New service: retirement preparation coaching
By sheer force of demographics, there is likely to be a big wave of pastoral retirements in the next few years. That number will be augmented by the strain that the pandemic has placed on clergy. After navigating the tensions around safety precautions and noting that some version of online ministry is here to stay, many pastors who have the financial means will, understandably, decide that the time is near to enjoy the fruits of their labors and spend more time with people they love and activities they haven’t had time for previously.
This retirement can be a celebration, a forward-propelling moment for both the pastor and the church. When clergy retire with intentionality, it
Allows the ministry pastor and congregation undertook together to carry forward
Shows care for the church
Gets the departing minister in a good head and heart space for what’s next
Helps set a helpful tone for the transition period, including the pastor search
Strengthens congregations’ connections to bodies itself useful in the transition and beyond
Paves the way for next minister to get off to a smooth start
Can be spiritually transformative for all involved
In short, pastors can do as much leading in the ways they retire as in all their time leading up to their departures, setting themselves up to enter a new chapter with fulfillment and hope. Thoughtfulness, though, is key. That’s why I’m introducing a new coaching package for those clergy who are considering retirement. Over a series of 6 one-hour sessions, we will develop a plan to address the Ps of finishing well:
Processing. What aspects of your identity are bound up in being a pastor, and what might be some healthy ways to have those needs met in retirement?
People. How can you show grace to those you’re leaving behind?
Priorities. What big picture pieces are you holding that you need to follow through on, pass to others, or set aside?
Preparations. What logistics need to be tended to and by whom to pave the way for a good transition?
Promotion. Whose voices, inside the congregation and beyond, need to be heard now in order to broaden the church’s imagination about what will be possible after you leave?
Personal planning. What financial support will you need in retirement, and where might you find it? Where will you continue to find purpose, routine, and support once you are no longer the pastor of your church?
The cost for the six sessions plus a planning sheet organized by the 6 Ps of retirement planning is $900, and you can schedule a free exploratory call to talk about through your questions and hopes for retirement coaching here.
