Age of Ordination for Active ELCA Ordained Ministers
100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500
50 0 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 Current Age Source: ELCA Roster Database, N=9,133 21
and not just for fi nancial reasons,” said Bishop Kirby Unti of the Northwest Washington Synod. “We are see- ing sort of a rehabilitation of age, and 70 is the new 60.” Unti said more people over the traditional retirement
age fi nd “meaning in what they do and support for them as they do it.” Wohlrabe said, “It is the exception rather than the
rule that people say ‘65 and I’m done.’ ” In the Northeastern Iowa Synod, many people over 65 are vibrant, healthy and want to keep on going, Ulles-
1. Their call. What is the Spirit telling them about how they should spend the rest of their life? In full-time ministry? In their current parish? 2. The nature of their ministry. Is their work “fi nished,” or at least have they accomplished most of what they saw neces- sary? Is it time for the
22
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congregation to have a new face, a new voice, a new leader? 3. Their health. Can they handle the physical strains of weekly preaching, meet- ings, counseling sessions, sermon preparations, extra services during Lent and Holy Week? Are there signs of diminished physical or mental capacity? Has the
Created by Research and Evaluation, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop, 9/2014 Age 65
Age at Ordination
70-79 60-69 50-59 40-49 30-39 20-29
tad said. Continued active ministry also seems attractive to second-career pastors who came to ordained minis- try when 40 years old or older, he added. “I don’t see anyone working just because they need
the money,” Ullestad said, stressing the commitment the pastors have to the church and their ministry. Wohlrabe noted that “some of the old lines between
‘active’ and ‘under call’ and ‘retirement’ are being blurred.” Fears of a pastoral shortage are also alleviated by
24 Issues pastors weigh when considering retirement
ministry become a tiring burden? 4. Their family. Do they want to spend more time with a spouse, move closer to grandchildren or travel and see the places they have dreamed of visiting? Is a spouse in need of care? 5. Their fi nances. Will what their pension and
Social Security provide be adequate? Will there be a need for additional income through supply preaching or other work, and will that be available? Can they afford to move to a retire- ment home or—if living in a parsonage—buy a place to live?
Charles Austin
Number of Ordained Ministers
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