I retired from full-time pastoral ministry in June 2022. In the year and a half since, I have been active teaching as an adjunct professor, writing, blogging, vlogging, podcasting, and substituting temporarily in churches preaching and offering limited pastoral ministry.
I just began an appointment as a full-time interim pastor at a church not too far from where we live in Ohio. My appointment is through June 2024. I am very happy to be serving this church and am enjoying my ministry there.
One of the things that people have said to me is that I am failing retirement. If retirement is not working at what one did during actively employed years, I suppose that is true; but I must say that I have always looked at retirement differently. What exactly does it mean to fail retirement?
I believe that as long as Christians have breath, they are called to love God and neighbor in the way Jesus did. Believers may retire from their active employment, but they do not retire from following Jesus. I see retirement as ministry in a new form; and part of that new form is offering my services to churches in need of temporary pastoral ministry. Once this current appointment is completed, I cannot say I will consent to another full-time interim position, but I plan to be in service to the church and world in whatever ways I believe Jesus is leading me. I know as my age progresses that service will change and likely slow down, but the only way I can actually fail retirement is to fail to fulfill the will of God for my life.
At some point, I may decide it is time to step aside from all pastoral ministry, but I cannot step away from my Christian calling. When it comes to the latter, I plan to go down with the colors.
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Well said!
Your winter mission trip is still going to happen, I hope.