but thoughtfully.  I may even post up my readings on facebook.  I will visit the city of London and scour the museums, libraries and pursue my passion for history and literature.  I will be visiting churches to observe and learn from their strengths and weaknesses.

Thirdly, I will create.  I intend to outline some of the books I have been asked to write and perhaps churn out a few chapters.  Three months isn’t enough time to really get anything started but it allows for tinkering and creativity.  AT the same time I will be looking discern the directions the Spirit is leading our church.

Fourthly, I will play.  I will ride my bike.  I will get some exercise, perhaps a regimen I will establish long term.  I do intend to go on a family vacation to create memories with my wife and children as well as to explore together.

Sabbatical Relationships
This is probably the most challenging part of my sabbatical.  Not a single day goes by without me thinking of and praying for you, the church.  I confess that I think of each and every one of you during the course of a week.  I see your faces when I am preparing my sermons and wonder how you might receive what I say.  I meet with a lot of you during the week whether in small groups or individually.  I think about all the stories you tell about how you feel and what you have done.  Frankly, this kind of living has an effect emotionally and psychologically.   It is not a bad thing because it comes with the territory of loving and caring which encompass the fundamental tenets of a pastor.

I have known many pastors who draw boundaries between themselves and their church members.  I can see how this is healthy in a large church context where the demands are overwhelming.  This helps me to actually understand the real spiritual genius of a small church.  I don’t just have church members.  I have friends.  For me to treat you impersonally and professionally does not make sense.  You are not my clients, patients, shareholders, volunteers or patrons.  You are my friends.  That is the way Jesus treats us all.

One of my deep fears about going on sabbatical is that I will not see a significant portion of my friends.  I see a lot of you one to three times a week.  But then I realize that good friends give each other space.  Friends may not see each other for a while but they will pick up where they left off because they know and trust the commitment of their friend.  Good friends neither cling nor isolate.  They have a good understanding and prefer the good of the other to their own need for companionship.  Paradoxically, it is that space that makes them better friends.  I am accepting that the nature of my relationship with the church will change for just a short while.  So I am asking you, as my friends to give me the space to be apart from you for a time.  I in turn must learn to also step away that I may be a better friend and look forward to the fellowship to come.

My family will continue to be at F3C during this time and will continue to fellowship with you!  I will be around town as well but do help me to maintain a healthy distance from church ministry so I can focus on the other endeavours I will be pursuing.

Return
Finally, rest assured that I will indeed return.  I look forward to hearing how you have been for the three months and what God has been showing to you.  In turn, I will be sharing some of my experiences, adventures and thoughts.  Pray for me that I will indeed be refreshed, renewed and revitalized for another chapter of our pilgrimage together as a church!

(Rev. Dr. Ted Ng – April 24, 2013)