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Hanging up the Robe

Dispatch from Forebearance Presbyterian Church

by Charlotte Johnstone

Rev. Thomas Hustisford had a problem and he wasn’t sure how he was going to solve it. He suspected that he and Rev. George Keily would, sooner or later, need to have a long talk. At first, he didn’t think it would come to this, but last evening’s session meeting tipped the proverbial scales when Rich Barkley, questioning a proposal involving the mission budget, quoted Rev. Keily’s opinion that the proposal was “unsound.” That, as far as Rev. Hustisford was concerned, was crossing the professional etiquette line, and he knew he had to do something about it.

Rev. George Keily, 73 years old, had retired two years ago from an unusually long pastorate at First Presbyterian Church in a neighboring suburb—retired with honors by the presbytery and with deep affection by his congregation. His nearly 30 years at First Presbyterian Church spanned several generations of church families and his availability to them had been total. George was naturally gregarious and energetic and, while he enjoyed preaching and teaching, the pastoral part of the ministry had been his instinctive home. He had been the first person called when there was trouble in a home and he had been a welcome guest when there were celebrations. His devotion to his calling was intimate, joyful and consuming. It was a life he loved and it was the only life he knew—there hadn’t been time for much else.

Charlotte Johnstone is a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She (and the cast of Forbearance Presbyterian Church) welcomes comments. Write to her at Horizons, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202–1396 or email wjohns4949@aol.com.

Does Rev. Keily learn how to retire? Find out in the May/June 2004 issue of Horizons. Call 800/524-2612 to subscribe or click here to
or click here to the May/June 2004 issue (PDS #HZN-04-220; $6) now.

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