Pastor and author Alistair Begg announced Sunday that he plans to retire as senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 14, 2025. statement According to the church's website, Begg informed church elders last month of his decision to retire but said he would “continue his pastoral and missionary work.” Truth for Life“
“Why are you doing this?” Begg, who has been the church's senior pastor since 1983, told the congregation on Sunday.
“That day will mark 50 years since I began working with Pastor Derek Prime at Charlotte Chapel. It will mark 49 years since I was ordained as an evangelist,” he continued. “And [my wife] Sue and I had the honor of beginning our ministry here in what was then the Beechwood Chapel.”
Reports say Church LeadersBegg said he announced his decision to retire a year ago. [it] It's not urgent.”
“This is not driven by anything I perceive personally other than my ambition to successfully pass the baton to my successor,” he continued.
Begg also said the upcoming plans are to give the church “time to adjust to the prospect of what this transition means and to prepare in a timely manner.”
Begg also said he plans to prepare “for a future when I don't need to be in this pulpit”, a notion he called “strange”, but added that he has no plans to retire from Christian ministry “God willing”.
“If you have the time, interest and health, there will be opportunities. [enable] “Even if I don't have the responsibilities or privileges here, I want to be involved in different places and things and definitely be more engaged and more involved with Truth for Life,” Begg said.
Over the years, Begg has watched many pastors finish their tenure in the pulpit.
“They stayed a lot longer than they should have. Some left earlier than they should have. And very few were able to successfully accomplish what we wanted them to do,” he said.
“It makes you want to go even when you don't want to,” Begg said.
The pope also asked the congregation to pray with the elders for “clarity and unity” in the search for a successor.
“It is a great privilege to be working together as a church during this time and to realize that God has a plan that goes far beyond our ability to conceive,” Begg concluded.
Begg's sermon was his “Truth for LifeThe radio show “Truth For Life” is broadcast on more than 1,900 radio stations. Earlier this year, Begg was removed from American Family Radio, where he had broadcast “Truth For Life” for more than a decade, after he came under fire for encouraging a grandmother to attend a transgender wedding with her grandson. He was also removed as a speaker at Grace Community Church Pastor John MacArthur's Shepherd's Conference.
Photo credit: ©Parkside Church
