Just in case the reader is wondering – I am not thinking about retirement. I am like the old man who jokingly said, “I can’t retire! I’m going to have to work half a day on the day of my funeral.”
When I think about retirement, it is only in the way a pastor muses on Monday morning about the possibility of driving a bread truck for a living instead of being a pastor. Those faithful leaders soon gain victory over the Monday morning ministry blahs and determine, by God’s grace, to serve Jesus wholeheartedly in their place of ministry assignment.
But many leaders are, and should be, thinking about retirement. Church and ministry leaders should consider retiring from full-time vocational ministry when they have reached retirement age, and when the mental, emotional and physical demands of the ministry are too much for them or they want to do other things with the good years they have left. Those who are old enough to retire should consider doing so when they no longer have a clear sense of God’s desire for them to stay, or when they no longer have a driving passion and vision for the ministry or when the ministry is experiencing decline under their leadership.
Thinking about retirement is not the same as retiring, but there are times when the subject needs to be given much prayer, consideration and counsel from others.
KBC Regional Consultant Jeff Crabtree often consults with leaders who are considering bringing their full-time vocational ministry work to a close. Jeff asks these leaders three essential questions every pastor or ministry leader needs to be able to answer before retirement. Here are those questions along with my thoughts:
1. What plans do I need to make before I retire? Those plans may be varied, such as meeting with KBC’s Don Spencer to talk through retirement income, to meeting with a small circle of trusted leaders in the church to make them aware that your retirement is on the horizon. One of those plans must be asking how you will help the church, or ministry, transition after your retirement. While the retiring pastor or ministry leader cannot likely choose their successor, they can provide meaningful assistance to aid in a smooth leadership transition.
2. How will I leave my current ministry position? How much notice will you give the church or ministry organization? Part of that answer will depend on how long you have served there. Typically, the longer your tenure, the longer your retirement notice. In some cases, a retiring pastor will stay in place until the church is well on its way to calling the next pastor, while in other places 30 days will be sufficient. The decision should be made in prayer and with a few trusted counselors.
3. What will I do after retirement? The way Jeff Crabtree frames this question when he is counseling ministry leaders is by asking, “How will you burn daylight after retirement?” His question is a reminder that, before retirement, a leader is likely very busy with meaningful ministry activity. After retirement his workload will not be the same. What will you do with this time? You can only sit around and drink coffee with your friends for so long. What does post-retirement life and ministry look like for you? Asking this question may direct a retiring ministry leader to start thinking and praying about life and ministry after retirement.
One thing to keep in mind is that retirement from full-time vocational ministry does not mean you are quitting your service to Christ. Those who have good health along with their intact mental faculties have much to offer the body of Christ. As a retired friend of mine was heard saying at the time of his own retirement, “I am not retiring. I am refiring.”
Dr. Todd Gray 