Global Sabbaticals Timeline

Please note that the expected timeframe from receiving an expression of interest to departing for a Global Sabbatical is six to nine months (though you can make an expression of interest sooner than that if preferred). You must have completed the necessary processes as stipulated by SO744 and the procedures set out by your District Sabbaticals Advisory Group. 

Express interest – Complete the online form.

Video call – A member of the Global Encounter Programmes team will organise a call with you to discover more about your hopes for the Global Sabbatical.

Placement matching – The Programmes team will connect with the Partnership Coordinators who will send your profile to partner churches to decide if they have an opportunity that matches your skills, competencies, interests and vocational experience.

Training – You’ll be required to complete some training before departure. This is delivered online in collaboration with Cliff College. You’ll choose when to complete this within a specific timeframe before departure.

Briefing – You'll attend a full country briefing with the Global Relationships team (usually hosted at Methodist Church House, London) where you will learn in depth about the country and specific context you will be travelling to.

Go on your Global Sabbatical – You’ll depart to partner with a church in the world, contributing to their mission and ministry for one to three months.

Return home – Arrive back to the UK. Reconnect with your family, churches, friends and wider community.

Debriefing – Our experienced team will be able to guide you through processing and reflecting on your Global Sabbatical. This is likely to be an immediate debrief (a few weeks after you return) followed by a longer-term debrief, around six months post-return.

Inspire and share – Once you’ve settled back into the UK, use your experience to inspire others in your churches, circuit and beyond! This might be through implementing things you have seen and experienced in worship, developing how you minister to your congregations, or enhancing your leadership after gaining insights from a global partner. You might also connect with connexional colleagues, utilising your experience to feed into MCB’s strategic work on issues of, for example, justice or Church growth. We also love to engage past Global Sabbatical participants with the briefing of our new ones.