Clergy Retirement Management and Ecclesial Responsibility in the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST): Policies, Practices, and Pastoral Implications

This study examines the management of clergy retirement in the Universal Reformed Christian Church (Nongu u Kristu u i Ser u sha Tar – NKST), focusing on selected NKST congregations in Benue State, Nigeria, and addressing systemic, psychosocial, and economic challenges. Drawing on interviews, field observations, and church records, the research identifies poor pension administration, irregular fund remittances, inadequate healthcare, and the absence of structured post-retirement roles. Retired clergy often experience declining health, reported emotional distress associated with income insecurity, and financial hardship, which manifest in reduced capacity for self-care and increased physical strain. Some engage in informal income-generating activities, including small-scale local enterprises, as a coping strategy for economic survival. The study concludes that sustainable retirement requires dual responsibility: proactive planning and financial literacy on the part of clergy, alongside enforceable policies and structured support from the Church. The findings offer a model for strengthening clergy retirement systems in similar faith-based institutions.