It’s not just about vacation.

This past week, I sat down with my mentor again. I’m meeting with him every week for 8 weeks as part of a leadership course I’m completing. On this occasion, we focused on something called, “Rule of Life” and where pastoral absences fit into Rule of Life.

What’s Rule of Life?

Based on Scripture, Rule of Life includes 13 markers within every Christian leader’s life that we should pay attention to, frequently asking, “Am I embracing these practices? Am I healthy in these areas?”

Here’s a quick breakdown of the 13:

1. Scripture (Psalm 1:1-3)
2. Silence/solitude (Mark 1:35)
3. Prayer (Luke 11:1-4)
4. Study (2 Timothy 2:15)
5. Sabbath (Exodus 20:8)
6. Simplicity (Hebrews 12:1-2)
7. Play/Recreation (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
8. Service/mission (Ephesians 2:10)
9. Care for the physical body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
10. Emotional health (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
11. Family (Ephesians 5:22-6:4)
12. Community (Hebrews 10:24-25)
13. Worship (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 13:15-16)

Absence Isn’t On The List

I know what you’re thinking. “Being absent doesn’t appear in the above list!” Nope, but Sabbath does, Play/Recreation does and Family does. These three Rules of Life are crucial to a leader’s health, but often require the leader to be absent.

Are pastor’s included?

Unfortunately, sometimes the people in the pew just see absence. In our culture, being absent or the word absence carries with it a negative connotation. This stems from heavy use within the Western scholastic world that we’ve grown up in.

i.e. The student was absent from class, and therefore received a detention.

And yet, the Oxford Dictionary of English defines “absence” as “the state of being away from a place or person” and “absent” as “not present in a place, at an occasion, or as part of something.”

Based on the definition, the word absence doesn’t carry a direct negative or positive connotation. It simply states a fact, but the reason for that fact is not directly revealed in the word itself.

The Why Is Crucial

Let’s come full circle back to pastors and the Rule of Life. The response of the church for a pastor’s absence should depend on the reason for that absence. And the church leadership can assist greatly by celebrating the why when the pastor is absent.

In this regard, I believe our church leadership champions this! They could really be the standard to follow and here’s how.

1. They allow my schedule to include Friday-Saturday off to give me a true weekend, ensuring that I Sabbath.
2. When situations cause me to serve on my weekend, they allow for days-in-lieu to be used within the next 30 days. This gives me occasional 3 and 4-day weekends for increased Play/Recreation opportunities. As a hunter and fisherman, this is huge!
3. They believe that my Family is my first ministry. My Sabbath and Play/Recreation often includes my family. However, our leadership also insists that I schedule and take my full vacation every year. This ensures that my family receives extended time where I’m solely devoted to them.

Still Not Convinced?

I can’t speak to the congregation’s perspective. But I know that I feel better, think better and serve better, when my times of Sabbath, Play/Recreation and Family are consistent.

These of course, doesn’t include the Rule of Life focused on Study. Which, to promote my leadership once again, they give me a week off every year, specifically set apart for studying and training.

This is outside of our regular regional conference by the way!

There are also times where Rules of Life for Service/Mission, Emotional Health and Community may require a pastor to be absent. Are we okay with that? Is it worth it?

As a pastor who has a church leadership that values these Rules of Life, I can speak from experience.

Healthy pastors are sometimes absent pastors.