Purpose
    A time of renewal for clergy is energizing not just for the clergyperson, but also for the staff and the congregation. It is an important part of maintaining the commitment, passion, and skill for and a focus on ministry.  A time apart encourages a person to step off the treadmill long enough to rest, renew, and clarify vision for life and work. In the biblical tradition keeping Sabbath is essential to maintaining one's relationship with God. We believe that the Clergy Renewal Plan of the Louisiana Annual Conference will deepen the spiritual lives of our pastors and result in building up strong spiritual leaders to serve the Church.

Benefits
   • Encourages longer pastorates. Congregations have a difficult time realizing long-term goals without long-term pastorates. If a minister is serving a congregation well, a renewal time will increase his or her chances of a longer, more effective pastorate in that congregation.
   • Enhances the role of the spiritual leader.  Spiritual deepening does not take place when one is consumed by a never-ending list of pastoral duties and situations. Spiritual deepening has to be an intentional act of being apart. Jesus lived a balanced life of being with and being apart for intentional work. 
   • Allows personal and professional development.  A person in ministry is not only a spiritual leader, but also a leader in the management and administration of the church. Persons appointed to ministry beyond the local church also often have responsibilities beyond their role as spiritual leader. Clergy need time to develop and refresh those leadership skills as well as their spiritual lives.
   • Prevents burnout.  Allowing the pastor a fire escape from the unending demands of ministry is a way to ensure that he or she remains vital and healthy.  Time for clergy renewal assists in lowering the possibilities of burnout.
   • Eases the paradox of ministry. Clergy are constantly invited to overextend. A renewal time allows them to take a break from the pressure to overextend and perhaps to establish new patterns for ministry and self-care.
   • Encourages congregational self-sufficiency. Congregations that become overly dependent on clergy leadership are clearly more vulnerable than those that have developed the capacity to run themselves for several months at a time. Effective, healthy congregations exhibit a good balance between clergy and lay leadership. Clergy renewal time is a wonderful way for laity to claim certain roles within a congregation that correspond with the gifts they have been given by God. The congregation will have a much better understanding of the demands on the pastor, and thus a greater appreciation for his or her ministry.

Eligibility
    A clergyperson who has been a member of the Louisiana Annual Conference for four years and serving in a full-time appointment will be eligible to apply for a renewal grant.  It is expected that the pastor will return to the current appointment following the renewal leave for the following year.

Design
    The congregation and pastor will work together on the design for the Clergy Renewal Plan. In the case of those in extension ministries, the governing board or its equivalent will work with the clergy on the design. The application must be submitted by the clergyperson and his or her congregation or governing body. It is understood that the salary and benefits package of the person taking clergy renewal time will continue uninterrupted during the leave. 

Length of Renewal Program
    A time of one to two months provides for flexibility and creativity. The goals of a Clergy Renewal Plan under this approach may include spiritual renewal, intellectual stimulation, physical and emotional refreshment, strengthening of family relationships, or a wide variety of other possible objectives.

Components of the Renewal Time
    Regardless of the length of the renewal time, each proposal should include a retreat and reflection component. The retreat and reflection time should be appropriate to the total length of the leave. Time should be allowed for silence, worship, and prayer, as well as time to be guided by a spiritual director. We urge that creativity guide the structure of the Clergy Renewal Plan. During the time apart, the clergyperson should maintain a journal, written or taped.

Application Process
     In the agreed-upon spirit that the Clergy Renewal Plan is a joint effort between the pastor and congregation or governing body, the applicant is to write a one- to three-page Plan for Clergy Renewal (double spaced in a 12-point font). In this application, the applicant should spell out clearly, step by step, how both the congregation, or governing body, and the clergyperson have worked together in developing the proposal as well the specific plans for renewal. The Renewal Plan is then submitted to the clergyperson's SPR committee or governing body. A copy of the plan is also given to the director of the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness and the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (CBOM). In addition, the final draft of the Clergy Renewal Plan is to be filed with the District Superintendent.

Application Submission
   • The Director of the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness, the District Superintendent, and members of the CBOM can be helpful in working with the clergyperson and the SPR committee or governing body in planning for Clergy Renewal.
   • Three months prior to the beginning of the renewal time a plan must be submitted to the CBOM for the Louisiana Annual Conference. 
   • During the renewal time, the District Superintendent will be invited to preach at least once in the church. 
   • During the renewal time the clergyperson is to be in touch with the District Superintendent for support, assistance if needed, and accountability.
   • Within six weeks after returning from the renewal experience, the clergyperson shall submit a report about the experience to the director of the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness, the CBOM, and the District Superintendent. He or she should also share discoveries and experiences with the congregation.
   • The District Superintendent shall have a time to meet with the returning clergyperson and the SPR committee of the local congregation, or the appropriate body in the case of extension ministry, for a debriefing about the renewal experience.

Costs
   • The congregation shall continue to pay the full salary and benefits of the pastor. Travel expense is usually not paid during a renewal time. Beyond salary, the congregation is not expected to pay for the renewal experience.
   • The church and pastor are to submit a budget on which all agree for the time of the Clergy Renewal, acknowledging expected expenses and agreed-upon methods to meet those costs. This document should accompany the application for Clergy Renewal. Up to $750.00 per week is available from the Lilly Foundation Grant.

Points to Remember and Consider
   • Clergy renewal time is NOT an extended vacation and should not be used as a substitute for regular vacation time. All leave time must be continuous.
   • After returning from renewal time the clergyperson shall continue to serve his or her appointment for at least the remainder of that appointed year. Under no circumstances should a renewal time be used as a means to end an appointment.
   • Recent retirees may be enlisted to substitute for pastors during Clergy Renewal in order to minimize costs.

Clergy Renewal Brochure

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