APRIL 2020
ministry—contemplating transition, but not quite ready to completely leave the ministry vineyard— need to carefully consider their recalibration.
Te crowded waters
Te 76 million Baby Boomers born between 1944 and 1964 are currently between the ages of 55 and 75. Like a massive wave, they are moving toward a new landfall of semi- and full retirement. And right behind the Boomers are the 82 million Gen Xers—the 40- to 54-year-olds. Tese generations point towards a formidable shift in the American workforce.
Additionally, there are over 39,000 lay ecclesial ministers in the Church, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). Tough age-related data is unclear, anecdotal evidence suggests that the Church will soon experience its own workforce shift. Have you looked around at our various ministry conferences? We are growing in wisdom and years.
Recalibration means making those adjustments that enable us to move toward a preferred, grace- filled future. Recalibration is an intentional activity that both honors our contributions to the Church and enables us to move forward, using our gifts for the reign of God in new ways and living with grace-filled balance. Whether considering full or semi-retirement, recalibration can be a life-giving option, a re-examination of vocation and ministry, and a joy-filled pathway to our next stage.
Recalibration involves transition and change. External change might include a new role, location, colleagues, house, salary. It’s what other people can see. Internal change—what only we can see or experience—is the affective desire to still be needed, wanted, useful, and growing. Te process of change begins with an awareness that some things are ending—through an in- between time or wilderness or empty zone where there is some uncertainty, and finally into a new beginning. Every ending is a new beginning.
Movement through these stages of transition takes time and the Paschal Mystery provides a spiritual image: Good Friday (ending) . . . Easter (new beginning). But in between, there is Holy Saturday. It’s
a period of waiting, confusion, and uncertainty where the disciples grappled with “what do we do now?” Recalibration is often a Holy Saturday experience.
Objective of recalibration
Applicable to leaving a position or staying in a role, recalibration is about controlling the pace and the amount of work. It’s the difference between “I control” versus “the job controls.” It’s about restoring balance to our lives and time and relationships. It does not mean stop and certainly does not mean coast.
Recalibration is to intentionally find a way to pass on our wisdom, experience, insight and even our passion to the next generation of pastoral leaders. Tis movement might include letting go of “being in charge” and “being all responsible.” Perhaps moving from leadership to direct service, such as an evolution from music director to choir member. We naturally resist change, even change for the good. Often our resistance stems from conscious or unconscious fears: the fear of finances, fear of loneliness, fear of failure in a new position, fear of not being needed, or the fear that our good work will not continue–or even be undone! And the fear of boredom (the bane of retirement). Te retirement at age 65 mindset is an artificial, culturally inspired finish line. (If you wake up on day 43 of retirement and realize you have no reason to get out of bed, you are in trouble!)
Take control of your leaving. Being proactive is an exercise in personal power. It is a trap to wait too long. Don’t make the organization push you out. By controlling your transition, you allow your community to celebrate your contributions. You can make certain your memories of your work are happy ones. And you need to trust that the good work begun by you will continue, believing that the community will continue to nurture and harvest the seeds you have sown. New leadership can only emerge if current leadership moves on.
Re-crafting your identity
As we move into the Wisdom Generation, the real retirement struggle is defining yourself as more than the sum of a long career. Te extended time post-career redefines you. Te AARP survey reports of those age 75 and older, only 9 percent say their
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