I. The Offices of the Church

B. The Ministers of the Word

Retirement

Ministers shall have the privilege of retiring at the age of sixty-six years, if they so desire.

(Acts of Synod 2011, p. 813)

Ministerial professors in the college and seminary shall be granted the privilege of honorable retirement with full retirement bene ts at the age of sixty-five, if they so desire.

(Acts of Synod 1960, p. 53)

Supervision of an emeritus minister (except when the minister remains as a member in the congregation, or when the emeritation is expected to be of a temporary nature) may be transferred, at the minister’s request, to the church where they become a member after emeritation.
This transfer is to be made in the following manner: the council of the church which the emeritus minister served last formally requests the council of the church which the emeritus minister wishes to join, to exercise supervision over the minister.

(Acts of Synod 1968, p. 69)

Early Retirement Option

Ministers of the Word shall be granted the privilege of retiring at the age of fifty-five years, with the approval of the classes involved, under the reduced pension scale adopted by Synod 2011.

(Acts of Synod 1993, p. 579)
(Acts of Synod 2011, p. 813)

“Official Acts of Ministry”

1) Certain acts of ministry — among them the preaching of the Word, the administration of the sacraments, the pronouncement of blessings for the people, the laying of hands on new leaders, and the reception and formal dismissal of members — are part of the ministry of Christ to his followers and are entrusted to the church and, within the church, to its ordained leaders, not to a specific office.
2) Therefore, no long-standing, organized congregation of Christians should be deprived of these liturgical acts simply because it cannot provide for the presence of an ordained minister or commissioned pastor.
3) These acts of ministry symbolize and strengthen the relationships among the Lord, leaders, and the people of God. Their use is a sacred trust given to leaders by the Lord for the purpose of strengthening the flock. Therefore the administration of these acts should continue to be regulated by the church.

(Acts of Synod 2001, p. 504)