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

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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.