A Well-Deserved Sabbatical: Senior pastor Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka to be away for the summer season

Dear Village Church Family,

At the beginning of June, our Session, upon the recommendation of our personnel committee, voted to approve a sabbatical leave for me. I am deeply grateful. The word “sabbatical” comes from the word “sabbath.” The fourth of the 10 commandments calls us to “remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy” and recalls, in the first creation story, that on the seventh day God rested.

After a pastor has served seven years, our Heartland Presbytery encourages churches to grant a sabbatical leave of three months. I was eligible last year, but we delayed it because we were searching for our senior associate pastor and a congregational care pastor had resigned. Thankfully, the Session and I agree that the timing is right for me to be gifted a sabbatical this year.

When is the sabbatical? I will be away from July 1 through Sept. 30.

What will I do? Rest and renewal are critical components of the sabbatical tradition. For me, reading is restful. I look forward to spending time with family and friends. I will also spend several weeks traveling in Japan and developing my Japanese language skills. I will walk the Kumano Kodo, an ancient pilgrimage trail somewhat like the Camino de Santiago. I also plan to spend time researching the book of Revelation at the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on the Greek island of Patmos in the Aegean sea in preparation for preaching and teaching when I return this fall.

Who will take on my responsibilities while I am away? I am so grateful for gifted colleagues who have agreed to take on extra responsibilities. Rev. Dr. Diane Janssen Hemmen, our senior associate pastor, will be acting head of staff and moderator of Session—leading the ministries and mission of the church alongside Kathy Lueckert, our senior director of business operations. Our pastors will share preaching responsibilities and congregational care. We also plan to invite a guest preacher to cover a couple of Sundays.

I am so grateful for the call to serve among you here at Village Church. I am mindful that a sabbatical is an incredible privilege. I covet your prayers for me during this time and will be praying for all of you while I am away and look forward to sharing more with you upon my return in early October!

Gratefully, Rodger