Answering distress with rest : how a sabbatical helps pastors recover from distress

Kruis, Philip Scott

1 online resource (x, 140 leaves)

Includes abstract

D. Min. Covenant Theological Seminary ; 2025

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-140)

Title

Answering distress with rest : how a sabbatical helps pastors recover from distress

Last modified

10/02/2025

Creator

Kruis, Philip Scott

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how a pastor experiencing distress benefits from a sabbatical allowing them to remain in ministry. Pastors face multiple challenges in ministry, from manageable stress to unmanageable distress. Distress demands attention. Pastors and lay leaders must collaborate to secure a sabbatical for the pastor. This study utilized a qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with eight pastors from various denominations who benefited from a sabbatical and remained in ministry after experiencing distress. The interviews focused on gaining data with three research questions: Identifying when stress has become distress, how pastors collaborate with lay leaders to secure sabbatical, and how sabbaticals benefit pastors so they stay in ministry. The literature review focused on three key areas. 1) A biblical foundation for understanding distress and a review of recent literature on clergy burnout and occupational and psychological distress among clergy. 2) A biblical foundation for leadership collaboration and a review of recent literature pertaining to leadership collaboration within the church. 3) A biblical foundation of sabbath as it pertains to rest and a review of recent literature on best sabbatical practices that provide time for the pastor to rest and renew. This study concluded that when collaborative leadership secures a sabbatical for a pastor who had been in distress, the benefits allow him to remain in ministry. Leaders collaborate to secure a sabbatical for pastors, considering the stakeholders and their interests. The study found that manageable stress became unmanageable distress due to a defining moment such as a friend having a moral failure, to a buildup of stress at home and at work, and to conflicts with other ministry staff or lay leaders. Sabbaticals provide an extended time for the pastor to exit the day-to-day demands of ministry in order to be renewed, rejuvenated and restored. Much needed rest from labors allows for recovery, restful activities, and a healthy reentry to the ministry. The benefits of rest and restoration found in a sabbatical allow a pastor to reenter ministry with renewed vision and passion. Pastors experience distress. Every church should have a sabbatical policy in place for when theirs does.

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