An article in the June 2004 issue of BRI Reflections introducing May-Ellen Colón’s world survey on Adventist Sabbath observance stated: “Since the data indicate that the Sabbath brings stress to many in church leadership, a way needs to be found to reduce it for church leaders on Sabbath. The intense Sabbath routine of many church leaders clearly compromises their Sabbath rest and joy.” This article will further focus on this finding.

The difference between church leaders and laity for the Sabbath as a “Burden” factor was not statistically significant. Items in “Sabbath as a Burden” are: a judgmental attitude, a feeling of restriction, comparison with others when I go to church, boredom, and unhappiness. However, the difference between church leaders and laity for the Sabbath as a “Stressor” factor was statistically significant and higher for church leaders. The magnitude of this difference is the strongest in this study. The items within the Sabbath as a “Stressor” factor are: fatigue because of too many Sabbath activities, lack of time for family, and pressure and stress.

Because church leaders have higher stress on Sabbath than does laity, their ability to really rest on the Sabbath is limited. The Sabbath appears to be somewhat less personally meaningful to church leaders and health-care professionals. The fact that these two groups need to be on duty on Sabbath might contribute to this. Sample answers reflected some church leaders’ personal/family concerns regarding unrestful Sabbaths:

Sabbath is a wonderful time for spiritual communication with God, but a pastor almost never has time for this.” (Moldova)

“As a pastor, it is a day that I cannot completely appreciate in all of the fullness of my relationship with my Creator.” (Venezuela)

“I look forward to this special time with Him, but I have to admit that as a Levite I feel under pressure with Friday vespers, Sabbath a.m. sermon, meetings Sabbath afternoon, and appointments Saturday night.” (United States)

Often Sabbath is the pastors’ busiest day—and, yes, working in the service of God is in harmony with the object of the Sabbath (Matt 12:5; John 7:21-23; The Desire of Ages, p. 285). But even though spiritually beneficial, training events, preaching, etc., can be tiring, many preachers and teachers are more tired because of the way they spent Sabbath, instead of being physically, emotionally, and spiritually refreshed.

Church leadership as well as individuals need to look at these data and seek ways to ameliorate this trend. A way needs to be found that will allow church leaders including pastors and others to have some kind of Sabbath rest and to experience Sabbath as a day of fellowship, joy, and refreshment. How can they teach it and not experience rest themselves? In a General Conference Leadership Council church leaders were reminded that they need to be less casual about the Sabbath and intentionally provide time for keeping it. It is more than regrettable if pastors do not enjoy God’s wonderful gift of the Sabbath. What can be done? Here are some suggestions:

1. We should prepare well for the Sabbath and keep certain activities out of the Sabbath that may be acceptable per se but do not enhance our experience of keeping the Sabbath. As much as possible we prepare sermons, devotionals, Sabbath School lessons, seminars, and evangelistic campaigns during the week. The Sabbath must be a special day for pastors too.

2. We should ask God to give us a positive attitude and help us to joyfully anticipate the Sabbath day. We perceive Sabbath as a wonderful privilege not only to meet God but also to meet our church(es) and to minister to our brothers and sisters, youth and children, and other people. Our own attitude will to a large extent determine how we experience the Sabbath with its workload.

3. It is true that pastors and other church leaders may not be able to change some situations in their ministry on Sabbath. Therefore, there must be a way to reframe scenarios that are not going to change. As church leaders, we need to ask ourselves, “Who is the force behind my ministry? In whose name do I minister?” Ministry wears us down if it is done in our own strength. It may not be wrong to be physically tired at the end of the Sabbath, but if we are constantly physically exhausted, we could become spiritually exhausted. If we are physically exhausted we will be too tired to pray, read the Word, etc., and replenish our spiritual supply. The physical and the spiritual are related.

4. Whereas some pastors may enjoy an easy life, others tend to become workaholics–even on Sabbath. Both extremes must be avoided. We do not withdraw from our responsibilities, neither do we put too much into the Sabbath hours. Searching for God is the most important reason for keeping the Sabbath. We should not consider the Sabbath to be the major day for ministry and outreach. Our whole life should be built around ministry—not just on Sabbath. Ministry is compatible with the Sabbath, but it is not to be the only day to minister.

5. We must take one day off per week. If on a particular Sabbath we are unavoidably physically exhausted, we need to be sure the rhythm of our week is such that the overdraft on our physical energy account is replenished before long.

6. We should intentionally plan personal spiritual retreats of quiet study, prayer, and meditation, preferably in a special place.

7. We should intentionally plan time with our spouse and our family each week.

Whatever works best in each situation will need to be decided, but the watchword is “intentionality.”

The Sabbath can transform us. Even though church leaders may not always be able to change some ministry situations during Sabbath, we can, by His grace, choose to receive our strength for ministry from Jesus. We can intentionally choose to come to Jesus during the Sabbath hours to bask in His special Sabbath rest. We need to be as intentional about our Sabbath rest as we are about working for God in church duties. The Lord of the Sabbath is saying to us, “Come unto me on the Sabbath, all you pastors/church leaders who serve Me on my Holy Day, who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, author’s paraphrase).