UMC to vote on retire-at-70 rule

God does not end his calling to ministers just because they turn 70, a United Methodist Church panel declared in calling for an end to the denomination's mandatory retirement policy.

The church's Committee on Older Adult Ministry approved legislation that would revoke the mandatory retirement age of 70. In order to become church policy, the legislation will need to be approved by delegates to next year's General Conference meeting in Pittsburgh.

The panel, which met in late March, called the policy "antiquated and ageist" and said, "God does not take away God's blessing, including opportunity to serve in full capacity, simply because someone has reached the age of 70 years or older." The church's General Board of Discipleship will review the proposal before forwarding it to the 2004 convention.

Discussions on the issue began rolling last year when it was pointed out that while the church constitution has the age cap, a resolution passed in 1988 and upheld in 2000 called for the elimination of mandatory retirement.--RNS

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