Presbyterian pastors do not belong to an individual congregation. Even in retirement, while we may attend a particular congregation, our membership is with presbytery, the regional grouping of Presbyterian congregations. Our church, to which we belong, is the regional Body of Christ. When we retire, we retire from being pastor of a congregation, but we still are part of the body that ordained us.
Previously, we talked about recognizing retired pastors at a presbytery meeting. Today, I want to pursue the sense of call of these retired pastors. While a congregation or other agency may have hired them in the past, it is still God who has called them and that doesn’t end with their retirement. It does certainly change. Presbytery should take with full seriousness the need to support these pastors as they move through this stage of transition. The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church has some excellent pre-retirement seminars that pastors approaching retirement should attend.
In addition, presbytery should gather those within their bounds and assist them. The first step would be to ask the retired pastor to describe how they would want to be introduced in the future. Since they are no longer pastor of this church or that church, who are they? Our identity has been so attached to being pastor of a church, that at first it may seem strange trying to figure out who we are now. On my calling card I now say I’m an author and theologian because that is how I see myself.
A second step would be to examine the last ten years of your life and identify what the activities were that gave you the most profound joy. With that list in mind, what activities would you like to continue in that would offer the prospect of opening you to that experience of joy. In some cases it will be pulpit supply, interim ministry, serving on denominational committees, etc. In other cases it may be activities not directly associated with the presbytery but reflective of your sense of call. Some pastors engage in some pastoral visitation at a hospital or hospice facility. Others become involved in local community activities.
The purpose of such reflection is to know who you are and what you sense God is calling you to do. It is in that direction that you will continue to find satisfaction and meaning in your life.
