There are a lot of us Baby Boomer pastors and Christian leaders around. And it’s cliché, but we aren’t getting any younger. It’s a quiet question that many are asking, but they are asking it nonetheless: What age should I retire?
Instead of responding with a specific number, I encourage my Baby Boomer peers to reflect on a series of ten diagnostic questions:
-
- Are you physically and emotionally able to continue to lead at a high level? If not, you probably should retire. Effective leadership demands both physical stamina and emotional resilience.
- Are you still highly motivated in your place of leadership? If you don’t wake up each morning excited about your ministry, it might be time to step aside.
- Are you a continuous learner? Are you reading, listening to others, attending conferences, learning new technologies, and staying current in key areas? A stagnant leader can hinder a church’s progress.
- Are you hanging on primarily for financial reasons? If financial concerns are the dominant reason for staying, you may be doing a disservice to your church or ministry.
- Do you have a clear and compelling vision for your ministry’s future? Without a forward-looking vision, you may be coasting. Coasting often signals it’s time to consider retirement.
- Is the church’s health deteriorating under your leadership? While not always the fault of the pastor, it’s crucial to ask if new leadership could bring revitalization.
- Does the word “change” cause you to feel threatened or angry? Resistance to change can hinder effective leadership, especially in a rapidly evolving cultural and ministry landscape.
- Do you empower others regularly? Are you taking the time to equip others for ministry and leadership? A lack of investment in others might indicate you’re coasting.
- Is your family supportive of you staying in your current ministry position? Your spouse and children often have insights into what’s best for you and the church. Their perspective matters.
- Do you find yourself longing for the “good old days”? If so, you may be living in the past, ineffective in the present, and unable to lead toward the future. It might be time to step down.
I understand that ministry is not something from which one ever fully retires. However, that reality does not negate the fact that it may be time for some pastors to step away from their current positions and find other ways to serve.
So, at What Age Should a Pastor Retire?
It depends. Every situation is unique. Some may have many productive years left in their current role, while others may need to retire now to allow new leadership to take the church to the next level.
Be honest with yourself. Above all, be honest with God. If it is truly time for you to retire from your church, trust that He will guide you in this transition, just as He has throughout your ministry.
Posted on February 24, 2025
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
More from Thom
13 Comments
You cannot retire until at least age 65 because of medicare. And because most denominations and non-denominational churches have not really provided well for retirement it is critical that you not retire until you get full social security at age 67. Most pastors do not have training or experience to do anything else but ministry. And good luck gettin an associate Jobe at this age. My advice, discipline yourself not to coast. You are valuable in later years because you will not make the dumb kind of mistakes that a younger man might make. Moses started his “ministry” at the ripe old age of 80! Your social security is based on your best 35 years of work, that means the later years. So work til 67 and after that, its between you and Jesus, unless you you are blessed with more resources then the average pastor. By the way, there is a shortage of pastors in our denomination.
Thank you for this article. It was insightful to me – one who works with pastors in my denomination. Would it be possible to reprint this article for our email communication to pastors? With the appropriate credit cited and link to your website.
Thanks, Pam Phillips-Burk
Sure. Feel free to use it with attribution.
Thank you for this article. It was insightful to me – one who works with pastors in my denomination. Would it be possible to reprint this article for our email communication to pastors? Thanks, Pam Phillips-Burk
Questions 1 and 2 convicted me! About a year ago, I found myself unable to wrap my mind around any sort of planning by about 2 p.m. every day. I could blame my loss of mental stamina on COVID, on the fact that my mother-in-law moved in with us, on the fact that my father died, or all of the above. I had planned to work for another 8-10 years, but I believe that God directed me to retire at age 66. Every plan unfolded as if God were directing me to go forth and find rest and revival for myself. I’ve now been retired for almost five months, and I’m finally feeling rested. At the same time, I’m growing restless as I open my eyes to see God’s next plan for me. I don’t call it retirement. Instead, it’s re-wirement. God has also helped my last congregation through this. I’m glad that I took notice and listened and let go.
I am thankful to God for the way you listen to Him, Mary Kathryn.
Great questions, Thom. As one of those Boomer pastors, I stepped down a little over a year ago after 40 years ministering in 2 churches. I still had/have great energy, and the church was doing well, but I sensed that the church needed new, younger leadership for its future. We did a transition plan, and God greatly blessed. I resonate with Bob Russell’s words, “You can carry me out, you can kick me out, or I can walk out. I choose to walk out.”
Now God is using me in new ways in my “re-deployment.”
Good for you, Bill.
In a month, I’ll turn 70. Emotionally, I am tanked!
God has made it abundantly clear to me that it is time to shift gears and he has provided the pathway to do it. Easter Sunday will be my last day serving as pastor in a local congregation. I will continue PT (20 hours a week) to serve as a pastor in a senior community that pays me well enough to make it with Social Security, I don’t have to deal with a board, and I have lots of room for creativity.
The last four months, I have had multiple episodes that have opened my eyes and ears to the Spirit’s prompting to step aside and rest.
I’m extremely grateful.
My prayers for you in this transition, Bob. Please take care of yourself.
First, I should start off by saying that I am only 51 years old . I read through the questions and asked myself if I am doing any of these things. I believe the most important question you asked is whether or not you are a “continuous learner?” In the group of pastors that I meet with monthly, they are all Baby Boomers. except for myself and one guy who is ten years younger than I am. The Boomers I meet with are all well beyond retirement age but they are not bringing anything new to their churches. They are comfortable with what they are doing and so are their churches. My church is in the midst of revitalization and working with the Unstuck group. I have come to the conclusion and, I could be wrong, that once you grow comfortable in ministry you are usually not being effective anymore. And to the point of your post, most of the retired pastors I know are coming out of retirement because churches want somebody in their pulpits on Sunday morning. The question that needs to be considered is who will replace them when they have to truly retire or go home to be with the Lord?
Good information. Thank you, William.
It’s depends on the rule or ( bylaw) which we have in local church! Most of men after 70s’ they need to rest.