Fellowship of Retired Ministers F.O.R.M.

Fellowship of Retired Ministers, F.O.R.M.  has been established to encourage current pastors, churches, and community needs.  Retired ministers still feel they have the energy and experience to help in the ministry but too often feel no one thinks they are of any value anymore.  Retired ministers can encourage and help mentor younger pastors who are facing difficult times. 

PURPOSE:

To provide a network of ministers willing to assist Pastoral Care Inc. or be a stand-alone ministry in mentoring and encouraging current ministers who may be struggling with the stressors associated with the ministry.  F.O.R.M. can provide a support for community functions that the ministerial alliance and local churches cannot do and are encouraged to become involved with improving their local community.  F.O.R.M. also provides a fellowship of ministers who otherwise feel that they may no longer an asset in the ministry.

F.O.R.M. vs MINISTERIAL ALLIANCES

In most cities, ministerial alliances have out-served their usefulness.  Most alliance meetings are often ill-attended, are absent of influential leaders who are busy with their own church needs, and have problems with growth.  Ministerial alliances often have difficulty in getting other churches involved for many reasons:  church pastors being too busy for community functions with other churches unless it is held at their church , small churches feel inferior to the larger ones, some having fears of larger churches “taking away members” because of having more programs, and in a few situations, some groups displayed prejudice toward other churches.

WHY RETIRED MINISTERS

Retired ministers offer so many positives:

1. They understand the demands placed upon the ministry and they can provide words of encouragement to any minister, no matter from what denomination. Retired ministers often “let go” of their differences after they no longer active in a competing church and they see the ministry as a “whole” rather than “being fragmented”. 
2. Meetings will be better attended because of having more free time.  They do not have church demands, such as hospital visits, day-to-day operations of the church, and dealing with church problems.
3. They have no hidden agendas, so they can freely work with encouraging ministers as a part of Pastoral Care Inc. or their own stand-alone minsitry, work on community development with church and civic leaders, and encourage local churches to work together for a common cause.  The local community leaders will probably embrace this type of fellowship because of their willingness to improve community with no hidden agendas.
4. Retired ministers view their occupation as a “club” and usually do not have any type of prejudice toward other race or denominations. They can be a united force to break down any prejudice among churches and community.

RETIRED MINISTERS FACE:

1. Most retired ministers feel that their usefulness is over and have often stated that no one cares anymore about us.
2. Retired ministers have something in common as a group now.  Whether they ministered to mostly large or small churches, the differences have vanished.  They no longer have the pressures of the demands of trying to operate the church.
3. Income class usually does not hinder ministers to work and fellowship together.  Most retired ministers are on a limited income but even with those who are financially set for life, get involved with doing the “right thing”.
4. Most retired ministers have plenty of free time that can be spent doing useful projects.
5. Retired ministers do not have a “hidden agenda” of trying to promote their church.  They no longer have a church.  The community and church leaders can more easily embrace their efforts if they come as a group.
6. Most retired ministers desire to do something useful and meaningful.
7. Retired ministers can be a great resource to younger ministers on problems or issues that arise in their ministry.   

IDEA TO ESTABLISH F.O.R.M.:    

1. Contact local retired ministers to attend a monthly luncheon to discuss ways they can help Pastoral Care Inc. or their stand-alone ministry, the local church, younger pastors, and their local community.
2. Find a local restaurant that will provide a meeting room if others order from the menu.
3. Optional:  Seek 12 donors that will pay for luncheons so that retired ministers “can be blessed” and can have an “organized” time to effectively work on projects.
4. Have leadership meetings to outline the goals and objectives for F.O.R.M.
5. Have a membership of $20.00 annually that includes a membership card, lapel pin, and quarterly newsletters. 
6. Elect a yearly Chairman and Vice-Chairman to maintain meetings whenever one cannot be present. 
7. Establish a system and procedure to call or write to other ministers to encourage and support them.  This can be in a form of a note, birthday or anniversary cards, or phone calls to our pastors in their area.
8. Develop one new community improvement or activity each year.
9. Promote Pastoral Care Inc. and its mission to other pastors.  Our goal is to create a sense of “purpose” back into the lives of retired ministers. 
10. Report back to Pastoral Care, Inc. on specific needs for a pastor or church.
11. Maintain confidentiality when working with a pastor.  Do not mention individual names of pastors or church names to your group surrounding sensitive issues.  Again, please refer any and all sensitive or counseling needs to Pastoral Care, Inc..  Non sensitive issues, projects, or helps can be shared as success stories. 
12. Encourage and minister to one another. 

CREATE A CHAPTER IN YOUR AREA:

1. Fill out a Charter Form.
2. Recruit retired pastors in your area/county and explain the purpose of this chapter.
3. Work with each other and Pastoral Care, Inc. to develop an initial framework of your chapter.
4. Choose a meeting place.
5. Decide whether each minister will be responsible for their own cost for the luncheon or seek possible donors to cover the cost of the lunches.
6. Meet regularly (either monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly) with chairman or vice chairman calling or sending reminder cards to members in advance. 
7. Constantly seek ways to improve the overall Ministry in your area.
8. Promote the theme, “Together we can make a difference!”