Renewal Leave

Yes, there is a season for everything under the heavens! And sometimes, there is a season where renewal is needed as clergy face high demands of ministry for refreshing heart, mind, and spirit. Renewal can be a season of refocusing before burnout occurs or a season of essential pruning to bearing fruit in other areas of our lives.

Continuing to grow spiritually is at the heart of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. As United Methodists, we even hold up continuing education and spiritual growth as essential commitments that clergy make to themselves, their churches, and to the Conference. (See the Conference Continuing Education policy here.) The Book of Discipline outlines several different ways that clergy are encouraged to engage in this:

A Continuing Education and Spiritual Growth Plan for all clergy to develop (BOD ¶ 350.1, the Great Plains interpretation of that is here.
Annual (up to a week) or Quadrennial (up to 4 weeks) “formation leave” for paying attention to your soul (BOD ¶350.2)
What we refer to as “Renewal Leave,” a time of up to 6 months (though clergy often take up to 12 weeks) to nurture your soul for the season of ministry in your context (BOD ¶ 350.3, made in conjunction with and approved by S/PPRC, Church Council and DS)

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