Sabbatical and Continuing Education Resources
Sabbatical and Continuing Education Resources
From the On-going Care Team of Committee on Ministry. Updated January 2018.
Each of the Presbyterian seminaries has particular programs and continuing education opportunities. Our local Presbyterian seminary is Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Links to all our seminaries and their continuing education programs are published on the Presbyterian Mission page of the PC(USA) site.
Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program
- A competitive grants program open to Christian congregations that have an ordained pastor
- Approximately 100 grants are awarded annually
- Sabbaticals may be taken in one 3-4 month chunk, or in smaller increments
Board of Pensions, PCUSA. Sabbatical grants for pastors of smaller churches
Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI
- Seminars in Christian Scholarship and Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
- Some partial stipends are offered
- Denominational Program to become part of a covenant community of colleagues practicing spiritual, intellectual and vocational disciplines. Annual subscription. Look for “Daily Prayer” on Google Play or in the App Store.
Denominational conferences
- Conference listings are available at the PC(USA) site.
- The Big Tent conference convenes on odd-numbered years
Presbyterian Church (USA) national and regional conference centers:
- Ghost Ranch – Abiquiu, New Mexico
- Stony Point Center – Stony Point, NY
- Montreat Conference Center – Montreat, NC
- Crestfield Camp and Conference Center offers free retreat accommodations, pending availability, to ministers of congregations in Pittsburgh Presbytery, and hosts many renewal programs through the year
Other Resources to Consider
- “What Difference does a Pastoral Sabbatical Make?” by Sheldon Sorge, available from him on request
- Programs offered by the Leadership Institute at Duke Divinity School
Suggested texts on sabbatical programs found at www.rowman.com (formerly Alban)
- Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning by A. Richard Bullock and Richard J. Bruesehoff.
- Journeying toward Renewal by Melissa Bane Sevier