Pastor Retirement…IFB vs SBC.

[Tarheel Baptist]

Justice 1776 reviving talk of IFB’s prompted me to articulate my thoughts on the difference between IFB and SBC Pastors when it comes to ‘retirement’. The past year I have worked with 3 Independent Baptist churches who are struggling because of Pastors who ‘stayed too long’.

One church has an auditorium which will seat 2300 with an attendance of 50…on a good Sunday. Their former Pastor retired after a debilitating stroke at age 85. He presided over the decline. Another church, in the same town, once ran 1200 and but now has less than 50…closer to 30 each week. The founding Pastor is still there at age 80. I have tried to get both of them to consider merging with an IFB church with overflowing attendance (250) in a very small building. Neither church was willing to even consider such.

Anecdotally, SBC Pastors tend to retire from their ministries well before the decline begins. I personally retired at age 70 after a 2 year transition into their new Pastor…they have seen a huge growth spurt of mostly young couples. As a rule, 70+ year old Pastors do not lead growing churches.

What is your experience or point of view on whether my thesis is true or not?

 

[Sherryh]

I'm reading this with my mouth open. I'm over 60+ I'll work until I can't anymore. No teacher retirement it was a christian school we were told it was our ministry. I'm not sure when my pastor will retire hopefully not soon. He's the best! Churches grow because they are fed spiritually. They reach others for Christ.

 

[ALAYMAN]

I witnessed it firsthand from a very good man, but the issue wasn’t as much related to age per se, but the combination of Covid and health struggles. Mix that with the desire to not bail on a declining church and it’s a recipe for staying longer than maybe he should have (he admitted as much to me personally).

That phenomenon isn’t related merely to pastors though. Pro athletes regularly overstay their shelf life. ALAYWIFE is currently 1 year away from full retirement eligibility and tonight’s conversation revealed a heart for students that is unsure whether she is ready for the next chapter.

I have also heard several similar instances of overstaying one’s welcome in a couple local non-Baptist churches.

What makes you say that phenomenon is greater amongst IFBs than in the SBC?

 

[Dr. Duck]

A lot of these ancient IFB pastors are preaching into their 70s and 80s because they spent their working lives opting to not pay into Social Security. I know of one who went this route and later in life regretted the decision. He always said he planned to “die in the pulpit with his boots on,” but as age caught up with him, his tune started to change. He’s now about 70 years old and still running a church with an attached school, wishing he could retire, but because he waited to start paying into Social Security later in life, he still can’t financially swing it. https://www.guidestone.org/dontoptout

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I witnessed it firsthand from a very good man, but the issue wasn’t as much related to age per se, but the combination of Covid and health struggles. Mix that with the desire to not bail on a declining church and it’s a recipe for staying longer than maybe he should have (he admitted as much to me personally).

That phenomenon isn’t related merely to pastors though. Pro athletes regularly overstay their shelf life. ALAYWIFE is currently 1 year away from full retirement eligibility and tonight’s conversation revealed a heart for students that is unsure whether she is ready for the next chapter.

I have also heard several similar instances of overstaying one’s welcome in a couple local non-Baptist churches.

What makes you say that phenomenon is greater amongst IFBs than in the SBC?

My conclusions are based mostly on my anecdotal experience.
And my ministry life has been, until recently, totally Baptist in context.
I think it’s the attitude of ‘don’t rust out , burn out’ which was an oft repeated mantra in my earlier days. I am not very familiar with the IFB movement these days but a quick Internet search revealed that many familiar names a decade or more ago are still in the same places today. Smith at the Sword, Jack Trieber, Norris Belcher, Lou Rossi etc.


I’m pretty sure this is not confined to Baptist churches.
As you mentioned, sometimes age is not the reason for stagnation, but it iis usually a major factor.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

I'm reading this with my mouth open. I'm over 60+ I'll work until I can't anymore. No teacher retirement it was a christian school we were told it was our ministry. I'm not sure when my pastor will retire hopefully not soon. He's the best! Churches grow because they are fed spiritually. They reach others for Christ.

I totally understand what you’re saying. We in ministry are not hirelings but God called ministers. I will be 76 in August, Lord willing, and pastored the same church 43 years. I retired 4 years ago, not because I was old, tired or felt washed up. I retired because it was what was best for our church….not what was best for me necessarily. It was very, very difficult and we still miss it…it was the center of our lives for 43 years.

Scripture speaks of seasons of life and I entered a new season. In the past 4 years, I have preached in 40+ churches, served as Interim Pastor for 5 churches and worked with 15+ churches as a ‘consultant’. We never retire from ministry….serving Him…but our roles and responsibilities can change.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

A lot of these ancient IFB pastors are preaching into their 70s and 80s because they spent their working lives opting to not pay into Social Security. I know of one who went this route and later in life regretted the decision. He always said he planned to “die in the pulpit with his boots on,” but as age caught up with him, his tune started to change. He’s now about 70 years old and still running a church with an attached school, wishing he could retire, but because he waited to start paying into Social Security later in life, he still can’t financially swing it. https://www.guidestone.org/dontoptout

I have no doubt but that one of the reasons Pastors continue pastoring into their late 70’s is finances, or lack thereof. I do remember that it was a fad among IFB’s in the 60’s -70’s to opt out of Social Security.

I believe another reason many are reluctant to stop Pastoring is the thought of no longer receiving the accolades, attention and level of respect they had as Pastors, especially (but not exclusively) in IFB churches.

 

[Baptist Renegade]

This is a big problem in the Philippines where a pastor and his family often live in a Church parsonage and are paid so poorly, it is impossible for them to accrue any savings. When they do retire (and are often forced to do so), they often have no place to go and no means in which to support themselves. My pastor is trying to do something about this with a ministry for retired pastors and their families.

We all need to plan better for our futures or perhaps a church congregation needs to be prepared to take care of their aging pastor and allow him to step down into an "Emeritus" position or whatever.