Building on the Mastery of Age

Leona Bergstrom, Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

I recently attended a major national conference for leaders in aging services. The Philadelphia Convention Center was electric with excitement and enthusiasm as thousands of people gathered to discuss contemporary practices, product development and service delivery. Present were CEOs of large retirement communities and systems, healthcare providers, architects, financial planners, software designers, marketing professionals and lots of entrepreneurs.

Clearly the field of aging is singing the first notes of an impressive crescendo. Things are heating up as more and more people are growing older and opportunities abound for innovative and creative solutions to the challenges facing them. In observing the participants at this conference, I noted vision, commitment and expectancy. There were no “gloom and doom” faces wondering what we were going to do with all of these old people! Together participants were mapping out a “Journey to Excellence” in which good care, respect, opportunity and quality are the norm, not the exception. I noted a few characteristics of this group:

  1. They “get” the big picture of our nation’s demographics. They are not in denial about the millions of people in our country who are steamrollering toward retirement age and beyond.
  2. They are innovative, creative, visionary and committed.
  3. They believe in quality. In fact, most of the services are held accountable to strict standards of performance by accreditation or regulatory agencies.
  4. They use a variety of reliable methods to determine the needs of older persons, and then set about to meet these.
  5. They have not abandoned the old.
  6. They celebrate the gift of aging.

I couldn’t help but wonder what older adult ministries would be like if church leaders were on a similar journey of excellence. My experience in the 21st century church is that one has to look far and wide to find congregations who consider ministry to aging adults to be a priority.

This observation was confirmed at an informal discussion around a reception table at this same conference. I was talking with an executive in a senior living community in Pennsylvania. We were discussing my work with churches. Her observation was threefold:

  1. Her experience in her local church is that there is nothing there for her. In fact, she is dropping out to find meaning in aging and spiritual growth in other ways.
  2. What ministry there is for “seniors” is irrelevant and somewhat frivolous.
  3. The church is focusing on the youth to the exclusion of its elders.

How did we come to such a point? Historically, the church was the vehicle for providing care and services for older people. But somewhere along the way we abandoned the care of our elders to the “professionals” and to the government or private businesses. Typically, churches maintained obligatory ministries in the church for seniors, but even those are dying out along with their members.

These are critical days for Second Half ministry. We need to create new paradigms for ministry in our churches and districts that are fresh, relevant and effective. We need transformational leaders who will partner with other ministry organizations, denominations, academic institutions and policy makers.

Most churches today are struggling with the economic crunch and priorities for ministry. But actually, our biggest deficit today is not money, but leadership. Our goal is to encourage, develop, train and nurture leaders who know and understand the opportunities at hand and celebrate them.

Won’t you join us on this Journey to Excellence? Where do you begin?

  1. Begin praying for a powerful and effective ministry with midlife and older adults in your local church.
  2. Gather a small group of people interested in this ministry and begin to pray and strategize. Include your senior pastor and/or church leadership.
  3. Contact your district executive minister to see how churches in your region/district can work together. Perhaps sponsor a regional Learning Community o begin discussing the issues and developing strategies.
  4. Study the demographic trends of your community. Research the current thoughts about aging.
  5. Join CASA Network (Christian Association Serving Adult Ministries) and utilize the resources and training offered for leaders in midlife and older adult ministries: www.gocasa.org
  6. Remember, “A small deed done is better than a great deed never started.”