Congregational Church Reverend Takes Sabbatical

Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter recently started a three-month long sabbatical from reports Newsday.

The sabbatical is themed around renewal for both himself and the church, and is being paid for by a $42,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment National Clergy Renewal Program.

Wolter says in the article that the organization sponsoring the grant asked him what would renew his soul, which is a question the always-on-the-move man never had before.

"It's usually, 'Will you take on another assignment, will you come visit so-and-so who is dying?' Those are all very important things, but they are exhausting," Wolter says in the story.

Kathy Ljungqvist, Wolter's assistant, says in the story that he is constantly going and that he really needs rest. Wolter reportedly works seven days and four nights a week according to the story while juggling all of the responsibilities of the church, including community events, soup kitchens and .

Wolter will spend the majority of the summer sabbatical traveling through Germany and South Africa with his son, but will also do some church activities such as a retreat on Shelter Island.

For more about the sabbatical and from members of the church, read the full article on Newsday.