At its meeting in October 2005, General Council Executive, pursuant to the direction of General Council 2003, adopted a Sabbatical Policy.
A sabbatical is a period of at least three consecutive months intentionally set aside for reflection, recreation and revitalization, unencumbered by their usual responsibilities, and yet still receiving remuneration and benefits. Sabbatical finds expression in study, rest, spiritual retreat and prayer.
Getting around has never been so easy, it seems. No matter what neighbourhood or even what country you happen to be in, you can check your GPS for directions that are highly reliable though not infallible. You can even program the soothing voice of “Brad from California” or “Bonnie from Australia” or even the comical voice of Bart Simpson (no joke) to direct you safely to your desired location.
Russell Small, the President of Newfoundland Labrador Conference, points the delegates gathered for the West District spring meeting to the story of the loaves and fishes. When told to feed those gathered, the disciples can’t. They are too busy with the details of the gathering. You know, all those meeting arrangements, last minute twists, technology snags. They are too busy. And too emptied by their bus-i-ness. What do you have to feed them, Jesus asks? Nothing, they reply! 
Like the rest of the members of Presbytery assembled in the small church, I sensed that something was wrong before I actually KNEW it. I kept trying to ignore a faint squawking at the edge of my consciousness. I glanced back once to see that the church doors were open, and assumed the commotion was outside. Then Dan stopped preaching, glanced up, and said, “Wow. Look at that!”
We spend a lot of time celebrating the inspired leadership of Moses as he fought for the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian tyranny and then led them for many years on their arduous journey to a new land. For all his God-accompanied, Spirit-centred leadership the full humanity of Moses shines through those stories. We often get glimpses of this congregational leader figuring out how to deal with the next crisis and learning from his experiences.
Extend and receive welcome.People learn best in hospitable spaces. In this circle we support each other’s learning by giving and receiving hospitality.
Legend has it that before the voyages of Columbus and other Western adventurers, European mapmakers inscribed the words ne plus ultra, “there is no more, “ at the far edges of their maps. After the voyages of Columbus and others, these same mapmakers revised both their maps and their visions of reality. Although they had little knowledge of what lay beyond the far horizon, these mapmakers knew enough to inscribe the words plus ultra, “there is more,” at the Western perimeters of their maps.
PILGRIM, n, a traveler that is taken seriously ~ Ambrose Bierce
Keith Howard's VST Convocation address
Greetings,
The terms pastoral care, spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, and spirituality all have particular meanings that overlap yet are distinctive. Some contend that all pastoral care is grounded in spirituality, while others say that pastoral care is the all-inclusive category for all modes of care, including spiritual direction.
Our Vision:
Call to mind the image of the Body of Christ, many parts - different roles; many gifts/charisms - different work. As one part changes all are affected: to thrive or to suffer.As those whose role and work is to offer spiritual leadership, our spiritual health - regardless of what we say or do - impacts the Body, we need to tend our own garden. 
One afternoon, my four-year-old daughter came home from her Scottish Country Dance class. She bounced in, gave me a hug, and said, "I held the centre today!" Then she bounced out.
A sabbatical in pastoral ministry is not like a sabbatical in the academic world. The challenges and stresses inherent in the rhythms of ministry lead to different needs for an extended sabbath time. The emotional and spiritual demands of ministry led me to need emotional and spiritual renewal.