Chill or run toward the light

By Byron Wade (M.A.C.E.’94)

Have you heard of the familiar term ‘I can see the light at the end of the tunnel’ before? It usually means the end of a difficult situation or task, the solution to a difficult problem. Most of us in the working world also view this saying in looking forward to leaving the workplace and getting closer to retirement. This saying really hit home for me a few years ago when my wife and I had our yearly appointment with our financial planner to review our plan (NOTE: quick and shameless shout-out to my financial planners at Raymond James/Pursuit Wealth Strategies!). Our main planner Pam showed us a Monte Carlo simulation, a financial formulation which helps you to determine when you can retire according to your present income. My wife has always had the plan to retire at age 55 and for me, not so much. However, what the Monte Carlo simulation showed us was that on our present financial path if things still stay the same, my wife could actually retire and I would not be far behind in the very near future. Talk about seeing the light! It kind of blew my mind that retirement was even possible. I guess as I was working it never really dawned on me this would even be a possibility.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have NO intention of retiring anytime soon. I am one of those pastors who believe that you never really retire. As a matter of fact, the joke I have with my financial planners is that I cannot retire until I’m 70 — that is another 17 years! Even when I do retire, I would like to consider other types of ministry such as interim or mid council ministry, or non-profit leadership. I will be open to what plans God has for me until I am no longer able to do so. However, the most important aspect of this is how are you preparing down the road? Some of us have been in the ministry for over 20 years and we already know that many of us late baby boomer/early Gen X‘er’s will be leaving the workforce and retire from active church ministry sooner than later. Will we be prepared for the next journey in life or ministry? Or more importantly, what will we do until we get there?

I have seen and heard two ways in which pastors deal with getting closer to retirement. The first way is ‘just chillin’ — and unfortunately not a good way. Some ministers pretty much have made the decision to just do what I call “maintenance ministry” and try to ride out their remaining time in their churches until retirement comes. Now there are often many factors that happen to be in this situation — trying to get children through college, caretaker for an ill family member, no longer have any discernible skills for outside ministry, etc. In the meantime, you find that the congregation which they serve is not progressing. No new ideas about ministry are coming forth. No backup plan to train others to take over the ministry is evident. Church life and vitality become stale. Members begin to complain about the beloved pastor behind their back and sometimes make suggestions in their face to no avail. The church is on life support. This is not what I envision ministry to be going forward. I envision the second way ‘runnin’ toward retirement. I plan to learn all I can and build upon my years of experience to discern where God is leading me next and to believe that God will reveal new aspects and visions of ministry I have never thought of before. I am a true believer that we are lifelong learners and when we stop learning, we stop being – and in turn stop others from realizing their potential as a part of the body of Christ.

So, as we get closer to retirement, what are some ways in which you can grow and prepare for the future? Here a few suggestions:

1) Attend a CREDO conference for mid-career pastors.

2) Take advantage of programs from the PCUSA Board of Pensions like this one.

3) Take a continuing education course in something which you are passionate.

4) Talk and network with others on available opportunities. And it is okay to do something non-church related!

Whatever you do, I hope you will not just chill until retirement. May you go with the power of God to rest, refresh, play, and discern where God is leading you on your next journey. And keep runnin’ toward the light!

 This article by Byron first appeared in his blog, “The Word from B” on July 7, 2017.