Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with former lead pastor Michael Hidalgo about why pastoral rest is a crisis-level need, how real sabbaticals differ from a leave of absence, and how his ministry Menuah helps small churches create practical, sustainable sabbatical plans—including pulpit supply, congregational care, and re-entry.

Key Points In Brief

• Michael Hidalgo’s background: 26 years in pastoral ministry, including a long season as lead pastor of Denver Community Church, followed by a thoughtful succession process.
• A healthy succession model: a two-year transition with an outside consultant, strong lay/staff involvement, and a focus on “pastoring well” rather than casting a new long-range vision.
• The burden in small churches: many solo/small-church pastors can’t take time away because there’s no bench, backup plan, or congregational framework.
• How Menuah serves churches: pulpit supply, congregational care, and administrative support—plus guidance for boards and congregations to build a sabbatical culture.
• Sabbatical vs. leave of absence: sabbatical is proactive renewal; leave of absence is typically reactive to breakdown, crisis, or disqualifying behavior.
• A practical recommendation: instead of “12 weeks all at once,” start with what’s doable (even 2 weeks) and build toward a sustainable pattern.
• A proven structure: “three months over two years” (inspired by the Lilly Clergy Renewal approach) often feels achievable and increases participation.
• Renewal categories: personal renewal (true rest/vacation), spiritual renewal (tending the soul), and professional renewal (skill growth that strengthens long-term calling).
• Sabbath must come first: sabbatical planning works best when leaders already practice weekly rhythms of rest, boundaries, and presence with God.
• Culture shift matters: when congregations understand sabbatical as renewal (not absence), they can become supportive participants instead of suspicious observers.

Key Takeaways

• Healthy transitions don’t happen accidentally. Succession works best when it’s intentional, slow enough to grieve and celebrate, and supported by objective outside help.
• Most pastors aren’t refusing rest—they’re trapped by systems. Without a plan (and a bench), even a short break can feel impossible.
• A sabbatical is not “time off”—it’s working differently. Renewal requires a plan, structure, and accountability so rest doesn’t become guilt or drift.
• Start small and build. A pastor who hasn’t had a Sunday off in years may need to begin with a couple of consecutive Sundays and grow from there.
• Congregations can grow through the process. When members are engaged (not just informed), the church learns shared responsibility and healthier rhythms.
• Boundaries reveal identity. Learning to say “no” and not be needed is often spiritual formation, not just leadership technique.

Notable Quotes

• “Sabbath actually just means to cease.”
• “We frame it around personal renewal, professional renewal, and spiritual renewal.”
• “What’s going to make your sabbatical terrible is if you don’t have a plan.”
• “We care about the Ten Commandments… except for the fourth.”
• “There’s a lot of freedom in not being needed.”
• “You find out real quick—you’re not nearly as important as you thought you were.”
• “When the congregation is engaged in it and not just informed, they actually grow too.”

Next Steps (Practical for Pastors and Boards)

1. Identify your ‘person of peace.’ Choose 1–2 trusted leaders who will advocate for the pastor, not just with the pastor.
2. Start with a doable win. If weekly Sabbath rhythms are weak, begin with 15 minutes a day (journaling/examen/prayer) and one protected weekly off-day.
3. Take two Sundays in a row. If the pastor rarely gets away, start with a short “proof of concept” and build trust.
4. Draft a sabbatical policy. Put the why, the rhythm, the goals (renewal), and the practical plan in writing for clarity and accountability.
5. Communicate early and clearly. Announce sabbatical plans 2–3 months ahead so the church understands it’s intentional renewal, not a crisis.
6. Delegate responsibility on purpose. Use the season to mobilize members (chairs, bulletin, pastoral care touchpoints), not to overload the remaining staff.
7. Plan re-entry. Decide how the pastor will be briefed, how email will be handled, and how the church will “share the load” after return.

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Q & A Transcript

Q: Who is Michael Hidalgo?

A: Michael is a long-time pastor who led Denver Community Church and later launched Menuah to help churches create sustainable sabbatical rhythms through staffing support and practical implementation coaching.

Q: What prompted Michael to step out of the lead pastor role?

A: During a season of solitude and reflection, Michael sensed a clear invitation from God to serve the local church differently, rather than continuing in the same role indefinitely.

Q: What made the succession plan at Denver Community Church healthier than most transitions?

A: It was intentional and slow, included an outside consultant for objectivity, involved lay leaders and staff, and kept Michael mostly out of the candidate search to avoid forcing “Michael 2.0.”

Q: What problem is Menuah trying to solve for small churches?

A: Many solo and small-church pastors can’t take rest because they don’t have substitute preaching, congregational care coverage, or a system that supports time away without fear.

Q: What services does Menuah provide?

A: Pulpit supply, congregational care, and administrative support—plus coaching on how to introduce sabbatical to boards, communicate it to congregations, plan it well, and re-enter well.

Q: How is sabbatical different from a leave of absence?

A: A leave of absence usually follows a crisis or behavior issue; sabbatical is proactive renewal that helps prevent breakdown and protects the church from the ripple effects of a leader’s exhaustion.

Q: What does an ‘ideal’ sabbatical include?

A: Personal renewal (vacation/rest), spiritual renewal (soul-tending like spiritual direction, counseling, silence/solitude), and professional renewal (learning, reading, training, writing, leadership development).

Q: How do you recommend churches start if sabbatical feels impossible?

A: Start with something achievable (like two weeks) and build toward a longer rhythm. A helpful framework is three months total over two years.

Q: What do you say to pastors who aren’t practicing weekly Sabbath at all?

A: Begin with the “lowest-hanging fruit” and rebuild daily/weekly rhythms. Without Sabbath and boundaries, sabbatical planning is much harder to sustain long-term.

Q: What’s the long-term vision for Menuah?

A: A decentralized network with regional directors and a regional “bench” of pastors who can serve churches within driving distance—potentially serving hundreds of churches a year and thousands over time.