Denver Presbytery recommends all Sessions maintain a Clergy Renewal (also known as clergy leave or sabbatical) policy for all Ministers of Word and Sacrament who serve their congregation. This policy should be included as part of a Minister’s terms of call. We recommend a 3-month clergy renewal after every 7 years of service. Clergy Renewal is an investment in the long-term future of a congregation and the minister. Denver Presbytery supports that investment by providing Clergy Renewal Grants to assist in funding the time ministers are on leave, defraying the costs of a clergy renewal for congregations. Ministers planning to take clergy renewal in the year 2020 are invited to complete an application and submit a Clergy Renewal Proposal to the Committee on Ministry for consideration.
The grant funding deadline is October 1, 2019 for Clergy Renewal in the year ahead, 2020.
Funding requests may be made by the minister or the Session. The Clergy Renewal Proposal should be approved by the Session prior to submission.
Grants from the Committee on Ministry are prioritized in this manner:
a. Requests from solo-pastors serving a Denver Presbytery congregation.
b. Requests from congregations with fewer than 200 members.
Ministers may request funding for particular activities that pertain to the renewal plan approved by the session.
In the event that ministers from the same congregation request funding, the Committee on Ministry may distribute the grant between the two requesting entities in a proportion that benefits both grant requests.
The minister shall inform the Committee on Ministry of other grants he/she receives.
Clergy Renewal Grant recipients (whether a Session or minister) shall provide the Committee on Ministry a written report on the renewal experience within 3 months of the completion of the clergy renewal time.
The size of a grant in any given year is based on the number of applications received and the amount requested. However, normally no one leave will be funded for more than $10,000. For the 2020 Budget year $50,000 has been requested (proposed budget to be approved at the October Assembly)
To apply, please submit the Clergy Renewal Application (link below) along with a Clergy Renewal Proposal that includes:
Rationale
Timeline
Financial Plan
Benefit to both Minister and Congregation
Thank you for submitting your application and clergy renewal proposal in a timely manner so that it might be considered for funding.
Questions, contact Sandy Safford, Moderator of Committee on Ministry.