Sabbaticals: Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later
by Charles H. Chandler, Executive Director
Betty and I recently returned from a much-needed sabbatical. We returned refreshed and with renewed perspectives.
The MTM Board of Trustees established a sabbatical policy for the Executive Director — two months each fifth year. The first month was taken in September in Illinois. I had two items on my agenda — grandfathering and writing. I did both. I attended seven band performances in the Chicago area — two Labor Day parades, two football game halftime shows, two field show competitions, and an outdoor riverside concert. We have three grandchildren in high school and middle school bands, but I had never been to any of their performances. I also saw two younger grandchildren in central Illinois perform in baseball and ballet.Over half the time was spent preparing a presentation for the Wayne E. Oates Institute’s on-line conference on the minister’s mental health, and I completed the book, Leadership Manual: Healthy Transitions Wellness Retreat for Ministers and Spouses. Though I had accomplished my goals, I pressed myself extremely hard. Workaholic tendencies die hard.I had good intentions of doing the second half of the sabbatical in November. However, due to circumstances beyond my control — illness in extended family which required Betty’s time — it had to be rescheduled for March. At the strong suggestion of the MTM Trustees, my plans during March called for more relaxation than work. We went to a friend’s lake-side house in the mountains of Tennessee, about an hour north of Chattanooga. It was remote, with a picturesque view. The setting itself encouraged relaxation.The first few days, Betty and I were both restless — a workaholic with nothing to do tends to become restless. By the end of the first week, however, we began to enjoy the solitude, scenery, and relaxation. We visited area attractions and ate one meal per day at various quaint area restaurants. Our other grandson, who lives in Alabama, met us in Chattanooga, and we enjoyed some time with him.By the end of the month, we had adjusted to a different pace of life, watched the NCAA Basketball Tournament almost in its entirely, became addicted to the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" TV program, visited friends, read some books (Betty read 23), and finished writing a book that I had been working on for a long time. I also re-established my two-miles-per-day walking program. And life took on an enriched dimension.While reflecting on the sabbatical, I recalled another "sabbatical" in 1982 — an unplanned one. For about a year, I had worked 60-80 hours per week due to an unbelievable number of pastoral ministry crises. One of our deacons, a physician, saw what the heavy load was doing to me, and encouraged me to take some time off. I could not seem to find the time, that is, until I was hospitalized for emergency surgery. After two surgeries, which the doctor called stress-related, involving 19 days in the hospital, I spent the next month convalescing at home.The irony is that I was pastor of a very generous and caring congregation. They would have provided a sabbatical if I had asked. But like too many ministers, I felt too "indispensable." The end result concerning time was about the same — two months off the job. Needless to say, I like the planned sabbatical policy much better. There is less pain.I am reminded of a TV commercial of a decade or two ago. The presenter pointed to the difference in quality and service of a superior product and a cheaper, inferior product. After the comparison, he concluded by saying, "You can pay me now or you can pay me later!"
I strongly recommend every church to consider establishing a sabbatical policy for their minister(s). It’s a wise investment on the part of the church and the minister. Remember, "you can pay me now or you can pay me later!"