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About
Global Sabbaticals offer presbyters and deacons of the Methodist Church in Britain (MCB) the opportunity to spend one to three months sharing in the mission and ministry of a partner church in another part of the world. In doing so, you’ll be able to refresh, renew and re-root your spiritual life.
In accordance with SO744, the usual sabbatical process should be followed. You must ensure that you have liaised with your District Sabbaticals Advisory Group prior to expressing your interest in a Global Sabbatical.
Why undertake a Global Sabbatical?
A Global Sabbatical gives you an opportunity to reignite your calling through connecting with a global partner of MCB.
You’ll be able to develop your vocation as you:
- Become part of the bigger mission of God. Worldwide encounters are crucial to growing and strengthening our global relationships. Through your placement, you will join in the mission of God happening all over the world.
- Travel in mutuality. Your Global Sabbatical is organised in equal partnership with your host church – a partner of MCB. Together, you decide how to share skills, time and resources so that the benefits are mutual as you jointly contribute to the ongoing mission of God.
- Receive high-quality training and preparation. Our highly skilled and experienced team, in collaboration with Cliff College, will provide in-depth briefing, training and debriefing so that you feel fully prepared and supported before, during and after your Global Sabbatical.
- Seek justice. Our global church partners are tackling injustices every day. You’ll encounter what they are doing in their context and how this might connect back to your ministry and the wider work of MCB.
- Continue the journey when you get home. We’ll support you to reflect well on the time spent with the global partner and to ensure that you feel re-equipped and re-energised for ministry back here in Britain.
What could I do on my Global Sabbatical?
Our Global Sabbaticals are tailored to the agreed vocational aims and objectives of your sabbatical. This means that each one is different. However, they tend to fit broadly into the following areas:
- Participating or contributing to an approved programme of study.
- Undertaking research.
- Contributing to work that is different to your ordinary ministerial duties (eg assisting ministry in a totally different context).
- Gaining new experiences that could contribute to your ongoing ministry.
We take care to build in time for reflection and rest during the Global Sabbaticals, so that you return to your ordinary duties refreshed and not depleted.
Where could I go on my Global Sabbatical?
You could be placed anywhere in the world for one to three months as part of your planned sabbatical.
We take time to match you with a partner church that has expressed an interest in hosting a sabbatical placement. You will be placed where your skills, interests and vocational experience can be used best to serve that church or organisation and its community. We believe this is the best way to ensure that the partnership is equal and built upon mutuality.
The partner church will be your host, supporting you with day-to-day life in that place. Hosts will often contribute to your in-country costs (eg accommodation) and are the go-to people for your day-to-day needs while on a sabbatical placement. You will also have a dedicated mentor whose role will be to support you in your activities and to help you to process the new cultures and traditions you will experience.
Support
The Global Relationships team will be here to support you all the way from submitting the expression of interest form through to returning home from your Global Sabbatical.
Our Global Encounter Programmes team will be on hand before, during and after the Global Sabbatical to guide you through the different stages of the programme. They will advise you on travel logistics, how to keep healthy and how to keep safe – among many other things! We partner with Cliff College to ensure that you are equipped to travel well during your Global Sabbatical.
Our Partnership Coordinator for the region in which you will be placed will provide an in-depth cultural briefing where you will learn about the country and the work of our church partners there.
Costs
Each Global Sabbatical is unique. This means the cost of each encounter is different depending upon where you are placed in the world.
Presbyters and deacons should budget for flights, accommodation, food, visas, vaccinations, insurance and personal expenses. Your sabbatical levy (£1,000) may be used to contribute towards these costs. We can assist you with the necessary budgeting and advice where needed.
To further discuss the costs, email gr.admin@methodistchurch.org.uk
What's next?
Know you’d like to take a Global Sabbatical and have completed the necessary District processes in accordance with SO744? Complete our Expression of Interest form.
If you have any questions, or require further information email roylev@methodistchurch.org.uk
