Sample Letter Announcing Resignation Or Retirement printable pdf download

Sample Letter Announcing Resignation or Retirement

Date

Dear Friends,

Introduction

This letter is to inform each of you that last evening, I submitted my resignation and announced my

retirement as the Senior Minister of First Christian Church, effective ___________________.

On _________________________, I will have served as your minister for _______________ years. In

those ____________ years we have accomplished much together.

List major accomplishments of the congregation during the minister’s tenure.

On a personal note, I would like to thank the congregation for

Note areas in which the congregation cared for the minister (and family), provided opportunities

for personal/vocational growth, empowered the minister to serve the church regionally,

nationally or ecumenically; to volunteer for causes such as Boy or Girl Scouts, Habitat for

Humanity, CROP, etc.

Closing

In the next ______ months that lie before us, I am not planning to sit idle. There are still a few things I

would like us to accomplish together. However, these next months will go very quickly. In that time, I

ask for your prayers as I begin a new phase in my life.

Please read the enclosed copy of the Ministerial Code of Ethics. It is my intention to support my

successor. When my time comes to bid you farewell, I ask that you refrain from asking me to do

anything that would break the ethical relationship by which I have attempted to guide my life, as your

minister and in my relationships with other ministers.

Our relationship after _________________ will be different. I will no longer be your minister but I will

become your friend. As I have told others in places where I have served previously, I can no longer

officiate at your weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc. But I can be your guest; I can be a pall-bearer; I can

be your friend.

(something similar to the following paragraph may be used if the minister will continue living

in the same community and has sought the wisdom of their regional minister on such matters.)

(Name of partner/spouse/family member)__________________ and I are planning to continue living in

__________________. We are remaining here in order to be close to our family. Following a time of

absence in order to give my successor time to become established, it is my hope that I will become an

active member of First Christian Church. I am going to follow the Ministerial Code of Ethics and work

to ensure the success of my successor. Please help me fulfill that promise.

It has been a joy to serve as your pastor these past ________years.

In God’s grace,

__________________________ (minister’s name)

Sample Letter Announcing Resignation Or Retirement