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?