Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kennebunk was awarded a $50,000 grant in 2020 to enable its minister, Pastor Rich Horner, to participate in the 2021 National Clergy Renewal Program. Holy Cross is one of 140 congregations across the United States selected to participate in this competitive grant program, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. and administered by Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

Established by in 2000, the program’s grants allow Christian congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from ministerial duties and responsibilities.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kennebunk was awarded a grant in 2020 that will enable Pastor Rich Horner to participate in the 2021 National Clergy Renewal Program. Dan King photo

Ministers use their time away from the demands of daily ministry to engage in reflection and renewal. The approach respects the “Sabbath time” concept, offering ministers a carefully considered respite that may include travel, study, rest, prayer and immersive arts and cultural experiences.

Through the National Clergy Renewal Program, congregations apply for grants of up to $50,000. Collaborative in nature and implementation, the program allows congregations to partner with their ministers in developing experiences that address their unique renewal needs and aspirations. Recognizing that ministers’ families are subject to the stress and demands placed on pastoral leaders, the program encourages pastors to involve their families in renewal activities. Congregational needs during the minister’s renewal experience also are considered.

“Pastors play an important role in nourishing the spiritual lives of individuals and in guiding the work of the Christian congregations they serve,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion, in an email. “Through these grants, we seek to honor pastors for their extraordinary service and enable them to engage in a brief period of rest and renewal. We have learned that such experiences invigorate the leadership of pastors and bring new vitality to their congregations as well.”

Up to $15,000 of the grant may be used to support interim pastoral leadership during the pastor’s retreat, as well as renewal activities within the congregation. Since the National Clergy Renewal Program’s inception, more than 3,000 congregations have participated in the program.

The central component of Horner’s time away will be seven weeks spent walking the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage route running 480 miles from southern France, through northern Spain, ending at the Cathedral of St. James in the city of Santiago de Compostela. For one week each, he will be accompanied by his wife Barbara, son Drew, daughter Jenna, and son and daughter-in-law Todd and Robin.

The main theme of the sabbatical is learning about and experiencing spiritual practices associated with discernment: prayer, scripture reading, engagement with the created world, visiting with and hearing the stories of fellow pilgrims along the way.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Saler, research fellow and director of the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs, noted that the National Clergy Renewal Program integrates key attributes of healthy congregations, including a mutual respect for the renewal needs of both ministers and the congregations they serve.

“The program provides an opportunity for congregations to express appreciation for their ministers’ service and leadership,” Saler said in a written statement. “At a time when leaders are often praised for their pace of innovation and productivity, the National Clergy Renewal Program pays homage to the timeless wisdom embedded in the practice of reflection and renewal.”