The “church family” is not immune to the dangers of ageism and age privilege!

Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.

Provided by CN Building Adult Ministries Resource Center

•         A church is ageist when it regrets the inability of the old to climb the stairs to the sanctuary, but fails to provide accessibility.

•         A church is ageist when it takes public pride in the “new young families” who are attending church activities, but takes for granted the “old folks” who have supported the church through many years.

•         A church is ageist when it forgets its active old members and leaves ministry with the old to the retired minister on the church staff whose task is to visit the shut-ins.

•         A church is ageist when it assumes that old people no longer want leadership roles.

•         A church is ageist when it acts on the assumption that in order for younger people to become involved in the church the active and able old members must be expected to step aside.

•         A church is ageist when it makes plans for an “older adult ministry” without consulting the ones to whom and with whom they plan to minister.

•         A church is ageist when it “honors” the old but treats them in a condescending and patronizing way.

•         A church is ageist when it puts all of the hearing aids in one pew, down front.

•         A church is ageist when it assumes that old people will always resist change.


Here Are Some Examples of Ageist Behaviors and Attitudes in Many Congregations

•         When older adult ministry is planned without the involvement of older adults, that’s ageism.

•         When a church believes that the only way it can be innovative and growing is to have older adults step aside, that’s ageism.

•         When a church fails to make its facilities accessible, that’s ageism.

•         When a church hires staff for other age-group ministries or provides them a budget but ignores ministry with older adults, that’s ageism.

•         When church leaders believe they know what’s best for older adults without consulting them, that’s ageism.

•         When church leaders regularly ignore issues of aging and older adult concerns in their sermons, hymn selections, and prayers, that’s ageism.

•         When church leaders focus solely on young families and ignore older members who have supported the church over a period of many years, that’s ageism.

Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. is the Directorof the Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee. This article, Is Your Church Ageist, appeared in the fall 2006 issue of Center Sage.