How Old Is Too Old to Lead a Church?
Six Asian church leaders discuss whether it’s wise for churches to set age limits for senior pastors.
In 2014, CT published a piece by Warren Bird, author of Next: Pastoral Succession That Works, about how 100 prominent US pastors successfully—and unsuccessfully—passed their role down to a new leader. Bird and co-author William Vanderbloemen found that half stepped down by age 65 and that the average of US church leaders is 55.
We sought to explore the issue from a different cultural perspective: churches in Asia. Hierarchy and respect for elders often make passing the baton more difficult for senior pastors in this region, and the aging population in some countries means more pastors are leading into their later years.
CT asked six pastors in Southeast and East Asia (China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines) on whether churches or denominations should set age limits for senior pastors and how they can prepare for a smooth succession. Responses are arranged from yes to no.
Freddy Lay, 68, former lead pastor and former chairman of Indonesia Chinese Church (GKI) in Jakarta, Indonesia
It would be wise for a church or denomination to set age limits for pastors, since we all have limited lifespans and our bodies and minds deteriorate due to age. I chose to retire at 65, although I kept serving the Lord after my retirement in an advisory role, which is a less physically demanding task. Retired ministers can get involved in mentoring other leaders. [Lay successfully added a pastoral age limit of 65 into his denomination’s constitution.]
Although the Bible does not include specific age limits for a pastor, we can learn from the examples set in the Bible regarding succession. For example, God set a time limit for priests and Levites to serve in the temple (Num. 8:25–26).
We can also look at the leadership ...