Clergy and Retirement: An Exploratory Study on Housing and Financial Preparedness

摘要

The body of research on retirement has expanded in recent years but the experience of clergy members has rarely been examined. In response to the void, the present study explored the financial and housing options that will be available to members of the clergy of a nondenominational fellowship when they reach the age of retirement. The results indicate that financial preparedness varies greatly based on factors such as age, years in ministry, size of the church being served, and whether one intends to fully retire. Similarly, housing options vary greatly and are related to financial well-being. A primary implication of the findings is the need for preretirement education designed specifically for the unique circumstances of clergy members and those who hire them.