Sabbatical / Study Leave

Stipendiary clergy are encouraged to think of taking a period of Sabbatical/Study Leave approximately every ten years.  In the light of paragraph 7 below there will need to be some flexibility over timing.  The process may begin either at the initiative of the Bishop or whoever is conducting the review on his behalf through ministerial review, or on the initiative of the priest.  Either way the first conversation must be with the Bishop.

Following a conversation with the Bishop/Reviewer, the secretary of the Study Leave Committee should be contacted.  He/she will then contact the Archdeaconry adviser who will meet and talk with the applicant about the detail of setting up a period of Sabbatical/Study Leave.  The role of the Archdeaconry advisers is to help the clergy to work out the details of their Sabbatical, particularly their intended course of study, and present it to the Study Leave Committee.  After the period of Sabbatical/Study Leave the adviser will be on hand to de-brief clergy and help them with their re-entry into ministry.

Without being over prescriptive, it is generally envisaged that Sabbaticals will include three elements: a holiday, a course of study and a retreat.  A period of about three months should be regarded as normative.

Parishes and deaneries are encouraged to take an interest in Sabbatical/Study Leaves not only in helping to provide cover, but also by setting up clergy development funds that can be used to help towards the costs of a period of Sabbatical/Study Leave.  It is helpful if clergy planning sabbaticals can agree the dates in good time with the Area Dean to help with planning, especially in those Deaneries where resources available to take services may be stretched.

Where possible, other sources of funding should be sought – patrons in some cases, trusts and occasionally the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group can provide funds. 

Applicants will be asked to complete an application form that will include an outline of how they plan to spend their Sabbatical/Study Leave and a budget to show how they plan to finance it.  A limited number of grants is available from the Diocese and applications must be received by 31^st May to be considered for the following year.  

Clergy are not encouraged to take Sabbatical/Study Leave within the first three years of a new appointment or during the early part of the training of a curate serving a title for whom they have responsibility.