12 Comments
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Maya Chanelle's avatar

Love you Pastor and Aunt Donna. This was an excellent read. ✨

Sabrina Ellis's avatar

This is so good!

DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.'s avatar

You know I got permission to post!!!

Dr. Lester Shelley's avatar

This is very good Dr. Soaries. A must read for all married pastors, male or female.

I remember when I was 40 years old, serving as a deacon and had retired from the military. You congratulated me and said you would retire one day.

Enjoy your retirement and family.

Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr.'s avatar

Buster, greetings. Thanks for sharing this. Karen and I discuss the impact of my retirement on her. She reminds me that she lost friends, her church, her community and some aspects of her ministry. I will share your piece with her. On another note, Gregory Jackson called me the other day and offered the idea that some of us who have retired recently should consider getting together for a few days and share our stories of the pastoral retirement transition. After your article, we should include our spouses. Thoughts?

Blessings, Warren

Yasmeen's avatar

Very thoughtful.

Yasmeen's avatar

Very thoughtful.

Rev Dr Deborah Stapleton's avatar

Retirement affects the family, especially the spouse.

It is interesting that assuming the role of pastor is seen as a family decision, but retiring from the church is not. What is the spouse’s next? Where does the spouse worship? Who is now the spouse’s pastor?

Excellent read!

Dr. Lester Shelley's avatar

This is very good Dr. Soaries. A must read for all married pastors, male or female.

I remember when I was 40 years old and had retired from the military enjoy your retirement and family.

ML Haigler's avatar

I really enjoyed reading this substack. Someone told me once that being the spouse of a pastor is a ministry as well.