DIMENSIONS
Restoring Motivation Through Renewal Leave For Rev. Greg Pimlott, ministry has always been about listening—listening to God, to people and, eventually, to himself. Growing up in a small United Methodist church in southeast Indiana, he learned early that faith can be shaped by many voices. “I understood God of the fields and the classroom,” he reflected, recalling Sundays spent sitting in the pews between farmers and college professors.
This broad understanding followed him from university and seminary to mission work in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Appalachian Kentucky. But over time, even deeply meaningful work can take a toll. Greg began noticing subtle changes—less enthusiasm for sermon preparation, difficulty finding motivation and moments when he knew he hadn’t given his full self to the pastoral care his congregation deserved. The turning point came during a conversation with his district superintendent, who asked a simple but transformative question: Could it be time for renewal leave? Those words, Greg says, changed the trajectory of his ministry. Rather than a break from responsibility, renewal leave is intentional, structured work—spiritual, emotional and vocational. It offers a chance to explore a path you had wanted to take but never did, or reflect on your current path. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Rev. Greg Pimlott, Senior Pastor, Christ Indianapolis United Methodist Church
VOL. 11 | ISSUE 2
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APRIL 2026