Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-037 (Leadership Issues)

WHAT CAN ‘RETIRED’ PASTORS DO?

A Particularly Pleasing Week

by Paul E Grant

God persuaded me to itemise activities, interests, and experiences over a recent period of six days.

I began ‘full time’ ministry in 1947. I’m now 75 and still consider the call and purpose of God as having the primary, over- riding claim on my life. ‘Retirement’ is a social and cultural concept and construct. It is not a biblical expectation. Wholistic health calls for enthusiastic mental, physical and spiritual engagement with the everyday issues of life. Goodness and mercy ‘follows’ (chases after) us ‘all the days of our lives’. ‘Retirement’ may be therefore seen as a uniquely defined period of after-glow service.

I did my review and self-analysis of those six days and here it is to encourage both those who have ‘retired’ from formal supported ministry and those younger men and women who do their thinking and praying about what may be ahead for them.

* Learning : I gained new insights from a young couple I will be marrying; a pastor in a community church; students in a class I teach; two pastors who came to join me in what is a monthly 5.30 am prayer and discussion time; two missionary couples who are returning to their fields; the material in a Workplace Certificate 4 training course I’m doing; a critique from a colleague of an article I’d written; books I’m reading; and internet updates. Lifelong learning is lovely!

* Reading : Stanley Grenz’s book on Ethics; R.M. Williams’ book on Bill Wade the Salvationist who between 1926 and 1929 explored central-west Australia and became bonded to the Aboriginal people; D.A. Carson’s book, The Gagging of God; newspapers to assess the social/moral landscape; and Oh yes! …. THE BIBLE! Big chunks. A clutter-cleansing cure for the old cerebrum!

* Mentoring : About two and a half hours with the two pastors mentioned above. This keeps me in touch with regular local church life in today’s scene. A young couple with their three children; he’s a pastor who is now doing a degree in medicine; two missionary couples for whom my wife and I regularly pray; a pastor who is helping street people using a van providing food and clothing; a pastor who’s recently had a heart attack; a student who has been a respected university professor. The nutrients gained from mentoring are like spiritual steroids!

* Writing : Articles, letters, cards, diary entries, emails, and curriculum notes. I discovered years ago that I think through the point of a pen/pencil. I wrote to a member of Parliament – issues of ethics; I’ve learned that despite the values of emails and phone calls nothing is so special to a person than receiving a handwritten note or letter. Writing has become a thoughts-sorting discipline.

* Telephoning : It’s still about the next best thing to face-to- face communication. I regularly exchange perspectives with an 85 year old man of a lifetime Christian experience. In these 6 days he and I worked out how we could more effectively witness and pray.

I encouraged a younger missions-minded man to further research. I responded to several prompts to speak to our two sons and families who are serving God in Melbourne and Hong Kong. Parenting is perpetual and pleasurable.

* Urbanising : Just down the street and around the corner I sat down to talk to a couple in their front garden. We’ve got to know them well. I had been on a prayer walk. They asked me about Islam. What an opportunity! In that half hour Jesus got high profile reporting. Urbanising is galvanising!

* Discipling : Students in classes I teach. One in this week had lost his mother through cancer. Grandchildren going on with God. The couple I will be marrying who see us as ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’. Younger Christians (rightly) expect ‘oldies’ to model what they yearn to be.

* Teaching : One class on ‘Personal Life Of Those In Ministry’. Eight students. The text book is Gordon MacDonald’s, ‘Ordering Your Private World’. I blended his excellent insights with my own experiences and a biblical perspective. Classroom times become learning laboratories.

* Pastoring : An opportunity to preach in a community focussed church. To counsel and pray for people. An evening meal with a mature age student in her home. Looking at people in shopping malls and praying for them. (I think that the church is called to pastor the world.)

* Receiving : The two pastors who joined me in early morning prayer prayed for me. I received ‘good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over’. An email message of strong love and commendation from a couple interstate. Family love. And yes! My Veterans Pension! Hallelujah! Surely this is from God! I received it gladly! God’s kiss is pure bliss!

* Entertaining : Friendships – every person I met was created by God and therefore a conduit of blessing. In the home, my wife was hostess to 13 people in this 6 days’ period. Freely we have received; freely we are to give. Bonuses galore!

* Watchkeeping : I monitored and interpreted world events seeking to discern what God is up to in His universe. With this practice I prayed (‘Watch and pray’). The TV, newspaper, and radio contributed to my prayer agenda. My wife and I have prayer and Bible reading each morning as well as our own devotions. Anything from 15 minutes to an hour and more. Our consciences are clear when we tell people : We’re praying for you.

* Reflecting : I went to my diaries several times to check on past experiences, etc.. These books which go back to 1948 are a panorama of many lifetime blessings. Fifty-three unpublished books! (Valuable for my family and descendants. One’s own history is an asset beyond price.) I heard God’s voice confirming His continuing presence. Also, during prayer walks. Meditation dispels irritation and aggravation.

* Home And Gardening : Well – some people prefer sports. Walking and gardening are my physical outlets. In these six days I again enjoyed God’s company and gained by meditation.

* Upgrading : I kept ahead with contemporary thought, events, etc. National and international news and issues; through books on theology, missiology, ministry, sociology, and Australian history. Began drafting a course on Asian Perspectives On Theology. Visited three libraries. (‘To be always relevant you have to say things which are eternal’ – Simone Weil. Jesus is the eternal Contemporary!)

* Sleeping : Aahh!! Bliss!! ‘… He enjoys giving rest to those He loves’ (Psalm 127:2 Message.) Naps and nights.

‘The righteous … will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green’ (Psalm 93:12-15). God does not put a ‘use by’ date on any believer. Instead, a ‘come home’ date. To you in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, this is what Christian retirement looks like as far as I have been able to discover and learn. It’s intended to be a special climactic period of your life! Go for the afterglow! ‘All the way to heaven is heaven’ – Catherine of Siena.