The Best Is Yet To Be
A Pre-Retirement Seminar for Ministers and Spouses Age 50 and Over
Rev. Dr. John Matthews

Browning’s famous line in the title describes the basic approach of this seminar. Opportunity to examine one’s attitude toward retirement will occur early in the seminar and become a foundation for working on specific retirement issues. The seminar will include work on the following financial concerns; pension, social security, investments, wills, and insurance. Equally important: the quality of life in retirement, the spiritual journey, the meaning and uses of leisure, staying healthy, and confronting death. Similar learning opportunities will also be included.

In addition to Dr. Matthews, the seminar will include presentations from the General Board of Pensions, Department of Social Security and a panel of retired persons who are demonstrating that “the best is yet to be.”

In order to receive your "pension protection" information, you must register by October 1, 2008. Also, please bring your most recent Social Security earnings statement.

This seminar is designed for persons fifteen to five years from retirement; ministers 50 years old or older. Ministers who are married are invited to attend with their spouses.

Suggested readings, available by order from Cokesbury, are: The Reality of Retirement by Jules Willing. (Lively Mind Books, revised 1989), and The Lively Mind, by Jules Willing (Quill Publisher, New York, 1982). Please allow plenty of time to order.

THE REV. DR. JOHN MATTHEWS is the Associate Director of the Columbus, OH, office of Midwest Ministry Development Services. He is a full elder in the West Ohio Conference. He has served pastorates in Ohio, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He has taught at Virginia Wesleyan College, West Virginia and Franklin University, Ohio. He was appointed as a State of Ohio Counselor and appointed by the Governor to be a member of the initial Social Worker Board. He received a STM and M.Div. from Boston University.