Actually, Corty and Pat were in Lutherville this past weekend when Corty suffered a sudden heart attack on Monday evening and died the next morning. Talk about dying with your boots on!!

Having completed a Great Commission Publications board meeting late Monday and sleeping in a motel near the Atlanta airport, I began my drive home Tuesday morning (which meant the first hour plus was negotiating the horrific morning rush hour). Just after clearing the Northeast suburbs, I received a cell phone call from my daughter informing me of the passing of Cortez Cooper (whom nearly everyone just called Corty) – a man who, like me, literally hundreds (perhaps thousands) of people would call a dear friend.

Driving back home to the mountain valleys of south western Virginia takes about 6 hours after the traffic clears and it was a beautiful day to drive and to reflect. I began focusing on the most significant thing I had learned from my relationship with Corty and it occurred to me that was how to deal with ‘retirement’.

I had learned years ago what the Bible teaches about retirement. That lesson came through a story told about Tom Cheely, then a pastor in North Carolina. Tom had announced to his congregation that at the Wednesday night service he would be teaching on the topic ‘What The Bible Teaches About Retirement’. The folks gathered at the appointed time, they sang a couple of songs, shared requests and prayed for each other, and Tom stepped up to his podium in front of the pews. He reminded them that the topic for the night was ‘What The Bible Teaches About Retirement’. He then picked up his open Bible from the podium, held it up for all to see, closed it, put it down, and walked out of the church.

So I learned the theory from Tom Cheely. But I learned the model from Corty Cooper.

Corty and his wife, Pat, had moved to Draper’s Valley, Virginia when he retired from his position as Coordinator of the PCA’s Mission To North America. He was about to turn 68 and they decided to buy a home near Pat’s home church – Draper’s Valley Presbyterian. Pat’s dad, a PCUS/PCA minister – Preston Sartelle, Sr. – had served as the pastor of that church during a growth spurt in the 1940’s and 50’s and Pat’s brother, Preston Junior had served the church as pastor for the 15 years after they came into the PCA in 1983. Many folks just referred to the church as the ‘Sartelle Family Church’.

The younger Preston had left to work full time on the mission field in Jamaica so as soon as Corty and Pat arrived, the Session asked Corty to serve as Interim Pastor. Within a few months it became clear to the Pulpit Committee that Corty was the perfect choice to be their next pastor and he was quickly called and installed and served there for five years.

I was approaching my mid-60’s and had made it clear when I accepted the call to the PCA church in nearby Narrows, Virginia that I would only serve until I turned 65, so I was in the process of determining what to do when my ‘retirement’ came. Corty and I would talk about that topic frequently at lunch.

About the same time I was ready to ‘retire’ at my church, Corty had decided it was best to turn the reigns at Draper’s Valley over to his young associate, Ken Pierce (whose tribute to Corty you can read here). I encouraged the Session at the Valley Church in Narrows to ask Corty to serve as the interim there and he accepted.

Even though I was busy developing my ministry working with smaller churches, developing PCANEWS.COM, and writing a couple of books, it became clear to me that something was missing. Corty and I discussed that at lunch a few times, and he convinced me that I should also try to seek an Interim position so I could continue to do regular preaching. It was obvious to Corty that the calling for a Minister of the Word to preach the gospel does not click off when the calendar reaches 65, or 70, or any number.

And Corty put that theory into practice like no one else I have ever known. It boggles the mind to consider that, from the age of 68 to the age of 80, Cortez Cooper served as the Interim Pastor for the following churches.

Valley Presbyterian, Narrows, VA
Faith Presbyterian (mission), Pearisburg, VA
Westminster Presbyterian, Greenwood, MS
Chapelgate Presbyterian, Marriotsville, MD
Evangelical Presbyterian, Annapolis, MD
Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian, St. Louis, MO
Eagle Heights Presbyterian, Winchester, VA
Valley Presbyterian, Lutherville, MD

And Corty didn’t just preach; he pastored. He provided leadership to the Session, advice to the Pulpit Committees, and counsel to many members. And those churches were served well during those months and years. Wouldn’t surprise me a bit to see folks from just about all of these congregations at the funeral service at Draper’s Valley this coming Saturday morning.

Actually, Corty and Pat were in Lutherville this past weekend when Corty suffered a sudden heart attack on Monday evening and died the next morning. Talk about dying with your boots on!!

I’ve still got a few (well, 7) years until I hit 80, and I’m hoping I can follow the model Cortez Cooper set for me (and hopefully many others). Age alone should never keep a preacher of the Gospel from preaching!!