A pastor's income ?

CofE clergy have to retire from stipendiary (ie paid) employment at 65; when they do so, they lose their 'house-for-duty'; of course they remain ordained and able to pastor and otherwise minister until they die.

 

Don't get me started on that one

 

Then they are not actually retiring

 

Indeed; same with retired clergy here - once they hit 65 and are thus no longer the incumbent officially, the congo tends to treat them differently. They'll be wheeled out from time to time to preach a sermon or preside at communion but usually only because the present incumbent is on vacation; more often retired clergy will be parachuted in to minister in vacant benefices and parishes during an interregnum. Hence they are frequently better 'regarded' as being 'active' by the congregations in those latter locations than they are in their 'home' parishes.

 

Not to be nit picky but Pastors do not have jobs we have a calling. And what people see is based on their misconceptions. Are Pastors doing what they were called to do?

 

Same reasons you are retired or planning on retiring.

 

I am neither nor will I ever be.

 

So you will never retire? You're not making any plans to retire and that includes any retirement plans, IRA's and the like?

 

Revmitchell plans to die with his boots on? The beginning of "Grumpy Old Men" taught a truth, old men discussing a "fortunate (?)" old friend who got hit by a bus and died . . . something like that. "Man proposes, God disposes?"

If Revmitchell has a stroke or something he ends up sort of living on state welfare?

 

I am retired and glad I knew when to step down and let younger men take the lead. That's why we invented "pastor emeritus" positions.

Retirement does not mean quitting. New doors of opportunity opens without the obligations of leading a church. After my strokes and semi-recovery, I ministered to people flat on their backs in hospital or home from strokes. They knew I understood them because I was also a victim.

I may have difficulty climbing up to a pulpit, but a bedside is on my level. Reading scripture and praying with folks, some even younger than me, in nursing homes is a wide open ministry.

We retyre a motorcar to go another thousand kms. We retire from church ministry to go another distance in ministry.

Cheers, and happy retirement!

Jim

 

Finances and retiring from the ministry are two separate issues. So why would one retire?

 

Because he wants to travel?
Because he wants to do something else?
Because it's time?
Because he can't stand and preach any more?
Because he bores the congregation?
Because he's tired?

I can think of many reasons a man ought to give up the pastorate and retire.

I had a man in my church who was 80+ and a retired preacher. It upset him greatly when churches would not consider him as a viable candidate for their pulpits, which to me only proved his unsuitability.

Me, I plan to pastor until I'm at least 70, Lord willing and health permits. FYI, that's less than 6 years away.

 

Respectfully, they're really not separate issues. Ask a whole lot of retired pastors.

I don't know how old you are, but life will change, energy levels willl change as you get older. Pardon the walk down old folks lane, but I at my advanced age :tongue3: I cannot work the same schedule as I did when I was in my 30's. The demands of church work have not changed but I can see a time when I will not be able to give what is needed to make a church effective in reaching and discipling people. This will be not because the Lord is not gracious or because I don't want to, but because physically I can't counsel a divorcing couple at midnight and be at the hospital to pray for a surgery patient at 6 am.

Even David the king changed and couldn't stay warm. Although my wife does forbid his solution!

Which brings me to the one reason I am looking forward to retiring from active pastoral ministry: spending time with my wife who has sacrificed alot for the ministry to which we have both been called.

 

Well I will leave you fellas to your retirement.

 

Who's retiring now? But when you get into your 60's, maybe you can recontact us again.

 

To many never retired until the Lord took them home. 60's is way to young

 

I wonder what kind of energy David Ring has?