What changes does retirement bring to a church leader's life? How should a retired pastor continue serving, and how can one adjust the mindset when passing on leadership responsibilities? These are questions that concern many church staff and believers.
Recently, the Gospel Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed Pastor Liang, a retired pastor in his 70s, to discuss these topics. Pastor Liang previously served for over 30 years in an urban church in East China, holding leadership roles in both the local CC&TSPM and the central city church. In the interview, he shared that he did not experience a sense of loss upon retiring, explaining, "We are servants, not officials." He also spoke about his active post-retirement life, which includes preaching in various churches, and offered insights into the current challenges facing the church.
Gospel Times: Pastor Liang, after stepping down from your leadership roles in the local CC&TSPM and the church, are you still involved in ministry?
Pastor Liang: Yes, I continue to be involved. I understand that believers still enjoy listening to sermons, so after retirement, I dedicated time and effort to organizing and revising my previous messages. Initially, the church continued to schedule me to preach sermons despite my retirement. When they didn't, I would take the initiative to visit grassroots churches to share God's word. If I'm still needed, it shows both respect and offers me an opportunity to serve the Lord, so I gladly accept. Every Friday and Saturday, some believers reach out to ask where I'll be preaching that week, and many follow on Sunday to attend.
Preparing a new sermon isn't easy. Although there are numerous resources online, it takes time to internalize and adapt them. These days, I often refer to past sermons and revise them to better suit current circumstances.
Conducting intercessory prayer is also a crucial role of a pastor. Some believers call for their family matters and ask me to pray over the phone, which is common among the congregation. Others come with questions, whether about the Bible, the tension between faith and real life, or personal issues such as marriage and family. I do my best to offer guidance and help them resolve practical problems in their spiritual lives. Their eagerness to grow spiritually is apparent, and I've learned a lot from these interactions as well.
Of course, ministering to believers requires wisdom. It must be careful not to create difficulties for the church. It's important to know which matters we can handle personally and which should be referred to the church leadership. For instance, if someone asks me to conduct a funeral, I don't agree immediately. Instead, I advise them to consult the church first. If the church invites me to preside, I'm happy to go. Retired pastors must exercise caution in their ministry and avoid giving the impression, whether intentionally or not, that they are competing with the current pastor for authority or influence.
Gospel Times: Pastor Liang, your life after stepping down seems to be fulfilling. Do you personally experience any sense of loss after retirement?
Pastor Liang: That sense of loss hasn't been significant. Why? Ministry is about serving God and others, but not about holding a position of authority. As Jesus said, we are called not to be served but to serve. Serving in ministry is challenging, and when pastors grow older, they retire, which is also the church's way of caring for them. If someone views ministry as holding office or seeks to retain authority, then, of course, it becomes difficult to accept retirement. Personally, I was mentally prepared for this years ago, just as I knew my hair would turn grey. I am still me, and I haven't changed because of retirement.
It's understandable that some pastors worry about being overlooked or unsupported after stepping down. However, this is a reality that must be acknowledged and accepted. Blaming others is incorrect. While in service, people naturally seek church leaders for guidance. Once that responsibility is no longer held, it's only normal that the same level of attention may not continue. If a retired pastor still expects the same recognition and support, the issue lies not with others but with the individual.
In truth, retirement is good, and I'm deeply grateful. Prior to retiring, I was so busy with church responsibilities and duties at the local CC&TSPM that I often wished I didn't even need to stop for meals. Church ministry is a matter of conscience, which demands diligence, and even working day and night can't cover everything. One of the greatest joys after retirement has been finally having time to read the Bible, something that was rare in the past.
It's quite common to see senior pastors hesitate to hand over leadership due to concern over their successors. But it's essential for senior leaders to first learn to let go internally. After all, the world continues to turn without anyone.
Some are reluctant to retire because of the lack of a well-established retirement system. I've served for over 50 years, and my pension is not much different from what I received before retirement, so it's fine. Still, the church should take retirement mechanisms seriously and establish standardized systems similar to those in public institutions. With proper systems, management can be carried out by established rules. Without them, governance will rely on individuals. And since human nature is weak and self-interested, this kind of reliance easily leads to disorder.
Gospel Times: It's wonderful that you've experienced such a smooth transition. As a seasoned minister who has served for many years, what do you think are the main challenges facing ministers today? Could you also offer some encouragement to believers?
Pastor Liang: Looking at history, the essential challenges that ministers face have not changed—they still revolve around fame, power, and wealth. In 1 Peter 5:2–3, it says, "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." The temptations of greed for money and fame have always existed. Although living standards have improved, the temptations are greater. When you have no money, you only lack money, but when you have money, you lack much more. The human heart is never satisfied, like a snake that wants to swallow an elephant. A person will never find true contentment if Christ is not in the heart.
The Apostle Paul, because of his faith in Christ, considered what he once regarded as gain to now be loss. Without such a transformation, people will continue to pursue what the world values as beneficial and will never be satisfied, even unto death. Some people have believed in the Lord for many years and have even preached for a long time, yet their perspective has never changed. Some ministers do not talk about being born again or preach repentance. Instead, they only speak messages of blessing and prosperity that people like to hear.
Today, believers should pursue a clear understanding of the truth and spiritual maturity. The current environment is complex. I've heard that the Korean heretical group "Shincheonji" has again come up with new tactics. Believers need discernment—knowing who to draw close to and who to stay away from. I often tell the congregation: it is important to know whom you should get close to, but it is even more important to know whom to avoid.
Gospel Times: Could you share what you're most grateful for in your years of ministry?
Pastor Liang: There are so many people and events I'm thankful for. Even now, just thinking of some of them still brings tears to my eyes. The thing I'm most grateful for is that I took part in building two church buildings. During the construction process, we experienced God's marvelous guidance. I did not know architecture, yet I had to force myself to study the blueprints. How to do the most with the least money, and how to ensure construction quality—these were major concerns that weighed heavily on me. What was even more difficult was that one of the church projects involved relocating seven or eight households. Throughout the entire process, we witnessed God's grace time and time again. Whenever I recall it, I feel deeply moved.
Gospel Times: You gave up a teaching career to study theology. Do you regret the path of faith you chose?
Pastor Liang: I have no regrets in all these years. I chose this path myself, so there's nothing more to say. "Shall not perish but have eternal life"—that is the greatest comfort my faith gives me. I have never wavered on this path of faith. That's not to say I have great faith. My grandfather was an elder, and my father was a pastor, so I used to think of myself as someone who was "born into it." But ultimately, faith has to become personal. I had to make my grandfather's God and my father's God into my God. That process of transformation—from inherited faith to personal faith—is something I'm deeply satisfied with.
Originally from the Gospel Times
- Translated by Poppy Chan and Katherine Guo
