A Study of United Church of Christ
Retired Clergy Women
About the study
Retirement can be like jumping out of a plane without a parachute and without knowing where you are going to land. Plunging into retirement can always present unforeseen challenges.
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The Soft Landings in Retirement Project focused on the experiences of retired UCC clergy women as they transitioned from ministry into the new realm of retirement. Special attention was paid to how they created meaning and purpose in retirement and how they adjusted their plans when unforeseen challenges occurred.
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Currently there are no retirement guidebooks exclusively for women clergy. This research project, funded by a grant from the Louisville Institute, aimed to correct that by compiling strategies that retired United Church of Christ (UCC) clergy women employed as they made the move from ministry to what’s next.
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Two products which grew out of the study include The Soft Landings in Retirement Study Final Report and The Guidebook of Suggested Strategies. Both of these are based on the responses of the retired clergy women who participated in this study.
Retirement is a new door opening. New opportunities are on the other side. There is more time for hobbies, family, and travel —even more time for rest. However, grief and disappointment also lie there.
Grief comes with the loss of connection to former parishioners and colleagues; disappointment comes because of limitations caused by health concerns or the inability to travel and meet friends because of the corona virus pandemic.
A supportive community is helpful in navigating the unexpected challenges and changes on the other side of the door of retirement.
Rev. Geneva Butz
retired UCC clergy
Still committed
The study made it clear that a group of retired clergy women would provide a meaningful means of support and encouragement upon retirement which can be a challenging time of adjustment. It is anticipated that a pilot group of nearly/newly retired clergy women will be offered as the next step in exploring more fully some of the findings in this study.
The Study Participants
In the fall of 2020, retired United Church of Christ (UCC) clergy women were invited to participate in the Soft Landings in Retirement study.
One hundred seventy-one retired UCC clergy women joined the research project.
The study was conducted by Rev. Suzanne Adele Schmidt, Ph.D., a retired UCC clergy woman and recipient of a 2020 Louisville Institute Pastoral Study Project Grant.
The study group comprised of UCC clergy women who retired from a variety of positions and settings. They varied in age and number of years retired. An extensive description of those who participated in the study can be found in The Soft Landings in Retirement Study Final Report.
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Although the study participants were retired UCC clergy women, it is the researcher's belief that the report findings and suggested strategies will be applicable to retired clergy women in other denominations.
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The fact that the study was conducted in 2020 during a time of upheaval was reflected in some of the study responses. This is not surprising as Covid-19 and urgent calls for justice turned the possibility of anticipated soft landings in retirement into surprise landings.
The Findings
One hundred seventy-one study participants completed the study survey and thirty of them also participated in two-hour long Reflection Groups.
Data analysis from the survey and the reflection groups yielded seven findings which are outlined in detail in The Soft Landings in Retirement Study Final Report.
Strategies for retired clergy women as well as the church at its various settings were developed for each finding and compiled in The Guidebook of Suggested Strategies.
Finding
1
Defining one’s identity in retirement differs among clergy women.
Finding
2
Revisiting one’s call and creating meaning occurs in a variety of ways for retired clergy women.
Finding
3
Finding community and support are crucial for clergy women in retirement.
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It was retired clergy women who helped me navigate my retirement. With my sister colleagues, there was no urgency to have a complete plan. There was no pressure to keep busy after retirement.
They generously shared their stories which encouraged me to embrace the changes and chances of this new path.
Rev. Lucy Brady
retired UCC clergy
Still listening for and
telling sacred stories
Finding
4
Creating a vision for retirement and marking one’s leave from ministry can enhance the transition.
Finding
5
Maintaining boundaries in retirement can be challenging.
I had to be very clear about maintaining boundaries when requests [funerals] occurred — partly because they tugged at me emotionally.
UCC retired clergy
Soft Landings in Retirement
Study Participant
Finding
6
Staying flexible and engaged in the midst of unforeseen challenges is possible.
It [Covid-19] didn't change my call or purpose, but it changed the way I live them out. I never planned to worship each week for a church who needed my help during a pandemic or volunteering five days a week in a food pantry, but it has given my life purpose at this time.
UCC retired clergy
Soft Landings in Retirement
Study Participant
Finding
7
Differences exist between clergy women’s and clergy men’s experience of retirement.
Two messages came through loud and clear from the study participants. The first was that the church at all its settings needs to recognize and utilize the gifts and wisdom of retired clergy women.
The second was for associations/conferences to create formal and informal opportunities for clergy women to support one another.
It is the researcher’s contention that retired clergy women could and should self-organize around both recommendations if they were supported and provided with tools for doing so.
Talk, talk, talk with other retired clergy friends. That web of support and friendship makes all the difference. Don’t walk this journey alone.
UCC retired clergy
Soft Landings in Retirement
Study Participant
When pastors retire or begin to consider retirement, their lives are not a clean slate but a living document of experiences, skills and insights.
Bruce Epperly, The Jubilee Years: Adventures in Clergy Retirement
Rev. Leslie Dowdell-Cannon
Still called, still giving,
still reclaiming me, still evolving
The Report and Guidebook
Resources
Although there are a variety of books about retirement and aging, the resources which follow are recommended as a starting point:
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Books
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Marjory Zoet Bankson, Rethinking Retirement and Non-Retirement in a Changing World. Woodstock, Vermont: Skylight Paths Publishing, 2015.
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Bruce Epperly, The Jubilee Years: Embracing Clergy Retirement. Lanham, Maryland: Rowan & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2020.
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Patrice Jenkins, What Will I Do All Day? Wisdom to Get You Over Retirement and on With Living! Saratoga Springs, NY: Engelsen Publishers, 2011.
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Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro, Who Do You Want to be When You Grow Old? San Francisco: Barrett - Koehler Publishers, 2021.
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Parker Palmer, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2018.
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Mary Pipher, Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019.
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Websites
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International Coaching Federation coachingfederation.org
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Retirement Options retirementoptions.com/find-a-retirement-coach/
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Psychology Today Directory psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
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Spiritual Direction and Companionship sdicompanions.org
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Additional resources are included in The Soft Landings in Retirement Final Study Report.
About The Researcher
Rev. Suzanne Adele Schmidt, PhD., an ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) clergy woman, retired from local church ministry in 2018.
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She is a recipient of a 2020 Louisville Institute Pastoral Study Grant to research the experiences of retired UCC clergy women. The grant funded the Soft Landings in Retirement research project.
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Suzanne has a keen interest in the transitions of life and work. As an organizational consultant and coach, she worked with organizations and individuals as they navigated changes. As a pastor, she walked with folks in the transition places of life.
A lifelong learner and facilitator of learning, Suzanne has taught fellow learners from grade school to graduate school in public schools, universities, corporate classrooms, and Chautauqua Institution. Over the years, she has facilitated retreats for church and judicatory leaders as well as Lumunos (in the tradition of Faith at Work).
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At this stage in her life, she is being called to accompany others on the journey of retirement and aging. She is a trained facilitator in The Soul of Aging, an intense program developed by the Center for Courage and Renewal. She believes that developing new rhythms are crucial in retirement. Deeply committed to hospitality, Suzanne's favorite Biblical story is the Loaves and Fishes. She delights in the “Ministry of Soup” which involves her making and delivering soup for those who could use a little love in a bowl.
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Suzanne and Krista Kurth, Ph.D. are co-authors of Running on Plenty at Work: Renewal Strategies for Individuals. Suzanne holds a Ph.D. in Education and a Master’s in Divinity. She is active in her local UCC congregation and co-chairs the Social Action team with her spouse, Daniel Davis.
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Many mornings Suzanne can be found starting the day with her journal and reading the news followed by a swim which is her favorite time to pray.
You may reach Suzanne at:
Email. softlandingsinretirement@gmail.com
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You may download this report and the guidebook at:
Website. www.softlandingsinretirement.com
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You may recommend helpful resources by emailing your suggestions: Email. softlandingsinretirement@gmail.com
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You may be added to the Soft Landings in Retirement updates by sending your request to:
Email. softlandingsinretirement@gmail.com
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