Pastor Dara’s Doctor of Ministry Journey and Sabbatical
In 2023, I started a Doctor of Ministry degree program at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. With a small cohort of fellow clergy, we met together online monthly, reading books and writing essays as we reflected on our experiences as full time clergy in our own church contexts around the country. The focus for my cohort was church leadership during times of crisis. Each May for those 3 years, we would meet in Dubuque for an intensive weeklong program and further instruction from our 2 professors.
After 3 years of study, I was ready in summer 2025, for a year of planning and implementing my doctorate project. Because the focus of a Doctor of Ministry degree is to benefit both the individual clergy leader and the congregation they are called to, we were asked to consider what kind of project would provide new insights and impact both. I decided to focus on a project that was both personal and I believe could have a positive impact on our Good Shepherd community.
Using my own experience with narcolepsy and our busy congregation, I created a project called “Finding Rest for Your Soul: Changing Attitudes around Sleep and Exhaustion in a Busy Congregation.” After getting my project approved by both my seminary professors and the University of Dubuque’s Internal Review Board (IRB), I was able to take the first steps of my project in fall of 2025. I created a survey to identify current attitudes of congregation members and community members around sleep and the connection, or lack of connection, to our spiritual health and our relationship with God.
Over 200 people filled out my survey and the results showed that while we understand rest is essential to our overall health, we don’t always focus on the relationship of sleep with faith. I also was able to see that there is mutual experience of shame when it comes to taking the rest we need if we feel it may impact how we are serving God. After this survey, I started 2 small groups in our congregation of mothers aged 30-50 to meet once a month for 6 months to talk about our experience of sleep and faith. After completing all the initial steps of my project, I am now at the writing phase. The timing has worked out well, as I am also due for a sabbatical.
Good Shepherd has had a sabbatical policy for its pastors since 2013, allowing for pastors to take a step away from their regular work to focus on rest and renewal after every 6 years. I have been able to support two of my clergy colleagues in taking their sabbaticals and in 2019, I was able to take an abbreviated time of rest as well. This summer, I am so grateful that the Good Shepherd Board and congregation will grant me my first 12-week sabbatical. During this time, I will be released from my regular pastoral duties while I focus on resting, writing my doctoral dissertation and spending time with my family.
The most important of these being taking time to rest and find renewal for my own soul. The term sabbatical comes from sabbath, which is the command from God for us to take time away to let ourselves rest. Sabbath is meant to be a part of the ordinary rhythm of our lives. As a full-time pastor, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend and doctoral study, finding time to rest is not easy for me. The words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30 that I used in the title for my doctoral project (see below) will also serve as guiding words for my sabbatical for the next 12 weeks:
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
In this passage, Jesus reminds us all that there is nothing in our lives that we must carry on our own and that the work we are called to do in this world, while good work, doesn’t mean we don’t also need time to rest. I am grateful to the Good Shepherd Congregation for this opportunity to grow in my pastoral identity and leadership skills and to take time away to renew. Over and over again during my doctoral study project, I repeated this blessing for myself and for study participants. It is a prayer and it is a hope, for myself and for all of us.
A Blessing for Rest
God loves us when we are at work and at rest.
God loves us when we are awake and asleep.
God loves us when we serve and when we step away from serving to care for ourselves. Our worth doesn’t come from what we do. We don’t need to earn our rest. May we receive the gift of rest as a gift of grace through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
FAQs for Pastor Dara’s Sabbatical
What is a sabbatical?
-A sabbatical is an intentional time away from regular duties to rest, renew and pursue growth opportunities. Sabbaticals are a part of a variety of vocations but are more common among those serving in academic institutions and faith communities.
Why now?
Good Shepherd has had a sabbatical policy in place for its pastors since 2013. The policy describes how after 6 years of service in the 7th year, the pastor is eligible for a sabbatical based on coordination with other Good Shepherd clergy.
With our current pastoral transition, is this really a good time for a sabbatical?
There is no ideal time for a pastor to take a sabbatical. It is with the support of the congregation and preparation work beforehand that a pastor takes this time away, trusting that things will continue as well as they can, with the hard work of staff and lay leaders and trusting in the Holy Spirit.
What can we do to support Pastor Dara during her sabbatical?
Pray for her time of rest and renewal and her work of writing her dissertation. Pray for her family as they support her through this time. Know that for the next 12 weeks, Pastor Dara won’t be available to answer calls or emails. The staff and pastors will also need your prayers as they continue their ministry to our community and their hard work. Practice sabbath keeping and support others in taking time they need to rest. Reflect on Matthew 11:28-30 and use the above blessing to pray for our congregation and yourself.
