Older Adult Ministries

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Older Adult Ministries

For more information or assistance, please contact:

Rev. Kathy Betz
Equipping Disciples Team - Older Adult Ministries Rep.
kbetz@ccyoung.org €

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General Board of Discipleship Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministry

***NEW FROM DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES!***

THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH
A Leader's Guide for Older Adult Ministry in The United Methodist Church
By Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., 2003 recipient of the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging (NICA) "Spirituality and Aging" award

Without a doubt, both society and United Methodist congregations are "graying." Nearly 50% of United Methodist church members are 60 or older. Life expectancy in the U. S. has increased from 47 years in 1900 to 77 years in 2000. The number of people age 65 years or older is expected to double in the next 25 years.

THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH is based on extensive research which indicates that what leaders of older adult ministries want most is help in identifying new ministry models, ways to motivate older adults, and general resource information. All of these areas (and more!) are addressed in the book.

Primary audience: Local church leaders who plan and provide ministry with older adults; clergy; parish nurses; Christian educators; Stephen ministers; nurture, health & welfare teams/committees; evangelism teams/committees.

Order no. DR409; ISBN 0-88177-409-X. 96 pages; $12.00, 10 or more, $10.20 each.

Want to talk to someone about THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH?
Call or email Richard H. Gentzler, Jr:
Rick is the Director of The Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries, General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, TN; toll-free 877-899-2780 Ext.7173; rgentzlerl@gbod.org.

Want to read about THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH?

Go to: http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155174
To ORDER, call 800-972-0433 or go to http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155174

***Other books by Richard H. Gentzler***

DESIGNING AN OLDER ADULT MINISTRY
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155006

AGING: God's Challenge to Church & Synagogue (with Donald F. Clingan)
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=154967

FORTY-SIXTY: A Study for Midlife Adults Who Want to Make a Difference (with Craig Kennet Miller)
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=155081

If your church or older adult ministry area would like to be part of the planning or participate in a weekday Older Adult Spiritual Retreat in 2004 at the Prothro Center (formerly known as the Texoma Camp), please contact Rev. Kathy Betz at 214-827-8080, ext. 3000.

The Older Adult Task Force is soliciting names of individuals and churches with older adult programs to be considered for the Herman Cook Awards given annually at the Older Adult Luncheon at Annual Conference. Individuals and churches should be nominated based on their contribution to and participation in programs that promote positive aging. Contact Rev. Dina Steiner at 214-363-4393 for more information.

RESOURCES FOR OLDER ADULT MINISTRY

Designing A Ministry By, With, and For Older Adults by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., Director of the UM Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries, Nashville, TN
Available from Discipleship Resources, (800) 685-4370

Aging and God: Spiritual Pathways to Mental Health in Mid-life and Later Years by Harold G. Koenig, M.D., Haworth Pastoral Press, 1994.

Pastoral Care of Older Adults by Harold G. Koenig (Fortress Press, 1998)

Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century by David P. Gallagher (Group Publishing, 2003)

Building a Ministry for Homebound and Nursing-Home Residents by Marie White Webb
(ISBN 0-88177-403-0)

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