Sunday, March 15, 2009 2pm – 5pm Guardian Angel Cathedral ... › files › Best_Practices_in_Older_Adult_Ministry...Ministry Sunday, March 15, 2009 2pm – 5pm Guardian Angel Cathedral,

Wingspread Best Practices in Older Adult

Ministry Sunday, March 15, 2009 2pm – 5pm

Guardian Angel Cathedral, Las Vegas, NV

The Rev. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., DMinDirector, Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries

General Board of DiscipleshipThe United Methodist Church

PO Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203Tel: 615-340-7173 or Toll free at 1-877-899-2780

Email: [email protected] Website: www.gbod.org/coa

GBOD Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries

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The United Methodist Church

55% of our membership is 50 years of age or older

Nearly 1/3 of our membership is 65 years of

age or older

(“U.S. Religious Landscape Study” by Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 2008)


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Our Youth-Oriented Culture

Our youth-oriented culture

makes it difficult for us to appreciate the significance of older adults

For that reason, we need to be intentional about creating ministries by, with, and for older adults


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Source of Power and EnergyHow can your faith community harness the creativity, wisdom, experience, and faith that exists in the hearts and minds of its older members?

What are ways your faith community offers opportunities for meaningful service and for works of compassion, peace, and justice?


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Designing an Older Adult Ministry

Step 1 – Establish a task force of six to ten older adults

Step 2 – Conduct a survey of older adults in your faith community

Step 3 – Conduct a demographic and a service analysis of your community


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Designing an Older Adult Ministry

•Step 4 – Plan two high- visibility events targeted to older adults, both inside and outside the faith community

•Step 5 – Survey the people who attended the event and plan a year’s activities


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Congregational Older Adult Ministries

Advocate on behalf of older adults

Focus on the mission of your faith community

Identify needs & talents of older adults

Survey existing ministries both within and outside the faith community

Implement S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry

Network with others


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S.E.N.I.O.R.S. MinistryS piritual

E nrichment

N utrition/Fitness

I ntergenerational

O utreach/Evangelism

R ecreational

S ervice


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S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry Local Church Assessment

S.E.N.I.O.R.S

Ministry

Go – Go’s Slow - Go’s No – Go’s

Spiritual

Enrichment

Nutrition/Fitness

Intergenerational

Outreach

Recreation

Service


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Older Adult MinistriesAdult Day ServicesAnnual Older Adult PicnicCaregivingChildren of Aging ParentsCompanion Services Exercise & Fitness Class Field TripsFlowers for HomeboundFoster GrandparentsGame Day


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Older Adult MinistriesHelping Hands (food pantry)Home Repair and MaintenanceHomebound S. S. ClassHomebound WorshipHouse SharingIntergenerational Retreat Kitchen BandLatch Key Kid MinistryLibrary: Resources Aging IssuesLife Review Classes


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Older Adult MinistriesLiving History RecordedLunch PartnersMarriage Enrichment RetreatMeals (Meals on Wheels)Mentoring and TutoringMultigenerational StudyMutt MinistryNursing Home VBSOlder Adult ChoirOlder Adult Newsletter


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Older Adult MinistriesParish NursePrimetimers – GBGMOA Recognition DinnerOA Recognition ServiceRespite CareRitual for Folks MovingS.E.N.I.O.R.S. MinistrySenior Bulletin BoardSenior Devotional BookletSenior Theater


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Older Adult MinistriesSenior YearbookShepherd’s CenterShort-Term Mission TripStephen MinistrySunday Afternoon WorshipTelephone ReassuranceTransportation MinistryVisitation MinistryWeekday Bible StudyWriting letters & sending cards


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Selected Older Adult Ministry Resources


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Characteristics of Best Practices Older Adult Ministries

A shared vision for older adult ministry is developed

The ministry is in alignment with the mission of the faith community

The ministry is supported by a budget


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Characteristics of Best Practices Older Adult Ministry

Needs and talents of older adults are known and affirmed

Records are kept

Leadership is available

Training is provided


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Characteristics of Best Practices Older Adult Ministry

Community resources are known and used

The ministry reaches out to the community

Evaluation is regular and ongoing


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Keep in Mind: PPR

Personal – Does your ministry

meet the personal needs of the individuals involved?

Practical – Is the ministry practical and “down to earth”?

Relevant – Is the ministry relevant and make a difference in the lives of others?


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Intentional Ministry by, with & for Older Adults

Appoint a Task Force, Team, Committee, or Council

Design a ministry by, with, & for older adults that meets needs and provides services

Develop various ministry options -- one ministry-type does not meet all needs


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Use lifestyles, not age, as the determining factor in ministry with older adults

Develop multiple older adult groups

Help older adults create a new vision or dream


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Make outreach to older adults a ministry priority

Make church facilities accessible

Plan ministry involving all generations

Consider the needs of older adults as you add church staff


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Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries

Center Mission: To provide resources, training, and networking support to equip church leaders in their ministry with older adults

Working with UM Committee on Older Adult Ministries to provide Grant Funding, Resources, and Training to leaders in local congregations.


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Older Adult Ministry Grants United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries

2009 – Aug. 1 – Dec. 15 Grant Applications for Intergenerational Ministry (awarded Spring 2010)

2010 – Aug. 1 – Dec. 15 Grant Applications for Caregiving Ministry (awarded Spring 2011)

Email: [email protected]

www.aging-umc.org or www.gbod.org/coa

http://www.aging-umc.org/

http://www.gbod.org/coa


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“So even to old age and gray hairs, O

God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the

generations to come.” Psalm 71:18

Sunday, March 15, 2009 2pm – 5pm Guardian Angel Cathedral ... › files › Best_Practices_in_Older_Adult_Ministry...Ministry Sunday, March 15, 2009 2pm – 5pm Guardian Angel Cathedral,

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