Dr. James Knapp is the Sociology Program Coordinator and professor of Sociology at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He is the author of the only two academic studies of Church of Christ pastors and retirement ever conducted and published: Knapp, J. L., Pruett, C. D., & Hicks, J. L. (2009). Clergy and retirement: An exploratory study on housing and financial preparedness. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Aging, 21(3), 159-171; and Knapp, J. L., & Pruett, C. D. (2017). Retirement among members of the clergy: Findings from a Protestant Fellowship. Journal of Religion, Spirituality, and Aging, 29(1), 33-46. We sit down with him to discuss the significance of his findings and how they correlate with the DIY Retirement crisis and reveal how COC pastors are a microcosm of it. Dr. Knapp can be reached at [email protected].   

Austin Harwood is a Financial Professional and entrepreneur. He teaches people the secrets behind what the banks and wealthy do to increase their cash flow, while growing and protecting their assets. He has helped over 1000 clients with Family Bank Strategies and Indexed Strategies to get the upside potential of the market with no downside risk. He lives outside of Sacramento, CA with his wife and two sons. You can connect with Austin, set up a complimentary financial consultation, and learn more here at his Linktree. 

In this episode, we begin our interviews with Church of Christ pastors from around the country. Glen Bowman and Dustin Rocha join us representing the Mountain West region. Glen recently worked for a congregation in New Mexico, while Dustin has been serving in Wyoming for several years. This is the first of eight separate qualitative conversations with pastors inspired by James Knapp's suggestion from the only academic studies conducted on the retirement realities of Church of Christ pastors. 

Dusty Breeding joins us this episode. Dusty has experience as a pastor, professor, Personal Performance and Financial Coach, and Team-Building Consultant and Facilitator among others. Dusty also serves in the Army National Guard. He and his wife live in Malibu, CA. You can learn more about Dusty and his services at www.dustybreeding.com and www.skullandbonessociety.co. 

Joining us this episode is labor economist, author, pension reform advocate, and nationally recognized retirement security expert Teresa Ghilarducci. She is the Bernard L. and Irene Schwartz professor of economics at The New School for Social Research and the Director of the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA) and The New School’s Retirement Equity Lab (ReLab). Teresa's argument in her book "Rescuing Retirement" is the foundation upon which this final project was based and we are very excited to share this conversation with you. You can learn about Teresa and her work at www.teresaghilarducci.org. 

John Mark Hicks is professor of Theology at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN and has taught full time in higher education among Church of Christ institutions since 1982. He is the author of many books including two discussed in this conversation: "Searching for the Pattern," and "Embracing Creation." John's expertise and experience within Churches of Christ was enlightening when discussing how what he calls the "blueprint hermeneutic" led to the opposition of located and salaried pastors within the denomination and possibly helped contribute to the retirement realities of its pastors today. We also discuss  what Hicks has written on the Nazareth Manifesto of Jesus from Luke 4, and how the Jubilee might be a good framework to start talking about a theology of retirement and saving for it. 

Trey Finley speaks with us this episode coming from a background of 10 years in ministry within Churches of Christ from 1999-2009, as well as the last four years serving as the Executive Director of Eleven:28 ministries. He has been a member of their board of directors since 2013. Eleven:28's purpose is to counter the causes and effects of burnout among faith leaders. Trey has spoken with and learned the stories of faith leaders across the country, including working with those who have recently exited full-time ministry, helping them in the matter of soul care, et al. Trey brings a great perspective as a result of his experience as a pastor himself, and his work with Eleven:28 on what its like accumulating assets for retirement as a pastor within Churches of Christ and how this relates as an area of soul care.