Pastoral Sabbatical Policy

At the recommendation of the Personnel Committee, in May 2020 the Session approved a pastoral sabbatical policy for Fourth Presbyterian Church. This policy, which is a common practice in Presbyterian churches, offers pastors a time for renewal and learning.

In particular, the Fourth Church sabbatical policy encourages our clergy to take a three-month sabbatical, with full salary and benefits, during or following their seventh year of ministry at Fourth Church.

While on sabbatical, the pastor takes a full and complete break from their pastoral role: they do not lead worship, funerals, weddings, or baptisms or take part in any administrative responsibilities.

Afterwards, the pastor’s return becomes an intentional period of energizing the ongoing partnership with the congregation as the pastor shares what they have learned in their time away.

The exact timing and scope of any sabbatical is subject to Session approval.

Shannon Kershner Sabbatical

Pastoral Sabbatical Policy

At their October 2021 meeting, Session enthusiastically granted approval to Shannon Kershner for her proposed sabbatical of May 9–August 1, 2022.

After joining us in ministry in May 2014, Shannon will be taking this sabbatical time for a period of reflection and contemplation and conversation with other clergy about renewed intentionality and purpose in ministerial life.

Shannon obtained a grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Clergy Renewal Programs, which will not only fund her learning and retreat opportunities but also provide honorarium for guest preachers from whom we might learn and be renewed during the time of sabbatical. (Shannon will follow the sabbatical with her annual two-week planning time for fall and so will return to the office on Tuesday, August 16.)

During the sabbatical, Lucy Forster-Smith will serve as Head of Staff, and the Senior Leadership Team, Program Staff, and congregational leadership will have things well in-hand. The Personnel Council has set up a small task force to support the staff during the sabbatical, and our Co-Clerks of Session, as well as the leadership of Trustees, will continue to keep our momentum growing as we emerge from these COVID days.

From Shannon Kershner’s Congregational letter

February 19, 2022

My sabbatical is coming up quickly. My last Sunday in a pulpit will be on May 8, when I preach at First Presbyterian Church of New York City as a part of their celebration of the Reverend Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick’s “Shall the Fundamentalists Win?” sermon. He preached that sermon 100 years ago this May, and in marking that anniversary First, New York is bringing in four different preachers to explore our own take on that topic. I will preach something about “Shall the ______ Win?” Between now and May 8, I shall fill in that blank. My three-month sabbatical begins immediately after I pronounce the benediction that Sunday. I will then be gone until mid-August.

Many of you have asked what I plan to do while I am experiencing that time of renewal. I will be doing some traveling, but my primary focus will center on getting ready for the second half of my ministry. I have been in full-time congregational ministry since May 1999 and have never experienced a time of intentional renewal for this work. This summer marks a kind of “hinge” time in my ministry. So, for example, I am looking forward to visiting with four more seasoned clergywomen who are either close to retirement or who have recently retired. I am planning on asking them questions like “If you could do anything differently in the last ten years of your ministry, what might that have been?” and “What do you wish you had known at age 50 that you know now?”

I am also going to participate in other worship services in different areas of the country so I can be fed as a participant rather than as a leader. I plan on spending some wonderful time with Greg and our kids, my parents, college friends, and other clergy friends. And I do indeed expect to rest.

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