St. Stephen’s, Millburn has received a grant of $48,666.00 to enable its rector, the Rev. Paula J. Toland (right), to participate in the 2023 National Clergy Renewal Program. St. Stephen’s is one of 177 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, which is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Established by the Endowment in 2000, the program’s grants allow Christian congregations to support their clergy with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities.
Clergy whose congregations are awarded the grants use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the “Sabbath time” concept, offering clergy a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, prayer and immersive arts and cultural experiences.
Through the National Clergy Renewal Program, congregations apply for grants of up to $60,000 to support renewal programs for their clergy. Collaborative in nature and implementation, the program allows congregations to partner with their clergy in developing experiences that address their unique renewal needs and aspirations. Recognizing that clergy’s families are subject to the stress and demands placed on pastoral leaders, the program encourages clergy to involve their families in renewal activities. Congregational needs during the clergy’s renewal experience also are considered. Up to $25,000 of the grant may be used to support interim pastoral leadership during the clergy’s retreat, as well as renewal activities within the congregation. Since the National Clergy Renewal Program’s inception, more than 3,527 congregations have participated in the program, including the 177 congregations receiving grants in 2023.
The heart of this sabbatical is opening paths to experience God more deeply and to embody faith in ways that are not the ordinary and which excite her senses. In a total of fourteen weeks of sabbatical in Spain, the United Kingdom, New Mexico, and Colorado, Rev. Toland will be present to God in time and space other than her usual: in holy places and sacred spaces, seeing the sights, meeting the people, eating the food, and being still in the presence of God. The first couple of weeks and the last month, she will enjoy time with family and friends. While she is away and in the months between the legs of her sabbatical, the congregation will explore the idea of spiritual pilgrimage through sacred stories and shared meals.
“Pastors play an important role in nourishing the spiritual lives of individuals and in guiding the work of the Christian congregations they serve,” said Christopher L. Coble, the Endowment’s vice president for religion. “Through these grants, we seek to honor pastors for their extraordinary service and enable them to engage in a brief period of rest and renewal. We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well.”
Dr. Robert Saler, director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, noted that the National Clergy Renewal Program integrates key attributes of healthy congregations, including a mutual respect for the renewal needs of both ministers and the congregations they serve. “The program provides an opportunity for congregations to express appreciation for their ministers’ service and leadership,” Saler said. “At a time when leaders are often praised for their pace of innovation and productivity, the National Clergy Renewal Program pays homage to the timeless wisdom embedded in the practice of reflection and renewal.”
Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis also directs the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana Congregations through its Center for Pastoral Excellence.
