[EA]

Nahkoe,

I don't know what the answer is in your situation, but I do know that there are times when a pastor needs to step away for a bit. When he needs to escape it all for a while, just to maintain sanity.

See, when a pastor is under heavy stress, it's not enough to step away from the pulpit, because the pulpit is not the real issue. I have found that carrying the weight of everybody's problems can be very depressing, at times. And if a pastor steps away from the pulpit, but comes to every service, those needs are still gonna be there. So, I understand the need for a total break.

IMO, three months does seem a bit long, but I am old school. I rarely miss a pulpit session, and rarer still, miss a service. I am learning to pace myself. My first several years as a pastor, I have chained myself to the work. The next few, I intend to involve others quite a bit more.