“What exactly is Dr. Ezell doing this summer?” “What is BBC doing this summer?”

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The Story

Three years ago, BBC Trustees approved my request for sabbatical, which BBC provides for ministers every seven years. However, the sabbatical I requested is not typical of those many are familiar with. This one requires a sabbatical committee, a significant grant proposal, the support of the congregation, and a commitment of three to four months of leave. The sabbatical I am taking is entirely funded by an Eli Lilly Endowment grant, which provides funds for leave-taking ministers as well as for their church, covering expenses related to the pastor’s leave. My first proposal was rejected by the Endowment committee, likely due to the busyness of the itinerary, which appeared to the grant committee as too much work. The committee tends to reject proposals that appear as veiled excuses to do more work. Thus, my sabbatical can not be defined as a “working” sabbatical. Instead, the aim of Lilly-funded sabbaticals is to nurture longevity in ministry.

 

Again, rather than a “working” sabbatical, the Clergy Renewal Lilly Endowment proposal focuses on rest and joy – which ideally leads to longevity in ministry. Successful proposals must fulfill that requirement by satisfying this question: “What Will Make Your Heart Sing?” The Lilly Clergy Renewal grant is about connecting with what brings the minister joy, which ultimately translates into ministry health and success. My proposal was designed to do exactly that … and, by the way, of the 200+ grant recipients around the world, my proposal won the only grant of its kind given in Louisiana, thanks to BBC, the Trustee Council, and my sabbatical committee (Carol Wicks, Donna Dooley, Pat Parish, and Skipper Spurlock). The following is the introduction to the program from the online Lilly renewal workbook.

 

“What will make your heart sing?”

“It is a simple question, but one that holds profound possibilities for renewing the ministries of pastors and congregations. Drawing on the wisdom of ‘sabbath’ rest traditions within scripture and the life of the church, Clergy Renewal Programs seek to provide opportunities for pastors and congregations to explore this question together and design programs to help their pastors reconnect with their deep roots and sources of joy in ministry and in life. We believe that when pastors have the opportunity to step away from their congregations and engage in activities that make their heart sing, the whole church benefits.”

2026 Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program at Christian Theological Seminary booklet

 

The Endowment goal is to help support ministers and slow the rate in which ministers around the world are leaving the ministry for other fields due to burnout. The grant is intended to provide ministers with the needed funds to take time to pursue personal interest, rest, and time with family. The grant also provides funding for the church to cover the cost of pulpit supply and other needs the church will have while the pastor is away. The committee and staff have worked with me to plan for all the activities and needs of the church during the months of my absence. We have tried to ensure that all areas are covered and if unexpected circumstances arise, there will be appropriate personnel to cover the need. From time to time, we may call upon willing members, deacons, and others to share some of the ministry load, depending on the level and timing of need. This is especially the case for June 4-5, 8-12, and 15-19, if you have some availability in your schedule to help us with pastoral care support. Thank you.

 

What this Means for BBC and Dr. Ezell

Although my sabbatical is not defined as the “working” type, it turns out that “What Makes My Heart Sing” and brings me joy, will also benefit the church in tangible ways. It should provide for more engaging Bible studies, sermons, and worship planning, not to mention a healthier and more energized Leonard, and, ideally, a deeper well of spirituality. The truth is that what people experience of ministers on the outside is inseparably linked to the condition of ministers on the inside. In his book Under the Unpredictable Plant Eugene Peterson, author of The Message Bible translation, challenges pastors to protect our vocation by not getting caught up in the rat-race of Western secular expectations. He states, “If pastors are busy ‘running the store,’ then who will be the pastors?” The goal, he says, is to recover that sense of holy vocation.