Dr. James Pleitz departed for his eternal home on Sunday evening. He was ready to go and looking forward to the trip. Dr. Pleitz told me that over and over again. I told our congregation last Sunday morning that Dr. Pleitz was “sitting on the launching pad awaiting liftoff.” The launch sequence reached zero shortly before 8 o’clock.

While we have no doubt about his destination, he will be missed. In addition to serving as a legendary pastor at both First Baptist Church of Pensacola and Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Dr. Pleitz spent his final years as our Pastor Emeritus. He fulfilled the responsibilities of that role more effectively than any emeritus pastor I know.

“Pastor Emeritus” is an honorary title given by a congregation to honor their founding or long-time pastor. It means, “We know you are retired, but we still look to you as a senior shepherd.” With that honorary title comes an extremely important job description, which includes encouraging the congregation, supporting the current pastor, and utilizing his or her influence to advance the ministry of the church.

A few of my pastoral colleagues around the country have had the misfortunate experience of serving alongside rogue emeriti….that is, emeritus pastors with control issues, inflated egos, or a bad case of “retired preacher syndrome.”

Dr. James Pleitz could have written the book on how to be an effective and influential emeritus pastor. He encouraged the congregation in every way imaginable, even giving me words of encouragement to share with them during his final days. He was my number one encourager, always sending me handwritten notes and placing well timed phone calls to inquire about my family or to ask how my week was going.  He would often stop by my office unannounced….request a cup of coffee…one cream, two sugars…and once the door was closed, he would say, “I just wanted to come by and pray for my pastor.” He would lay his hand on my shoulder and pray in way that would lift my soul heavenward and fortify my confidence for the day. He will be missed.

And he was an ambassador for the kingdom. He knew how to work a room by learning names and listening to stories. One of our associate ministers said, “Dr. Pleitz had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person in his life at the moment he was speaking to you.”

Although there is a great reunion occuring this week in the heavenly realm, there is a great hole in the heart of First Baptist Church of Pensacola and their pastor because our pastor emeritus is no longer with us. His presence will be missed but his influence will be felt for generations to come.

And I hope that other retiring pastors around the country will learn from Pleitz’ example of how to be a great Pastor Emeritus, and how to be the new pastor’s best friend.