Retirement Preparation of Ordained Ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana

Abstract

The research is on retirement preparation of Ordained Ministers of Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The purpose of the study was to explore issues on retirement preparation of Ordained Ministers of Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The fundamental objective of this study was to examine retirement preparation among Ordained Ministers of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The population of Ordained Ministers in the Presbyterian Church who were in Active Service and have Ten (10) years or less to retired at the time of study were 280. Retired ministers who have retired five (5) years or less were 80 and five (5) top management officials were selected from the General Assembly Office of the church. Sample size for Ordained Ministers in active Service was twenty-eight (28) ministers and eight (8) retired ministers due to saturation and five (5) top management officials. The retired ministers were used as a guide and reflection. Sampling Technique was Purposive Sampling and data collection was in-depth interview through face to face and telephone interview were the two strategies used. The Data Collection Tool was un-structured interview guide. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and transcripts were imported in Nvivo 11 for themes. Data analysis was done through Thematic Analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006) prescribed six steps to carry thematic analysis. The researcher found out that the practice of planning was greatly contingent on the type of Ordained Ministers and their monthly allowance they received. The part time or (Tent) Ordained Ministers who worked as professionals and performed additional Ministerial duties in the church were entitled to National Pension Schemes. However, non-Tent Ministers who are full time workers relied on their personal savings for financial planning. Psychologically, Ministers made little preparation because of the absence of retirement policy in the church. This had therefore created anxiety and a state of uncertainty about retirement. Socially, most Ministers acquired their own accommodation and also invested in their children education as a form of social security. The study further found that Retired Minsters had to depend on their extended social relations to meet their financial and social needs during retirement. The absence of such social support resulted in psychosocial and financial challenges during retirement. The study also found that Retired Ordained ministers who planned their retirement well were enjoying their retirement. It was therefore recommended that Housing Scheme should be instituted by the church to assist minister to acquire their own houses before retirement to relief them with accommodation challenges. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is encouraged to develop a comprehensive policy on retirement for both ordained minsters and various workers in the church. This policy would guide ministers and other workers to plan and prepare well for adequate retirement in future. Furthermore, the existing provident fund and insurance scheme for full-time ministers should be extended to the Tent Minister. The church should take the Social Security and National insurance Trust (SNNIT) contributions of its Ministers seriously as a way of planning and preparing ministers who sacrifice their all for Gods work. The retirement packages given to the ministers at the end of service should also be revised and given a boost to enhance workers retirement. Also it was recommended that there should be scholarship for Ministers who accept posting to deprived areas in Ministry’s Children to motivate them.