Don’t Retire — Refire!

by Ron Glusenkamp (July / August 2004 — Volume 20, Number 4)

Are you searching to rekindle that spark you once felt?

Have the challenges and choices of ministry left you feeling burned out?

Would you like to spend some time with sisters and brothers who are walking on the same path as you are?

Are you thinking about retiring and intrigued by the concept of re-fire?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then ReFirement is for you!

For several years the ELCA Board of Pensions and the Division for Ministry have co-sponsored pre-retirement workshops. These two-to-three day events assist leaders in discernment regarding issues related to income in retirement and readiness for retirement. Many rostered leaders have found these events to be very significant and helpful in their planning regarding what has been often thought of as retirement years.

As helpful and successful as these sessions have been, those of us involved in the planning and delivery of these events knew we wanted to improve the experience for attendees. So, with some fear and trembling, we searched for a new way to assist rostered leaders and their spouses to encounter the challenges and opportunities of midlife. We believe we have found it in ReFirement.

ReFirement is a new, optimistic vision and guide for how to live a meaningful life. Dr. James Gambone, author of Refirement: A Boomer’s Guide to Life after 50, describes an exciting journey for anyone who faces major life changes or encounters the special challenges and opportunities of midlife. ReFirement recognizes that for any substantive change to be truly meaningful and long lasting it must be rooted in each person’s heart, mind, core values, and faith in life.

ReFirement focuses on our wellbeing in the following parts of lives:

• spiritual
• physical
• emotional
• social/interpersonal
• intellectual (life-long learning)
• vocational

If you are 50 years old or older you are invited to attend a “preretirement workshop.” Check out www.porticobenefits.org or your synod Web site to find a list of dates and locations for these events.

If you are ready to ReFire your faith and life, let’s get started!

Ron Glusenkamp is vice president of Customer Outreach, ELCA Board of Pensions, Minneapolis, Minnesota.