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Rest: The Significance of Sabbatical
EVENT DATE & DETAILSThis workshop will be offered twice to offer the most scheduling flexibility for attendees. Attendees do not need to attend both sessions.
Workshop(s) are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
The rates of clergy burnout are at an all-time high with pastors and ministers leaving the workforce at an alarming rate. When this happens, the effect it has on a congregation can significantly impact the vitality and mission of the church.
The hope is for participants to better understand the personal cost and stress pastors and ministry leaders experience leading in today’s polarizing climate and those healthy measures, like a sabbatical, that can lead them to greater resiliency and longevity in vocational ministry.
This workshop will explore the positive impact a sabbatical can have on employees and the companies that provide them along with the growing body of research supporting these lasting benefits.
There will be special focus on looking at how churches, denominations and non-profits can develop an effective sabbatical policy and process for their staff as well as some best practices designed to help staff get the most out of their sabbatical experience.
Finally, the speakers will share Soul Shepherding’s approach to sabbaticals and how their organization equips and supports pastors and ministry leaders taking a sabbatical.
About the instructorDave serves on staff at Soul Shepherding, a non-profit ministry devoted to helping pastors, missionaries and ministry leaders go deeper with Jesus in emotional health and loving leadership. He is an experienced spiritual director, sabbatical coach, supervisor and manager of their Spiritual Direction Training Program.
He was drawn to Soul Shepherding when the unrelenting pace of ministry and a bitter church conflict left him feeling dry and disconnected from God. Despite being an experienced spiritual director and seminary-trained pastor, he was ready to go back to his old job in the medical field. Instead, he met with Dr. Bill Gaultiere for coaching, took a Sabbatical, and participated in a monthly pastors’ group. His subsequent emotional recovery and spiritual renewal reinvigorated his ministry to pastors and leaders.
Dave received a Master’s in Divinity from Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) with an emphasis in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. There, he served as adjunct faculty at the Institute for Spiritual Formation teaching classes on spiritual formation, facilitating retreats, leading student process groups, and providing spiritual direction to graduate and undergraduate students.
Dave has worked for over 20 years in pastoral ministry in churches throughout Southern California and has been an experienced spiritual director for the past 15 years.
Dave and his wife Rebecca live in Lakewood, California and are the proud parents of 4 adult children and one teenager. He loves camping, listening to music, riding his bike along the beach, and eating good Thai food with friends and family. Most of all he feels deep satisfaction companioning with those seeking to deepen their devotion to Jesus.
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