Pastor’s Perspective on Retirement
By Rev. Mark A. Ward
On the occasion of my retirement…
Among the odd discoveries I made when I embarked on the path to become a pastor was to learn that as far as the IRS is concerned, pastors are considered “self-employed”. That is, we are not employed by the Church, but “work for ourselves”!
This struck me as truly ironic – especially considering the lengthy process required simply to be accepted as a candidate for ministry.
There are psychological tests and interviews to pass, questionnaires and essays to be completed, and recommendations to be obtained – all before signing up for the first seminary class. Then, all through seminary there are additional interviews and essays over and above any class requirements. More evaluations follow after graduation, as a pastoral candidate is assigned to a given “synodical” region.
Only after completing all of these steps is a candidate’s name ever submitted to a congregation for their consideration.
“Self-employed”? Leave it to the IRS to get things so colossally wrong! By the time a candidate is installed as a newly ordained pastor, they feel as if they are the only one around who has had no “say” in their own “employment”!
“Employment”, of course, is the wrong term. That’s why the IRS struggles with how to handle “clergy” and their taxes.
They have no category that fits. In the Church, we say that a pastor has a “calling”, and that’s probably as good a word as any.
Pastors are “called” to their positions, first by the Holy Spirit, then by the Church “at large”, and then by a particular congregation – who have prayerfully considered their call.
In the Lutheran tradition, pastors serve “for the good order of the Church”, specifically that God’s Word is properly preached and the Sacraments are properly administered. In the strictest sense, Lutheran pastors are pastors only so long as they serve a given congregation.
Ordination is not considered “permanent” – an irrevocable change in a person’s “being”. Therefore, there are no Lutheran “pastors-at-large” so to speak.
Pastors can be “between calls” only for a limited period of time.
The one exception is retirement. With the approval of the bishop a pastor can retire from “active call” – to serve at the bishop’s discretion on temporary duties, so long as their desire and health permit.
After June 28, I will retire from active call.
November 5, 2004 – that was the date of my first official service as the called pastor of Christ and St. Peter Lutheran Churches.
Seems like a very long time ago, and yet, it all seems to have gone by rather quickly.
The word “retirement” really hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m not sure how it will feel. What I can say for certain is this, these last 15-plus years have been a very great honor for me.
You extended me a call – something for which I am very grateful.
Even more, you welcomed me as your pastor – a reality that has always felt very humbling.
Over the years Cindy and I have always felt loved and supported. We have experienced and greatly cherish your friendship. You have invited us into your homes, permitted us to minister at your bedsides, and allowed us to shed tears with you as we said “good bye” to loved ones.
As I mentioned at a funeral service some years ago, “good bye” really isn’t the right word.
The German expresses it better, “auf wiedersehen” or “until we see each other again”.
That’s the way I feel about my retirement. It’s not “good bye”, but “auf wiedersehen”. For I know that we will be seeing each other again.
