The Case for a Sabbatical…from the World of Football
A few weeks ago we announced to our congregation that Mark Beeson would be taking a sabbatical–his first after 23 years of ministry. I haven’t heard one negative comment about that decision–the people of Granger seem to be saying, “Well, of course he should!”
A friend of mine (Bill Zimmer) passed along an article to me that talks about the need for football coaches to take a year off because of the high-stress of coaching. Now I suppose we could argue all day about whether coaching a championship team or pastoring a large and growing church is a more stressful job–but let’s just agree that they are likely both toward the top of the list.
In making a case that Urban Meyer should take a one-year break, the author of the article pointed to three very successful Notre Dame coaches to make his case:
During an exclusive FanHouse interview, former Notre Dame athletic director Gene Corrigan had more than a few revelations. For instance: soon after he took over the Fighting Irish in 1981, former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian confessed to Corrigan that, even though he knew he was suffering from exhaustion during much of his legendary 11 seasons with the Irish through 1974, he didn’t decide to delegate responsibility until it was too late. Not only that, he privately fumed after he told university president Theodore Hesburgh about his idea of becoming more of a CEO, only to have the priest force Parseghian to retire anyway.
According to Corrigan, Parseghian added of his ouster, “I couldn’t see it then, but I was done, and I didn’t know it. I’m telling you now that [Hesburgh] saved my life.”
The following didn’t come from Corrigan, but from the public record: Frank Leahy evolved into a maniac. He was so obsessed with coaching Notre Dame to greatness during the 1940s and early 1950s that he even received the last rites of the Catholic church at halftime of a game. He also was shoved out of Notre Dame, but unlike Parseghian, Leahy took his bitterness to his Oregon grave.
Then there was Lou Holtz, the famously intense coach who was brought to Notre Dame by Corrigan in 1986. According to Corrigan, Holtz would have lasted with the Irish beyond 11 seasons, but only if he would have heeded Corrigan’s advice to take a sabbatical near the end. Instead, Holtz kept going, and he eventually resigned (with a nudge from the Notre Dame hierarchy) within a season. He re-surfaced three years later, but only at inferior South Carolina.
The point is, all those Notre Dame coaches needed a break along the way, but they didn’t take one until it was too late. (Read entire article here).
I don’t think we should wait for our senior leaders to initiate the idea (or worse yet, to implode) before we provide a sabbatical. If you are in leadership at your church–take initiative and make this happen for your pastor!
Posted by Tim Stevens | 9 comments
Mark
Hi Tim, I like your Blog, but have to disagree here! Sabbaticals seem to be the preserve of the church leadership fraternity, and as a leader who is a Christian working in a non christian organisation, I find it difficult to understand why so many of the church leaders I know can justify (and almost expect) a sabbatical.
I have (as many other people do, I know) worked my butt off since leaving University (I'm a Brit, can you tell?) almost 20 years ago. For the last 11 years I have been a senior leader in charities. I don't expect my trustees to sanction a sabbatical, nor would I request one. As a CEO of a non-profit, I face many of the same or parallel challenges (low pay, high expectations, pressure from donors etc) that a church leader experiences. I think the important thing (and I have struggled with this constantly) is to get balance in the day to day, week to week life, rather than work flat out for years and then need an extended break. Vacations are for rest and recuperation in my book, as well as a rhythm of the same through the week and month. I would consider it inappropriate to expect extra paid time off.
Am I just being harsh?
)
David
I have been married for 28 years. The first 4 years of our lives I worked 7 days a week for half of those years and 6 days a week for the rest. After that i worked the next 6 years puitting in 50 to 60 hours a week, while going to school full time, and while we were raising a special needs child. Now I work 60 plus hours a week and get payed for 40 hours. I recently had a serious conversation with my wife that she agreed we'll likely never be able to retire. We haven't taken a vacation in 3 years. Having said all of this, I would never NEVER question whether or not someone needs to take that time off. You pastors, Mark Beeson, and most church leaders have put in way more time doing this work than I could ever do in my regular work lifetime. There is a burden we all carry for someone at sometime in our lives. And Mark, we will be there for you when you get back.
David
And while I'm at it I would like to add one more thing as far as church learders go. I have been attending GCC for over 7 years now. And i have to tell you, that when there is someone speaking from the alter, podium, or stage I firmly believe that God has put them there right now! At that appointed time and for that appointed purpose. I might seem alittle rigid on this but, when someone else is a distraction by talking to there neighbor or tapping their pen or whatever, I just think to myself, why did they come today or can they sit in the back. I'm affraid that I will miss something important or key in wether its an anouncement or a sermon. Please don't be a distraction. Somebody next to you might just need to hear one piece of something to help them take their next step. Tim you can even anounce this statement at church if you want to. You can even tell them I wrote it. I really don't care. I know that when I finally get to bring someone to church I want them hear everything.
Bill (cycleguy)
Tim: can I send you the names of my guys?
I am happy for Mark. Seems like with his sabbatical and the word from Pastor John Piper that the young guys ought to take a page out of their book.
Matt
I think people need to take a sabbatical weekly. God built this into our created beings. Some want to argue that it is something under the "law" but it was a creation ordinance (that predates everything else!). It just makes sense that we need to pause and relax.
In regards to extended sabbaticals, I think they too are a good thing. Some people try to say Pastors shouldn't because the average person can't, but that's really flawed logic. The truth is that it would be great if everyone could, but if not, that doesn't mean that those who can shouldn't take one.
Pastors carry a large burden because not only are they leading the church in a physical way (like a CEO of a company) but they also have the spiritual burden of the church which is actually more difficult than their other responsibilities. Dealing with the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of so many people is not only tiring, it is also critical and that is why we want our pastors to do whatever is necessary to feel fresh.
Our elders are in the process of developing our system for sabbaticals and we are mimicking Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas. They make their pastors take a month off every seven years.
John Piper is about to take a long sabbatical because he senses that he is starting to develop wrong tendencies in his spirit. How great that he does something before it's too late. How many pastors fail morally because they won't take the time to take care of themselves.
John Piper explains his reasoning here: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteA…
That's my two cents.
Ron C.
Unlike most other vocations, pastors serve in a teaching capacity. As such they are constantly delpleting their knowledge and end up on empty. It is a formidible task to teach the same congregation week after week, month after month, and year after year, and try to stay fresh. Almost impossible.
A sabbatical provides them with an extended time to read and research, not to mention catch up on rest.
And yes, Mark, I think you are being harsh. You simply don't understand the nature of the work. Even school teachers get a summer break!
Bill Zimmer
Tim omitted, what I consider, the most key part of the article about Notre Dame coaches. Gene Corrigan was so convinced that Lou Holtz needed time away from the self-imposed pressures of the job that he called men's basketball coach of Duke, Mike Krzyzewski, for help. A few years ago Coach K was forced to take a year off because of health issues. The pressures of the job was affecting him and the program he built and loved. He begrungingly took a year off. Besides physical healing during that time, he was able to recover from mental exhaustion that he didn't even realize had been affecting him. Corrigan asked that he call Lou Holtz and encourage time away. He called but Lou didn't take his advice. Without that year away, I wonder if Coach K would be coaching in tonights chamionship game in his 31st year as coach at Duke? I would have to think that the year away from the bench helped prolong his tenure. More importantly, being away gave him time to refine his leadership vision for his program.
Bill Zimmer
I prayed a lot when GCC announced Mark's sabbatical. My initial feelings were similar to what Mark the brit posted in the first comment to this blog posting. But after thinking it through, I am convinced that this will add to the long-term health of GCC and the people who are lucky enough to be included in the mission of the church….."taking our next step towards Christ, together". I beleive that we are fortunate to have Mark Beeson as our senior leader. Give him time away to remember why he choose the life of a pastor, to re-evaluate and clarify his vision, and to rest and recharge his soul, and I can't even begin to imagine the impact on the Kingdom of God that he will have.
GCC “GET READY”!!!
[...] Mark is speaking with us in light of his approaching Sabbatical and his hopes that this time will be a time of preparation for him. In turn he hopes that we [...]