His life companion died. As a pastor and wife team, they had ministered together in the local area churches for more than 25 years in addition to several overseas assignments.'During her last two years, when her body suffered severe discomfort as a consequence of disease, he lovingly cooked the meals, cleaned the house, and tenderly cared for all her needs. Their children were especially committed to their devoted mother and provided every necessity.
The family was warmly received and cherished by their parishioner friends both in theirs and other countries because of a faithful and unselfish dedication to the ministry of service as they shared, by example, the love of God. As a result of their ministry new churches were established in numerous church areas.
Circumstances required the memorial service to take place some weeks following the passing of the pastor's wife. As is customary, relatives and friends were invited to the memorial service held in the same city where together they had served and blessed so many. A former minister colleague and his wife, also retired, delivered a message of comfort and promise. The sons told of their mother's parenting dedication and of her unusual gift of hospitality, and her talented daughters and grandchildren rendered musical selections dedicating them to this remarkable mother and grandmother.
Although the service was beautiful and comforting, no one from the local denominational headquarters came to acknowledge the lifetime of ministry and service of this consecrated wife or to express condolences and bring comfort to a grieving pastor and colleague. No sympathy cards, no flowers, no contact. No phone calls, no visits, no letters of support from personnel at the church headquarters during the entire duration of her illness or following her death. Although this pastor's well-being did not depend on sympathy or compassion from his immediate superiors, a wound, even though unintentionally inflicted, results in feelings of exclusion and of the frightening possibility that as a pastor/shepherd / am no longer of worth, and I no longer matter.
Recently a pastor and his wife visited several retired pastor-friends and fondly reminisced about their times together at camp meeting, youth camp, and their respective ministries. Then the conversation turned to their relationship with the current personnel at headquarters.
"What do you hear from the leaders of this area?"
"They don't know we exist," the local retired pastor explained. "We don't hear a thing."
"Don't you receive the weekly communication to pastors with news items about what's happening here?" the friends asked.
"No."
"Don't you receive invitations to the pastors' meetings?"
"No."
The retired visiting pastor was tempted to ask, but refrained because the question was already answered, "Don't the local area leaders call and visit you occasionally?"
These answers not only correlated with the conversations of other retirees under similar circumstances but seemed to corroborate and affirm the experience of a pastor who recently retired from the ministry and moved to another locality. He doesn't hear from his current office staff either. Even after writing to them and offering his services as an interim pastor as need might arise (he had been well-loved everywhere he ministered), a very short, curt reply advised him that there was no prospect of their capitalizing on his experience and willingness to become involved. The unfeeling response seemed devoid of even a casual interest.
Denominational leaders are conscientious individuals who never purposefully overlook a valued coworker. But communication had failed on several levels, and the question must be asked and answered, "How can similar tragedies be avoided in the future?"
The challenge of recognizing the importance of retired workers resides in the church environment and also in businesses. For instance, in an article on the front page of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 1, 2005, titled "Older workers not a valued commodity," Pamela Gaynor reported that "When Howard Bruschi decided three years ago to retire as Westinghouse Electric Corp's chief technology officer, the company wasted no time bringing him back as a part-time consultant."
Continuing the report, Gaynor explained that by establishing consulting relationships or creating more novel programs, companies are "coming up with ways to retain older workers,. ..We're going from this notion of the older worker who has outlived his usefulness to the to the other end of the spectrum where they're [starting to be viewed as] extremely valuable."
Withdrawal syndrome
When pastors retire they often go through a wrenching withdrawal syndrome. One day they experience deep and significant involvement capitalizing on their leadership abilities, they speak publicly on a weekly basis, visit members of the congregation, and have people come to them who are anxious for their counsel and attention. Overnight every thing changes in the twinkling of an eye they no longer experience the joy of being needed or even feeling valued.
While evaluating this sudden distancing that often occurs following retirement, several questions have surfaced. How could this harmful, hurtful experience be avoided? When people are employed for a lifetime (sometimes fifty years and more) and have given the best years of their lives in service to the church and its members, would not an investment of a continuing relationship pay rich dividends for the church if the following suggestions (and there are others) were initiated?
1. Give retirees invitations to pastors' gatherings, both locally and at denominational headquarters.
2. Place them on the mailing list for weekly updates from the local office.
3. Honor them by an occasional visit from the leaders at the local head quarters.
4. Ask them to have occasional assignments during pastoral gatherings and other public occasions.
5. Feature retired personnel in the local church paper with a tribute to their years of service (rather than featuring them only after they have died!).6. Assignment, by the local pastor, of these retirees to visit home bound church members.
7. Assign the ministry for retired pastors to a local leader from the office. This would include counseling them regarding their relationship with the local pastor and church. All churches are undoubtedly stronger and better when it practices the Scriptural injunction to do as Christ would do and nurture one another.
8. Organize a group of retired denominational workers as consultants along with leaders from headquarters to discuss ways to incorporate and perhaps retain retired denominational employees in meaningful, productive relationships.
Does it not seem reasonable to assume that ministers and others who retire still have a deep interest and desire to hear about their church and to minister in any way possible, and would they not appreciate some attention from and involvement with former colleagues and leaders? Maybe with some thought and prayer these individuals could be a great asset to the local church and the denominational headquarters. We often talk about being members of a family if we truly are family, this relationship endures for a lifetime. Never does a time come when not all of God's children are invited to the table.
Communication directives
Because communication has changed from just a weekly or biweekly letter be tween family and friends, co-workers and leaders, to short messages via e-mail multitudinous times a month, leadership personnel might also use this method, as well as actual letters, for communication with retirees. The expense involved (staff time and materials) need not overtax the system in order to maintain a mutual and positive relationship with all retired workers.
For example, Pastor Bob McGhee, from Worthington, Ohio, writes an e-mail every day to hundreds of individuals including his friends, family, church leaders, retirees, current members, and former church members from other areas. He describes the church services, the youth activities, those he has visited either by phone or in person, and always includes a word of encouragement. One e-mail contained the following: "Pray for (and he gave the name of his friend) at Walla Walla College. My good buddy lost his wife in a car crash last week. Folks, we never know what is going to go on, so stay up and write, call, visit with e-mail, and whatever with everyone that you can and thus make the quality of life better for you and others."
Now there's a challenge for all of us.
When Dan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Canada, began pastoring in a district where a recently retired pastor lived, he made a deal with him: he would share with him at his home every Wednesday evening fol lowing prayer meeting all the information he received from the church headquarters in exchange for a time of relaxation. This continued for three years, and these two men became the best of friends.
Unalterable needs
Every retired minister has a set of needs that are unalterable. First, they need to know that someone cares about them, that someone loves them and respects them, and that they are a valued member of a very special family.
Second, they need to know that somewhere, some time, they can still meaningfully contribute to the mission of the church and in some way assist with individual needs.
Third, retired pastors need to have a significant forum where they can continue to share the inspiration they receive from experience and Scripture.
Isaiah 54:2, 3 provides a word-picture of ministry that fits this particular challenge: "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; hold not back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities" (RSV).
Let's enlarge our tents to include a ministry for all retirees.
