Retirement

We may need to rethink our traditional views about retirement. Already older baby boomers are reshaping how we think about the life span. We now considers life to be divided into thirds: the first 30 years in education, the second 30 years in vocation, and the final 30 years in "retirement." On the downside of this is a peculiar dilemma. If we don't extend the minimum age for retirement, we may find many people running out of money before they run out of life. But extending the retirement age puts strains on young adults who are waiting for entry-level jobs to open up.

The year 1996 was a watershed as the leading edge of the baby boomers turned 50. It comes as no surprise that our nation is becoming older. As a result, parties to celebrate the Big 5-0 in the last decade will continue in the early decades of the 21st century as those same persons celebrate their Big 6-0 and Big 7-0. In fact, as one wag has said, "You better enjoy golf while you can, because all the tee times will be taken beginning in 2010!" (when the leading edge of the boomers hits 65). And with the average age of retirement moving steadily downward, it may be sooner than we realize.

For further reading:

• Forward Together: A New Vision for Senior Adult Ministry by Jay Johnston (Nashville: LifeWay Church Resources)
  
  
• Golden Opportunities: Ministry Ideas for Senior Adults by Nancy Elliott (Birmingham: New Hope Press)
  
  
• Senior Adult Choir Ministry: Age Is No Excuse By Lyndell Vaught (Nashville: LifeWay Church Resources)

AdultApplication: How many adults in your church are currently retired? How will this change in the next few decades? How is your church preparing for this change? How is your church helping adults prepare for their own retirement? (for example, seminars on financial planning, training for part-time employment or volunteer work, planning for activities and ministries to engage senior adults).