Sabbaticals Can Save Ministry Leaders and Ministries (Part 3) with Grady Davidson
April 19, 2023
This season is all about spiritual rhythms and disciplines, and we’ve been using the last few episodes to focus on sabbaticals, a continuation of the practice of sabbath rest. In this episode, Micki Ann chats with our final guest of the season, pastor Grady Davidson, as he outlines his sabbatical experience.
Grady began thinking about pursuing a sabbatical after nearly thirteen years as a pastor at Lookout Valley Presbyterian Church. With the support of his leadership, encouragement from mentors, and assistance from the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program, the Davidson family set off on a fifteen-week sabbatical. This time was broken up into trips and activities that focused on three areas: exploring the past, embracing the present, and envisioning the future. The result was a fruitful time of rest and refocusing that not only refreshed Grady and his wife but provided him with the perspective and wisdom needed for the unexpected Covid season that developed just months after he returned to ministry.
Join us for the final episode of season 5 as Grady shares the three areas he hoped to address through the sabbatical, and stay till the end to hear about “the spiritual gift of plodding.”
Jump Through the Conversation
[0:26] Rhythms of sabbath and sabbaticals
[1:53] Introducing Grady Davidson
[3:44] The importance of sabbaticals
[5:15] Defining sabbaticals
[6:41] Thoughts and conversations leading to Grady’s sabbatical
[10:27] Areas of focus for sabbatical
Grady’s pulpit ministry
Family and marriage
Empowering congregation to serve
[18:15] Preparing the church for Grady’s absence
Finding a temporary pastor
Outlining worship services
Organizing special events
[20:39] Content of Grady’s sabbatical
Exploring the past
Tour of Israel and Jordan
Road trips with wife to places they’d lived
Embracing the present
Beach time with family
Integrating The Daily Office
Envisioning the future
11 day solo trip in Montana
[33:00] Processing the past
[38:46] Takeaways and returning to ministry
[42:32] Change in spiritual practices
[46:38] Call to denominational leaders to advocate for sabbaticals
[48:23] Final thoughts: “the spiritual gift of plodding”
A resource of the Chattanooga House of Prayer