http://www.united-church.ca/minstaff/pastoral/leaves/sabbatical

This link shows the policy on the Nat. UC website.  Suffice to say there is always lots of room for negotiation.

I used to attend events, and then write up a report for the M & P committee.  I would take self-directed study, read, write etc, and prepare a report for the M & P committee.  After many years,  the M & P committee admitted they filed the reports and never read them.  One time I did not submit a report and nobody asked about it. So, for the past number of years, no reports have been generated.

And, study leave is all over the place in regards to how it is used and how it is negotiated.  One minister I know was allowed to bank the study leave up until 12 weeks which the person could then take at once.  Another took the study, 3 weeks and vacation 5 weeks, at the same time to take another job for the summer.

I once took study one day per week to take a course at university. 

Many things are possible.

Many things are possible but are many things fair to every one. Just wondering.

In most cases one has to ask the m&p for the time and usually there is a reason for the leave, reading, preparation for the fall when one week is added to the holidays, events  Some ask for a report back and if they pay they want receipts... like events or books.

If they want a report they will tell but in most cases the m$p know your method and are happy with only prenotice.

What is more important than a report is evidence that the leave enhanced your ministry, whether just renewing energy and passion or being expressed in new ideas in worship or in initiatives in ministry, or even just contributing to a sense of freshness or continuing competence.

I have on occassion used the sermon just after I returned as a "what I did on my study leave" time.

then again sometimes study leave time is used as a reading week, or as a planning week, or as a retreat.  HOw does one report on that?

Study leave is generally left between the minister and the Ministry & Personnel Committee. I generally tell the M&P Committee what it is that I want the study leave for. As others have said, it can be for a variety of purposes - courses, reading, planning, etc.. Sometimes it probably looks like additional vacation time, and even if it is I think that can be justified. I think if someone is at the end of their rope for whatever reason, they're really feeling burned out and just not functioning properly, and they have study leave time available, taking a few days of it to just do nothing (call it a mental health break if you will) is preferable to suffering a complete burn out, as long as one is open with the M&P Committee about it. Whether one is required to report back is up to the M&P Committee and/or Church Council. Whether one chooses to report back is up to the person taking the study leave.

As to sabbattical, the concept of sabbattical really doesn't interest me, so I have no real opinion, nor have I particularly researched it.

I simply report verbally to the M & P Committee that I went, it was good and please authorise my expenses.