Applications for Board of Pensions Sabbath Sabbatical Support for Ministers of Churches with Fewer than 200 Members in the Synod

For the years 2008-2010 the Board of Pensions has initiated a Sabbath Sabbatical Grant pilot program by which the BOP will award grants of up to $3,000 to assist pastors of congregations with fewer than two hundred members, who can demonstrate financial need, to take sabbatical leaves of a at least a month’s duration.

PC(USA)

Click here for the application forms on the Synod's website.

To secure an application for Sabbath Sabbatical Support, please contact Clint McCoy, Synod Executive for Partnerships, or Administrative Assistant Nancy Lomberk who can send you an application form. Ministers should submit the completed application form through their presbytery.

In each of the next three years the Board of Pensions will make up to twelve grants available to ministers in the Synod of the Northeast. The synod’s process lodges the responsibility for recommending candidates and their proposals for Sabbath Sabbatical Support with the presbytery. Each presbytery determines its own process for selecting a grant proposal to submit to the synod. While applications are available through the synod, they must be completed and submitted through the presbytery. 

Click Read More for the information pertaining the requirements for the three years.

2008 -- The synod will receive requests from presbyteries immediately. The first twelve grants approved by presbyteries and received in the synod office with presbytery endorsement will be forwarded to the Board of Pensions by the synod. Only one grant per presbytery will be considered. The synod will advise presbyteries at intervals of March 1, May 1 and September 1 about the number of grants the synod has remaining for the year. Only applications submitted through the presbytery will be received; grant proposals from individuals will be returned with instructions to submit through the presbytery.

2009 – Beginning January 1, 2009 the synod will recognize only submissions from presbyteries that did not have a minister’s sabbatical plan forwarded by the synod to the BOP in 2008. However, after March 1, 2009 all remaining grants will be opened to proposals from all of the synod’s presbyteries. Approvals will be on a first-come-first-served basis and limited to one minister per presbytery. The synod will advise presbyteries on approximately May 1 and September 1 about the number of grants remaining for the year. Only applications submitted through the presbytery will be received; grant proposals the come directly to the synod from individuals will be returned with instructions to submit through the presbytery.

2010 – Beginning January 1, 2010 the synod will recognize only submissions from presbyteries that did not have a minister’s sabbatical plan forwarded to the BOP by the synod in 2008 & 2009. However, after March 1, 2010 all remaining grants will be opened to proposals from all of the synod’s presbyteries. Approvals will be on a first-come-first-served basis and limited to one minister per presbytery. The synod will advise presbyteries on approximately May 1 and September 1 about the number of grants remaining for the year. Only applications submitted through the presbytery will be received; grant proposals the come directly to the synod from individuals will be returned with instructions to submit through the presbytery.

Our hope is that this process will allow ministers from eligible-sized congregations to access the application form through the synod, and allow each presbytery to select the Sabbath Sabbatical proposal that it deems most appropriate for support based on the need of applicants and a proposal that is consistent with the grants’ purpose.

The Board of Pension requires a report from recipients of each Sabbath Sabbatical Grant to presbytery, synod and Board of Pensions following their sabbatical experience.