MA/RI Sabbatical Ministry Program

​We know that in order for the MA/RI District to grow, its existing churches must experience growth. One of the potential challenges to growth in some of our churches is the over extension of the local pastors. We consistently hear about the challenges that surround bi-vocational pastors and even pastors of smaller or emerging churches. One challenge presented is the need for the pastor and his family to take vacations or even have time to go to a conference and be spiritually fed themselves. This is a challenge for the following reasons:
           

• The church may not have any support ministers in the local congregation that would be able to take the preaching responsibilities for the time in which the pastor is away.

           

• The church may not be in a position to pay an outside speaker (even one from within the district) to come and minister.

           

• Feeling the weight of these challenges, some local pastors may continue to struggle in silence not wanting to place what they view as an “unnecessary” burden on their congregation.

 
           
The MA/RI District has adopted a new program to help overcome these challenges called the “Sabbatical Ministry Program”. The program consists of the following elements:
 

• The MA/RI District Board has created an “Application for Sabbatical Leave” on the district website where pastors are able to submit a request for a “Sabbatical Leave”.

• The pastor can request funds from the district of up to $200.00 to assist in covering the honorarium and potential travel expenses.

• The pastor is responsible for choosing the ministers who will assist, only, in the church services during the pastor’s leave of absence. These ministers will be held accountable to the District Board and Sectional Presbyter.

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Sabbatical Application Form

sabbatical application.pdf
File Size:	27 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Mail form to: 
Rev. Kevin Horne / PO Box 2188 / Pawtucket, RI 02861