Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer

[Originalist]

A good friend of mine is Sectional Presbyter in a particular AG district.

He has been pastoring the same church for 23 years and has served as SP for nearly 10.

He and his wife are both in their early to mid 50's and have no kids.

Sensing that it is time for a change, they have been applying for open pastoral spots in another district. In spite of maturity, relative youth, life experience, pastoral and executive experience, no family distractions, and incredible endorsements from their district and national headquarters, they keep getting tuned down in church after church. The reason? The reason has been the same in every church. The churches prefer a couple between 35-40 years of age with kids, "in order to attract young married couples."

What hogwash. But I do not find this surprising in the least with so much emphasis being placed on "church growth". In my friend they would have wisdom, incredible knowledge of the word, and more time to devote to ministry due to his want for children. But the yuppy millennials know better.