Thrive Supports Later-Career Pastors in ‘Finishing Well’

“Being with pastors who are going through transitions of any kind is a front-row seat to what God is doing in the lives of his servants,” said Rev. Dave Den Haan, classis and church leader consultant for Thrive, who dedicates much of his role to bearing witness and offering support to pastors nearing the end of their full-time work in ministry.

For pastors over age 55, there is much to consider when entering the final decade or so of full-time ministry work. The practicalities can feel daunting; the need to graciously navigate relationships with council, congregation, and family can feel complicated; and questions of identity and calling can surface as pastors move into a new season.

In journeying alongside pastors in this season of transition, Den Haan said he has noticed the ways in which the logistics of preparing for retirement are often prioritized before the internal, “heart” work is addressed.

“We find that later-career pastors are already primed to think about the logistical matters related to retirement — things like financial planning, when to retire, where to retire, and when to make public announcements about their retirements,” he noted. “However,we want to invite pastors to do some interior work too, to gain clarity on who they are and what their lives’ purposes are so that when their full-time ministry roles disappear, the pastors don't ‘disappear’ with them.”

Thrive has extended this invitation in three ways: via cohort mentoring groups, retreats, and resources.

Cohort Mentoring Groups: ‘Don’t Do Ministry Alone’

Later-career cohorts, known as mentoring groups, have provided a way to bring together small groups of pastors who are looking ahead to retirement. Together, they can learn about the unique features of the transition into their later career, normalize one another's' experiences, encourage one another in the context of challenges in the transition, and think about healthy next steps during the transition. Groups have typically been facilitated by someone who is also going through the experience of preparing for retirement. Over the course of a year the cohorts have met monthly, and one or two of those meetings have been a retreat of some kind.

Rev. Sid Couperus, a CRCNA pastor for 38 years, participated in one of these cohorts. 

“We gathered on Zoom with seven or eight colleagues from both Canada and the States, led by a retired colleague,” he recalled.”I found myself having a deeper appreciation for my CRC colleagues, as each of us talked about our experiences with different hurdles, expectations, disappointments, celebrations, frustrations, and triumphs during ministry transitions. Together we were finally able to have conversations of the heart in a safe place with colleagues going through similar transitions.”

Couperus also noted appreciation for the invitation to attend a multiethnic pastors later-career gathering as a result of his participation in the cohort. He joined CRCNA pastors of diverse backgrounds — Korean, Canadian Cree, Navajo, Black American, Taiwanese, Peruvian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodian, Dutch — and they listened to one another’s stories as they each approached the final chapter of their ministry career.

“I was spellbound and in awe,” Couperus said. “I heard the testimonies of so many who have followed their calling and have served their Lord well. I wish I could begin ministry again, more closely connected with our multiethnic pastors, whose passion, sacrifice, and vision for ministry have inspired me.” 

Couperus’s advice to pastors nearing this transitional season of their life: “Don’t do ministry alone. Zoom has given us renewed opportunities to remain in partnership and relationship with colleagues we have entrusted much in, even when we move. Continue in this stage of ministry with a learning posture and always keep growing in relationship with the Lord and others in your vocation.”

Finishing Well Retreats: ‘Clarify Your Calling’

In addition to the mentoring groups, Thrive hosts single-event Finishing Well retreats for later-career pastors. These retreats are facilitated by Thrive staff along with two recently retired pastors who are able to share their experiences about retirement. The most recent event took place in October at a retreat center on Lake Michigan.

The events aim to provide space and dedicated time for pastors to focus on the internal work of clarifying their unique callings. While some logistics related to retirement are discussed, retreat content focuses on pastoral identity, pastoral vocation, and pastoral transitions. The stories of Abraham and David give insight into these topics. An exercise called Circles of Calling helps participants gain clarity about their vocations while still in ministry and what their vocations might look like after retirement. A timeline exercise helps participants to identify and learn from patterns that have emerged in their lives. 

One participant shared, “The format helped me understand myself better and how to work out my upcoming retirement and its effect on me.” 

Another attendee agreed, saying, “The gathering met my expectation of clarifying my calling and helping me to pause to do some introspection and reflecting.” 

“It has been encouraging to see how much the gatherings bless the pastors who participate,” Den Haan noted. “They find nourishment in the collegiality of the events, in the resources we are able to provide, and in the rare downtime that these events allow them to enjoy.”

Another Finishing Well retreat is scheduled for February 2025. 

Resources: ‘Guidance for a Healthy Transition’

The October Finishing Well gathering was enhanced by the availability of Thrive’s recently published resource Retirement from Pastoral Ministry: Guidance for a Healthy Transition, said Den Haan.This resource is designed to help mono-vocational and multi-vocational pastors who are navigating the challenges and opportunities related to retirement, addressing topics such as practical pitfalls in retirement planning, guidance from the CRCNA Church Order, and prioritizing emotional health.

Couperus shared his appreciation for this content, published as individual articles on the CRCNA Network and collected as a cohesive resource on the Thrive website.

“I have read each of the articles and have prayed and spoken about these transitions regularly with my wife and family members. I’ve also been reminded to “see what God gives” and to listen to his leading as he continues to shape my vocation in this third-third of my life. I want to thank the Thrive team for their insights, opportunities, cohorts, writings, coaching, and gatherings that have helped us sharpen our listening skills as we prayerfully make these transitions in our lives.”