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BY DAVID HIGHFIELD

"When you retire, does that mean that you will no longer be a man of God?" That was the question that Joey, a teen, asked me as I approached retirement after 39 years as an ordained pastor in The United Methodist Church.

Now I no longer have the full-time responsibilities and challenges of being a local church pastor. As you might imagine, I have more scheduling freedom and less stress. I chose to retire while I was "young" and healthy. In reflection, this was a good choice for me.

As a new retiree, I have learned several lessons that might have application to future pastor retirees.

• Save continuously and generously for retirement. Financial stewardship helped me to retire with a three-legged stool: Social Security, UM Pension, and an IRA.
• Have a plan. Form a list of at least 22 things that you plan to accomplish or be involved in when you retire. Start to form your list several years before retirement. Develop hobbies and interests beyond ordained ministry.
• Strive for balance in retirement. It makes sense to stay busy, but not necessarily to be busier then when you worked full time.
• A joyful retirement is often related to good health. The key to the fountain of youth is movement. Stay mentally and physically active.
• Continue to serve Christ by offering your accumulated pastoral experience and wisdom to the church and community.

As I complete my first year of retirement, I am grateful to God and to the congregations that I served. My first congregation accepted me as a young, liberal seminary graduate, fresh from Vietnam-era protests in Washington, D.C. They taught me humility and to remain Christ-centered.

My second congregation led me into paths of community service and the joy of ministry.

My third congregation showed me that white-collar, upwardly mobile folks have spiritual needs also.

My fourth congregation involved me in hands-on mission projects and trips.

Now I have more time for family, travel and hobbies. I started playing with a Senior Men's Softball League, singing in a barbershop chorus and took a course about eBay. I'm serving on a couple of non-profit boards, minister as a volunteer Hospice chaplain, and have preached and taught in several United Methodist churches.

As a pastor, God's call on my life to be a servant-leader never ends. In all I do, God's call is for me to remain a man of God.

Rev. David A. Highfield retired July 1, 2007, and lives in Westminster.