Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning

There I was working on my sabbatical and choices, thinking 6 months notice was plenty....and then I picked up this book. It clearly explained, through common sense systems, and scripture, how to navigate the sabbatical from the early roll out of information to what happens after the clergy person has returned.The resource is for the priest/pastor, as well as any Vestry/Elder/Sabbatical Committee Members. Though I took my sabbatical during our slower summer months, the leaders of my parish offered a class around sabbath during my own, so that in some way we were moving through this time together.Ah, but beware the return. This book has one sentence along the lines of "some people upon returning find a surprise that is not fun." Holy moly! My parish had an unhealthy system (developed from the previous rector who instead of doing the vocational assignment, let the parishioners fight among themselves for control while she spent her time developing and presenting artful worship services). Need I say that tough I thought I had done my part to eradicate the unhealthy aspects of the system, it was actually working out during my sabbatical awaiting my return!The perfect storm of that system coming at me through leadership when I was three weeks back, and a diocese in great disfunction had me happily, and on my own terms, leaving that parish and moving to a healthier one (and diocese). My point is that I believe there needs to be another book, with a lengthier look at sabbatical returns, because as I have heard from others, they are sometimes less than rosy; it would have been nice to have been prepared for that event.

Clergy Renewal is an excellent sabbatical resource for pastors. I read it and made copious notes which I found invaluable. Having taken two sabbaticals myself in my 35 years of ministry, I wanted to be sure to make the experience all that it could and should be.This "Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning" gave me a great start and now sits centrally on my shelf with the sabbatical resources I've collected to recommend to the pastors I serve at PastorsAdvocate.com and in our associational conference of churches.Though from a different tradition than  A Sabbatical Primer for Pastors: How to Initiate and Navigate a Spiritual Renewal Leave (Kindle) , Clergy Renewal enhanced and clarified the elements and procedures for a fruitful sabbatical.I often recommend it as a companion to the Sabbatical Primer and return to it myself when more detail is needed or when I want an enlarged perspective.I gave it four stars because the authors have given us a well-organized, nicely formatted, guidebook loaded with helpful advice and counsel. I appreciated the concise treatment. Yet a bit more would have elicited a fifth star. Since it was released in 2000, I would have liked to see it published in a Kindle version by now. I would also have liked to see a revised edition that would have brought us into the next decade.You'll do well to purchase, read, and assimilate "Clergy Renewal."

This book is an excellent resource for any congregation planning for their pastor's sabbatical. Beginning with the definition of the word as based on "Sabbath" , it explains and encourages the deep need for renewal in the demanding life of clergy. The belief that refreshed pastors are renewed and inspired leaders is well documented and exemplified. The expectation that congregations plan for and pursue their own strengthening during the pastor's absence is a profound call to actively move toward the maturity and depth of their collective experience. The book presents information, guidelines, and inspiration for churches entering into partnership with their pastor in this unique and immensely satisfying manner.

This is a good companion on the way as our congregation works to submit a grant proposal for a time of sabbatical. I just wish I had read this about a year earlier. This is a good book for people just entering the pastorate. It really should be required reading in seminary!

I was in the process of writing my sabbatical plan for next year. It was very helpful for me and would be for other first time sabbatical folks.

This is the "bible" of sabbatical books. So well written. Helped me plan mine.

Clear, precise, practical help in applying for a sabbatical.

As one of the co-authors of "Clergy Renewal: The Alban Sabbatical Planning Guide," I'm delighted to see our book offered by Amazon.Richard Bullock and I wrote this book in response to the request for assistance with planning for sabbaticals. There are a number of stated obstacles: an academic model of sabbatical that does not work for many church professionals, concern that a request for renewal leave will be viewed as avoiding work, and concern about costs. We have tried to address these concerns and then lift up the positive effect that a good, well-planned sabbatical can have not only on the person but also the congregation, institution or agency for which the person works.We've tried to address every aspect of the sabbatical renewal leave: planning, taking leave, being on sabbatical, and re-entering the place of work. We've tried to address the concerns of the congregation, the family, co-workers and the person who is planning the sabbatical.We hope that this book will give many people the opportunity to experience the rest, renewal and reinvogoration of a sabbatical leave.

Though designed for Americans...the book expressed a helpful theology surrounding Sabbaticals. It provokes the idea of finding a balance between work rest and play.