Pastor Rolando Aguirre on Sabbatical

(Lea este artículo en español haciéndo click aquí).

          Rolando Aguirre, CBC's Discipleship-Team Leader and Pastor for Spanish Language Ministries, is currently on Sabbatical.  He began his sabbatical on Monday, January 18 and will return on Thursday, February, 25.  Pastor Rolando celebrated his 7th year on our pastoral staff a couple of months ago.  His ministry here at Calvary has been very effective and this sabbatical will contribute to his continued effectiveness and health.

Not a Vacation

 

          It is important to note that a sabbatical is not a vacation.  The sabbatical policy, which was revised by our personnel committee on 10-04-15 to be effective on 01-01-16 (a copy of this revised policy was included in the November 2015 Church in Conference book of reports) , states: "This sabbatical is encouraged for new experiences, continuing education, and a time of rest, relaxation, reflection and renewal." 

The demands of pastoral ministry

 

          The nature of church pastoral ministry in the 21st century is very demanding on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual life of the pastor.  As pastors handle administrative, counseling, pastoral care, teaching, planning, leading, crisis intervention, leadership development and other duties, it can take a toll on their spiritual, physical or emotional health.  While pastors keep regular schedules for studying, planning, meetings, appointments, and teaching, the demands for their time often go past those scheduled times.  Balancing daytime, evening and weekend schedules with caring for the family, it is easy for the pastor to neglect self-care.  While good pastors maintain a posture of serving others (staff, volunteers, church members, prospects, people in crisis, leaders, people in the community, denominational relationships, international contacts, and their family), they also need to take care of their own spiritual, physical, mental and emotional health.  Although pastors can learn not to carry the burdens of people they counsel and of interpersonal conflict in the congregation by entrusting them to God, pastors are human and they often carry those burdens with them as they go home each evening.  Notwithstanding, the spiritual nature of ministry can be taxing.  We have a real enemy and we encounter spiritual battles.  These battles are fought with prayer and spiritual weapons.  However, when pastors' schedules do not allow for adequate time of prayer and spiritual preparation, they become vulnerable and danger lurks at the door.  Needless to say, because the demands of ministry are constant, it is difficult for the pastor to disengage from ministry responsibilities.  While modern technology can be very helpful it also makes it difficult to disengage from ministry.  The pastor finds him/herself at home answering calls, responding to texts, emails, and social media, having unscheduled meetings and problem solving even on his/her days/evenings off.  Thus, a periodic time for study, relaxation, reflection and renewal is necessary.  (Vacations, which are a great blessing and benefit, are normally a time for pastors to serve their family).  A sabbatical is kind of coming to the surface for air in order to continue to invest in ministry.  It often takes at least a week if not two to change the ministry gear in which a pastor usually functions.  A healthy pastor is good for his family, for the church, for the community and for the kingdom.

What others have said about sabbaticals

           There has been much written about the need and the nature of pastoral sabbaticals.  You can do your own search for it.  I will share some of the resources that the personnel committee and I have read in establishing and revising the sabbatical policy for CBC pastors.  (You may click on any of the links in this paragraph to access the articles/documents).  Thom Rainer, president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources (an agency of the Southern Baptist Convention) wrote a blogpost about "Five Reasons Your Pastor Should Take a Sabbatical."  It is a brief but informative article.  The North American Mission Board (of the Southern Baptist Convention) published an article on Pastor Sabbaticals.  The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship offers churches a the idea of a Sabbatical Covenant and lists the reasons and benefits for doing so.  Canadian Baptists have drafted a document which addresses the issue of how long a pastor stays at a church in relation to a sabbatical.  Many of articles on pastor sabbaticals address the issue of short- and long-term pastorates.  Finally, Baptist Press reported last week on a study of why pastors leave the pastorate.  In this article, Ed Stetzer, executive director for Lifeway Research states, "Almost half of those who left the pastorate said their church wasn't doing any of the kinds of things that would help.  Having clear documents, offering a sabbatical rest, and having people help with weighty counseling cases are key things experts tell us ought to be in place."  I am extremely grateful that our CBC personnel committee and Calvary Baptist Church are gracious enough to provide a sabbatical leave for our pastoral staff.

Pastor Rolando's sabbatical

          Pastor Rolando has been working on a doctorate of transformational leadership over the last couple of years.  His sabbatical request included his desire to write much of the doctoral dissertation during these weeks.  This uninterrupted time for study and writing will be beneficial for him and will allow him to return to Calvary renewed, encouraged and with new insight for ministry.  During his leave the pastoral staff will cover various areas of the ministry he leads.  Pastors Julio and Benjamin will take turns supplying the pulpit in the Spanish service.  Pastor Benjamin will take care of pastoral care matters in the Spanish service.  Pastor Paulo will provide logistical support to WIT, EQUIP, and ICC programs.  Pastor Chad will lead the "missions" Sunday in the Spanish service along with missionary guest Pastor Candelario.  Pastors Marcus and Susan will continue to address ministry needs of children, students and parents in the SLM.  Carmen Gaytan and Anna Ruggles will continue to provide ministry support to the SLM and the WIT, EQUIP and ICC programs respectively.

What can you do?

          Your support is very important for a successful sabbatical.  First and foremost are your prayers for Pastor Rolando, his family and for our congregation.  Pray for the rest of the pastoral team as we take on additional responsibilities during these next weeks.  Refrain from calling, texting or email Pastor Rolando please.  Continue to attend, serve and carry out the ministry God has given you here at Calvary!  (Rolando Aguirre may be on leave for a few weeks but God and His mission are not).