On Sunday (Sept. 8), Alistair Begg announced that he will be retiring as the senior pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 14, 2025.
Begg has been serving as Parkside Church’s senior pastor since 1983.
According to a statement posted on the church’s website, Begg informed the church elders last month regarding his decision. Begg “will continue his pastoral and ministry work at Truth For Life” following his retirement from the pulpit.
RELATED: Alistair Begg Takes Heat for Advising Grandmother To Attend Grandchild’s Transgender Wedding
Alistair Begg Explains Why He’s Retiring on September 14, 2025
“Why do this?” Begg said as he addressed the congregation on Sunday.
“Well, that particular day will be 50 years since I began with Derek Prime at Charlotte Chapel. It will be 49 years since I was ordained to the gospel ministry,” he continued, “and it will be 42 years from the time that [my wife] Sue and I had the privilege of beginning ministry here at what was then the chapel in Beechwood.”
Begg shared that he chose to announce his decision to retire 12 months in advance “to make it clear [it] is not precipitous.”
“It’s not driven by anything of which I am personally aware, other than my ambition to pass the baton safely into the hands of my successor,” he added.
Begg also explained that his advance notice is meant to give the church “time to adjust to the prospect of and to prepare in a timely way for what this transition will mean.”
Begg said he also plans to prepare himself for a “future that doesn’t involve coming to this pulpit,” a thought he described as “strange.” Nevertheless, Begg said that, “God willing,” he is not retiring from Christian ministry.
“I will have opportunities as time and interest and health [enable] me to be involved in various places and things, certainly to be more committed and more involved at Truth For Life when I don’t have the responsibilities and privileges here,” Begg said.
,%20Alistair%20Begg%20announced%20that%20he%20will%20be%20retiring%20as%20the%20senior%20pastor%20of%20Parkside%20Church%20in%20Cleveland,%20Ohio,%20on%20September%2014,%202025.){kind=link}