Many ministers who have lived in parsonages during much of their active ministry often face retirement without housing.

He was near retirement, a seasoned and distinguished veteran who was about to back off a bit from the sweat and muck of active ministry.

On the amalgamation of the two groups, he left the active ministry.

He resigned this charge, and left the active ministry in 1818.

Nonetheless, in 1982 he retired from active ministry to devote himself to full-time work as an artist.