The Diocese of Milwaukee encourages each parish to develop a policy for sabbatical leave for its clergy, to be taken somewhere between the completion of the fifth and seventh year of service to a particular congregation.  Such an agreement should be clearly described in the clergy person’s Letter of Agreement at the time of their call or appointment.   
 
The purpose of a sabbatical is to provide a time of rest, refreshment, and further formation for the clergy person and their family.  The usual period for a sabbatical is three months, which is taken in addition to the annual vacation allowance for the cleric.  During this time, the cleric receives all compensation and benefits, and the parish must provide for clergy coverage during the sabbatical time.  It is expected that a cleric will remain in their current call for at least one year following the sabbatical, unless other agreements have been arranged with the Vestry or Bishop’s Committee.
 
While it is not expected that the cleric will return from a sabbatical with a tangible ‘product’, it is reasonable to expect that the cleric will report on their activities during the sabbatical, highlighting ways in which their spiritual journey has been impacted by the experience.
 
The Bishop’s Office is working to establish a committee which can offer assistance to clergy and congregations anticipating an upcoming sabbatical time.