So long pulpit, hello pew

By The Honorable Reverend/Justice (Ret.) Claude L. Johnson, 

President, CME Church Association of Retired Ministers

         If you are a retired minister, congratulations! You are now probably freer to arrange your time and life in new and creative ways. There are many opportunities for the talents and skills you have gathered throughout your ministry.
        Retirement is a condition that offers an opportunity to re-examine the routine that we have followed for scores of years. No more daily grind, no more demanding schedules, no more endless meetings. Will this new independence - outweigh the losses? As retired ministers we are in charge of crafting our own schedule without reference to the expectations of any work place. There are no clocks to punch and no congregational demands (exception Annual Conference) that put us in a particular place at a certain time. We now have priorities to set and choices to make, and - taking account of family needs - We are the ones to make them.
        The temptation to "stay the course" in order to remain "active" might be the wrong choice for us. Exploring new alternatives can be very stimulating, and if physical health permitting, keep us active.
As retired ministers, we need to determine how to make the rest of our lives the best of our lives. Nothing stays the same forever. Hence, retirement is a major change in our lives. Our bodies have started to complain and our energy level is not what it once was. We feel pain in joints that we have always taken for granted. Life is just not quite like it was a few years ago.
         Changes are happening in every aspect of our lives. Therefore, we must learn to make adjustments if we are going to make the most of what we have to work with. Yes, we can resist change and live a rigid "I refuse to adjust" life if we choose. However, we need to know that every day we live will be different from the day before. Changes are taking place. Retired ministers who learn to adjust can continue to enjoy life. Those who do not adjust, slowly but surely become miserable.