Rick Warren to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Warren fans. Speculation had been rife that the author of the Purpose Driven Church is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 72, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 11/04/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a religious figure isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a religious figure-author just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouRick

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouRick was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Rick Warren was unlike any other religious figure we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouRick”
— @universalObserver, 10 Apr 2026

“I thought Rick Warren retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 10 Apr 2026

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