Age-Friendly Congregations: Ministering to Seniors in the Church
Age-Friendly Congregations encourages churches to rethink the way they attract, retain and minister to their older members.
This Parker Center Aging Congregations book was co-authored by Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, Rev. J. Bennett “Ben” Guess, Jan Aerie and RoMa Johnson.
“Age-Friendly Congregations takes a look at people who are age 65 and older because we haven’t been paying attention to the people who have made it to this point in their lives,” Long-Higgins says.
The book serves as a resource to help churches better minister to and provide programming for older adults. Chapters share vital information about aging, ageism, caregiving and creating an age-friendly covenant.
“People are aging in place and living longer. How do we reach out and make sure they are not isolated? How do we make sure we are part of their support system?” Long-Higgins asks. Guess believes age-friendly congregations recognize that spiritual growth, intellectual curiosity, and a passion to build a better world are lifelong processes.
“Vital congregations take seriously life-span development and strive to be places where multigenerational experiences are nurtured and where persons of all ages are honored and valued. Age-friendly congregations are serious about confronting ageism,” Guess says.
Aerie notes that congregations wishing to become age-friendly should assess member demographics and develop new models of ministry designed to address the needs of older adult members and area residents and act on an age-friendly covenant process.
“An age-friendly congregation is one that recognizes, celebrates and affirms the place that older adults have in ministry and mission. Specifically, age-friendly congregations intentionally and regularly present intergenerational classes and programs building awareness and knowledge of facets of aging and sensitivity to reaching out to meet the needs of many people,” Aerie says.
Older adults make up more than half of most congregations. They are the backbone of churches but often are taken for granted by ministers who assume they always will have them as members, Guess says.
As Guess puts it, “Many churches incorrectly assume that attracting and retaining older members is a given, so little conversation is invested in how to minister well to seniors. Today’s retirees are looking for meaningful engagement and that requires intentionality on the part of our pastors and local churches.”
Long-Higgins reminds us that older adults should not be lumped into a single, monolithic group. Stereotypes in pop culture about the “church lady,” (a senior who is against change), or assuming that older adults all have the same needs, must be dismissed.
“We are limiting the wisdom that is present in our pews; the gifts that older adults offer. We should be inviting older adults into new roles. If we change the language and invite older adults to experience new opportunities, we will be surprised at how the spirit can work through them,” Long-Higgins says.
Age-Friendly Congregations is available from UCC Resources. The cost is $6 for a digital download and $13 for a printed copy. Click here for more information.
About the Authors
Rev. Beth Long-Higgins is the vice president of engagement and the executive director of United Church Homes’ Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging.
Rev. J. Bennett “Ben” Guess is executive director of ACLU Ohio and former vice president of the United Church of Christ’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM).
Jan Aerie is a gerontologist, community health planner and family counselor.
RoMa Johnson is a hospice community chaplain.
