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| Q: | Our church recently inherited a home adjacent to the church. Our current parsonage is also next to the church. We are a small, rural congregation with one pastor and he is nearing retirement. Our pastor constantly advocates at meetings that we should rent one of the houses to him at cost when he retires. There are some opposed to this plan since the church's mission is not to provide houses to retired pastors. Some members have suggested rent; while other would sell the house to him, others wish he would move at least five miles away. Are seminary students given any guidelines about continuing to live next to the church they served after they retire? Have the guidelines, if any, changed over the past several years? Is the congregation obligated to provide housing after his retirement? | ||||||
| A: | Not much is taught to seminary students regarding specifics pertaining to retirement. Generally it is advised, for a variety of reasons, that the retiring pastor not remain a member of the church he served prior to retirement. Probably in the majority of cases the retired pastor is reluctant to remain there, mostly for the sake of the ministry of his successor. There are times when it works out well for the retired pastor to retain membership at the same place, however, so each situation must be examined by itself. I am not aware of any changes in this general counsel over the past several years. Congregations are not obligated to provide housing for retired workers; this is normally assumed to be the responsibility of the retired person. I am not qualified to offer specific counsel about the decision your church must make regarding your retiring pastor and the home the church has available. I do not think highly of the pastor's reported, repeated suggestions in this regard, but there may be things about this I am not aware of. I imagine there are several perceived advantages and disadvantages to be considered by your church, and I wish you well as you move toward a decision with the wisdom that God supplies. | ||||||
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