What Will You Do When You Stop Pastoring?

Part One

If hours were diamonds and minutes were rubies, even the most foolish among us would guard them jealously.  Instead, they run through our fingers like water, as if we had an endless supply.  Yes, time flies, but it’s because we pay scant attention to how we spend it.  Tomorrow is often the curse of today, and nobody feels this more acutely than does the individual who wakes up one day and a strange presence in the room called retirement reaches out to shake hands.  For pastors in this predicament, the ramifications of this encounter can cause anything from a little nervousness to being scared out of his or her wits. Now what?  

So, let’s calm down, collect our wits and ask a reasonable question, “What will you do when you stop pastoring?”  The closer a pastor gets to retirement age, the more critical this question becomes.  Nearly everyone in the executive and professional world knows what’s ahead after the job years are over, but pastors are different.  The call and commitment of ministry does not just disappear, even after a conscious decision to step back from active ministry has been made and all the steps of transition have taken place.  The stamina may decline, but the inner compulsion to preach remains.  When that compulsion finds no release, feelings of guilt and frustration can be overwhelming.  In severe cases, depression may follow.  In addition, retiring pastors lose long-standing relationships with generations of families whom they have served, nurtured, counseled and loved over the years.  These seismic shifts in the life of a minister need to be negotiated with great care. 

In addressing this issue, I have several observations to make, and some possible solutions to suggest.  As we consider them, understand that the subject is too broad for every scenario to be covered.  Nothing we say here may quite fit; you may fall somewhere between the cracks.  I am sure, however, that most of these situations vaguely resemble, at least, the challenges of retirement that are common to all of us.  Please note that I will not deal with finances here, except in terms of some policies that impact finances.  Consult a professional if money is your main concern.  Beyond finances, let’s take a look at some of the significant questions for prospective retirees. 

Is retirement an option in the Scriptures?  Let’s begin with the whole concept of retirement.  Some have such a negative visceral reaction to the idea that their stomach turns over just hearing the term.  According to the Old Testament, there seems to be some precedent.  Numbers 8:23-26 says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ‘This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.’” The Bible Exposition Commentary explains, “It’s probable that the Levites had a five-year apprenticeship before entering into the full ministry at the tabernacle, because there was certainly a great deal to learn. When Levites turned fifty, they were released from the more strenuous duties but were still permitted to assist the priests as needed.” Bible Exposition Commentary (BE Series) - Old Testament - The Bible Exposition Commentary – Pentateuch. 

For some reason, we have a difficult time in letting someone else do the work that we ourselves are used to doing.  Our culture has deeply ingrained the work ethic within us.  We equate watching and advising with laziness and dereliction of duty.  If retirement means total cessation of ministry, then that feeling may be valid.  On the other hand, if retiring means that we simply perform tasks that are less strenuous, then the Bible has nothing to forbid it, and even seems to encourage it.  One commentator says, “How we struggle to hold on to power, long after it’s time for us to turn responsibility over to others. How hard it is to realize that the most important role for the spiritually mature is one of advising. It is more important to enable others to do God’s work than to do that work ourselves.”  Bible Reader’s Companion.

It seems to me, then, that retiring from active duty in the trenches of ministry follows the process of natural progression.  If we were meant to continue full bore until the day we drop, then there would not be a gradual decline of stamina, physical prowess and abilities.  Our activity level should correspond to the status of our physical being.  Not many of us would want the trembling hands of an eighty-five year old brain surgeon operating on us nor would we want a rather forgetful, aged attorney defending us in a multimillion dollar lawsuit.  The fact is that the scriptures are replete with statements about elders and old age.  I don’t want to be cynical, but I suspect that those who refuse to retire (long past the time when they should) do so for reasons other than their understanding of the scriptures.

Am I violating my call to ministry by retiring?  The particular ministerial role one plays does not validate the call of God to minister. As a young man, I had the call of God on my life when I worked in the youth group of the church my father pastored.  I had the same call as a Bible college student, as a young evangelist, as a youth pastor, as an assistant pastor, as an associate pastor and as a Senior Pastor.  The same call motivated me in the different jobs and positions I have held in organizational work, whether at the sectional, district or general level.  The call never became greater or lesser with any ministerial role I have had.  If I now function as a writer, an occasional teacher or preacher, as a guest speaker, as an advisor, as a mentor, or in any other slot into which I may be plugged, I still operate out of that same call.  What is the call of God anyway but a dedicated relationship to God?  The call is not a “job” or else the church would be frozen in some kind of caste system in which a minister is valued only by the position he or she occupies.  

The church is a “great house” in which there are many kinds of vessels.  (2 Timothy 2:20).  It is important for us to perceive retirement as the management and reallocation of God’s resources, not a demotion or devaluation.  Take the bigger view instead of the smaller, personal view.  Remember, it’s the house that is important, not the individual vessels.  God measures our worth by our intrinsic relationship to Him.  It is my obligation to be faithful to that overarching call. 

What title or role should I assume after my active years?  Moving now to the nuts and bolts of post-pastoral years, there is much angst attached to the title you will take.  I am inclined to say that it doesn’t make any difference, but that’s not really true.  Words do mean things, and if an incorrect term is chosen, it may have unintended consequences.  Pastor Emeritus is a term of honor given to those who have done a good job, but will have no further ties to the leadership of the church.  Senior Minister (not Senior Pastor) means that the person will stay on staff in some capacity, as a helper, minister of visitation, occasional pulpit or administrative duties.  The Senior Pastor will determine the activity of the Senior Minister.  

The term Bishop is given to the former long-standing Senior Pastor who is still seen as an authoritative figure.  The level of authority and the extent of involvement with the church must be specifically spelled out in the bylaws.  In most cases, the Bishop will turn over the leadership, the spiritual, organizational and financial program of the church and the day-to-day activities to the Senior Pastor.  The Bishop functions as a Senior Minister unless a major problem erupts with the Senior Pastor with regard to a doctrinal, moral or leadership crisis.  In that event, the authority of the Bishop is limited to helping the church through the crisis and securing new leadership.  (This is only an outline treatment of the situation.  It calls for much more detail than is given here.)  The Bible does define the role of the bishop, or overseer, but his role seems to pertain more to the church as general or world-wide entity rather than a local assembly.   

Should I leave or remain a part of the congregation?  This decision needs to be made before retirement and selection of a new Senior Pastor.  It may determine if the new person will accept the position.  There are many reasons why you would want to stay—family, finance, familiarity, friends—but the most important consideration is how you will handle new leadership.  If you resent change, if you have a hard time with someone else getting credit, if you believe that there is no better way to do things than the way you did them, if you have a critical spirit, then you should leave; trouble is definitely on the horizon.  Your new role is to facilitate the transition, not impede it.  

When you were in charge, you wanted good follower-ship.  Now that the shoe is on the other foot, it is incumbent on you to be the church member you always desired others to be.  It is amazing how difficult some find it to practice what he or she preaches!  Someone has astutely said age has nothing to do with maturity.  Prove that you have the same integrity and attitude in retirement that you had in active ministry. 

How should I negotiate pension benefits with the church?  Broadly speaking, there are a number of ways that a pension can be given, depending upon whether or not a church is capable of it in the first place.  There can be a percentage of the income designated for pension benefits, a set dollar amount, a range of benefits tied to the specific periodic income of the church, a lump sum given at the outset of retirement, or various other ways to structure a pension.  

Regardless of the end agreement, two things need to be clear.  First, the negotiating needs to be realistic and in good faith.  The church should not be expected to follow through with a program that will hurt its present and future operations.  Second, the arrangement should be very clear and known to all the significant persons in the church including trustees, board members and other ministry leaders.  These same people need to be kept informed of the pension payout on a regular basis.  

If I move away, will it affect any pension I receive?  First, let’s define pension.  According to the Concise Encyclopedia, a pension is a “series of periodic money payments made to a person who retires from employment because of age, disability, or the completion of an agreed span of service. The payments generally continue for the rest of the recipient’s natural life, and they are sometimes extended to a widow or other survivor. Military pensions have existed for many centuries; private pension plans originated in Europe in the 19th century. There are two basic types of pension plans: defined contribution and defined benefit. A defined contribution plan invests a defined amount each pay period. The individual may have some discretion as to how the money is invested. The benefit, the amount of the pension, depends on the success of those investments. A defined benefit plan pays a known amount according to some formula, but the amount invested in the fund may vary. Pensions may be funded by making payments into a pension trust fund or by the purchase of annuities from insurance companies. In plans known as multiemployer plans, various employers contribute to one central trust fund administered by a joint board of trustees.” 

It is clear that a pension is not earned income, but payment for a period of time in which active work was done.  Thus, what a retired person does or where a retired person lives has no bearing on the pension guarantee.  No further expectations are made of a retiree after the date of retirement.  As obvious as this should be, it may be necessary to include it in the bylaw that provides for a pension.  

Can the church reduce or deny any benefits it has agreed to give me?  As much as I would like to say no, in all honesty, I can’t.  Should the church fall on hard economic times, it may be impossible to service a pension agreement and still keep the church doors open.  But beyond that, in the event of future pastoral changes, someone may see the pension as a burden that can no longer be tolerated.  Whatever safeguards can be written into the contract should be done.  Contracts can be and have been broken, but any terminology should be included that make it much more difficult to do so.  One of the best safeguards is open knowledge.  The entire congregation should be apprised of a pension agreement.  This, by virtue of the common knowledge, enlists every member as a watchdog so that nothing can be done secretly without a general consensus.  

Can I still have some perks I enjoyed as pastor?  Anything is negotiable, but the whole idea of retirement is to scale back.  Keep that in mind in the transition.  Perks that don’t require cash flow, like a reserved parking spot, the use of an office or office equipment, shouldn’t be a problem.  Health insurance, expense accounts, professional fee reimbursements and similar benefits, however, may not be possible.  Perhaps the attitude with which you treat others may be a key component.  You should not have an entitlement mindset.  A humble spirit is always appreciated and often rewarded. 

Do I relinquish all authority or still retain some say in church matters?  There are four kinds of authority, according to the P.E.T. (Parent Effectiveness Training) creator, Dr. Thomas Gordon.  They are authority based on 1) expertise, 2) position, 3) contractual agreements and 4) power.  Since you no longer have position, contract or power, the only authority you have left is expertise.  Yet, having so recently had these other claims on authority, you may still be operating with the mindset that you are in charge.  Actually, this question brings us to the sensitive core of pastoral transition.  To ask if you have any authority is tantamount to asking if you matter as a person any longer.  The technical answer to the question is yes, you should relinquish all authority. The “real world” answer is more in the category of “yes, but.”  It’s not necessarily that you want the final say, but you would like to have some input.  Wisdom dictates that a new pastor, out of respect and sensitivity, should consult with you about major decisions coming up.  But, even from a practical standpoint, then new pastor should understand that you have an invaluable historical perspective on church operations, plus you have intimate knowledge of people in the church and their personalities.  One word of caution from you could mean the difference between unprecedented success and unmitigated disaster.    

Lots of nuances get thrown into this mix, however, complicating the relationship.  For example, if you appear peeved, upset, irritated or disgusted at some new development, you will marginalize yourself.  If you become non-communicative, distant or stony, you signal your displeasure to the new leadership without providing a pathway to resolution.  If you share your negativity with others in the church, you can cause division and foment huge problems.  On the other hand, if the new pastor deliberately crosses you in an attempt to exert leadership authority, there are consequences to those actions as well.  As you might imagine, these prickly situations can escalate into insurmountable problems for the church and its future.  It may be too late to say this, but any incompatibility between the former and current leaders should have been addressed and resolved before the transition was ever begun.  If it shows up later, a private meeting to work things out is absolutely essential.  Even if no change in positions can be negotiated, bad attitudes must be changed for the climate and general good.  You may have to revisit the question about staying or leaving! 

The best model for treating your new relationship with the church leadership resembles your relationship with your married children.  All you can do is offer counsel and advice.  Then, you have to back off and let them make their own decisions.  You can try to pressure and manipulate them if you like, but excessive intrusion in their lives will drive them away from you.  Even the happiest of families have certain problems in which family members have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.  In fact, there can be no happiness without it.  Likewise, understand that change is inevitable and be content with what you have.  

Coming up in Part Two: 

How will my relationship with people I’ve known for many years change?

What should my relationship be to the new pastor?

Can I decline any preaching and/or teaching assignments in the church?

Should I still officiate at weddings, baby dedications and funerals?

What role will my wife play in the new arrangement?

How will my family’s relationship to the church change?

How important is it for me to attend every service on a regular basis?

Should I still come to the office on a day to day basis?

Can I volunteer any suggestions or ideas I may have for the new pastor?

What can I do to make the best use of my time in retirement?

Stay tuned!