Steven M. Tipton’s Book Helps Retirees Find Their True Calling in Retirement, Even if for the First Time

The Publishing Office of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, announced the release of a new book, “The Life to Come: Re-Creating Retirement” by Steven M. Tipton with foreword by Martin E. Marty. According to Tipton, retirement not only offers a time to travel and have fun—but it beckons us to find our true calling in action, peace of mind in reflection, the spirit moving in the moments of each day, and the grace of God in prayer and love of neighbor.

Marty shared in the foreword that the book is sure to engage readers. “In ‘The Life to Come,’ Tipton carefully avoids the impersonal and cliché versions of advice-giving.” The book introduces or reintroduces experts, whose work reflects on the life to come as well as how to address and master living in retirement. “This book is not about the ‘care of the very aged,’ but about facing and growing into retirement… I picture that readers will be better prepared for waking up to tomorrow, which means ‘living that life worth living,’” Marty wrote.

Tipton, C.H. Candler professor emeritus of Sociology of Religion and senior research fellow at Emory University, Candler School of Theology, is a 2011 Guggenheim Fellow. He is also the author of “Getting Saved from the Sixties: The Transformation of Moral Meaning in American Culture” and “Public Pulpits: Methodists and Mainline Churches in the Moral Argument of Public Life.” He coauthored “Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life” and “The Good Society.”

“The Life to Come” received a praise from Harvey Cox, author of “The Secular City” and “The Market as God,” “In this book Steven Tipton confronts a stubborn but perennial human dilemma with rigor and clarity. Eloquent and engaging.”

“The Life to Come: Re-Creating Retirement” is available at Amazon.com. For more information about GBHEM’s Publishing Office, visit Publications or follow @GBHEMPublishing on Facebook.

Wesley’s Foundery Books is an imprint of GBHEM. Foundery books are clearly and accessibly written by Methodist/Wesleyan experts, with an emphasis on church life and ministry. Representing the rich diversity of the church, Wesley’s Foundery Books offer a disciplined and balanced approach.

About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to build capacity for United Methodist lay and clergy leaders to discover, claim and flourish in Christ’s calling in their lives, by creating connections and providing resources to aid in recruitment, education, professional development and spiritual formation. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call in their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.