Thank you for the article, “Ministers urged to rest, take time off” in the Aug. 19 edition.
The information is timely and warrants notice by congregations who care about ministering to their ministers.
The Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence at Samford University in Birmingham has provided funding and resources to nearly 90 pastors for them to have sabbatical leaves.
A sabbatical is not a vacation; it is time away for rest, spiritual renewal, continuing education and other activity that renews physical, mental and spiritual resources.
Our program provides resources for leaves as short as one week or as long as three months. We have found that most churches can offer time for their pastor or other ministers to be away. What they usually lack are sufficient funds to provide the cost of the minister’s renewal plans.
Sadly, of 90 ministers who have participated in our sabbatical program, only 13 are from Alabama Baptist churches.
Samford’s Resource Center provides a valuable — if overlooked — service to churches and ministers that has proven to benefit both.
Michael Wilson
Program director
Resource Center for Pastoral Excellence
Samford University
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