My Retirement Plan
This article was written from Florida while I was at the Ecumenical Officers board Meeting. Believe me it was no day at the beach! It rained everyday. And Delray Beach has all the charm a collection of strip malls can offer.
Many of you who attended the Annual Meeting already know that I plan to retire at the end of January next year. The decision to retire is complex and I’ve considered it for a long time.
Everyone it seems cites “spending more time with family” at times like this. In my case this is true. My cousin George likes to invite me to dinner on Christmas Eve. Every year I tell him I have to work. Still, he invites me. I don’t know what he thinks has changed. If I had another kind of job, it would be different. If I was still a firefighter it might be possible to work one holiday and get the next one off. Retirement means that someday I can join my family for Grandmother Bushong’s traditional enchiladas on Christmas Eve.
It would be less than honest if I said that conflict had nothing to do with my decision. There are issues involving the wider church. Keeping everyone at the table has taken a lot of effort and has taken an emotional toll.
I will miss the joys of ministry like leading worship on Sunday, celebrating at weddings and Baptisms, even being with people at times of stress and grief. Helping the people of God heal and find spiritual resources certainly is a joy of ministry.
Archbishop Michael Ramsey speaks of the joys and sorrows of ministry. The sorrows of ministry have worn me out over the years.
The first sorrow is the apathy of people for the things of God, both as a society and as individuals.
The second sorrow stems from being disappointed by people on whom I relied. Over the years this, too, has taken a toll.
The third source of sorrow comes from my own blunders – mistakes I have made and things that I didn’t do that I should have done. I know I have disappointed people that have relied on me. I sorrow over my sins, things “done and left undone.”
God’s call on a priest can take different forms: a parish priest, or a life of deep and focused study, or one of contemplation and prayer, or of special service. It may change over a lifetime. I will continue with Ecumenical work. The Bishop understands that I have a passion for it and says I “have the patience for it, and not everyone does.” At this time next year I will no longer be your Rector or leader.
Vocations change. But God willing I’ll still be a priest and your friend, who is a priest.
God’s peace be with you,
Charles+ |
