Parker Center Wisdom Conversations

Wisdom Conversations to

Wisdom Conversations offer the opportunity for pastors, educators, volunteers and others who work with older adults (many are members of the Facebook group Abundant Aging Ministry Network – AAMN), to come together to grow the spiritual lives of older adults.

The Conversations draw on the work of Mary Catherine Bateson (Composing a Further Life, 2011) who suggests wisdom is the accumulation of information and/or experiences that are ripened through continuing reflection over time during which we draw connections, find similarities and identify underlying patterns.

Through Wisdom Conversations, we seek to:

• Build connections with others who are engaged and interested in older adult ministries.
• Stimulate creative thinking by sharing from a variety of contexts for older adult ministries.
• Offer resources and key concepts for different ministry contexts.

The foundations of the Wisdom Conversation initiative are the quarterly zoom conversations (generally one speaker with short breakouts and Q&A) and the Annual Wisdom Conversations (multiple speakers with a longer time frame for discussion, breakouts and Q&A).

AAMN Quarterly Virtual Wisdom Conversations

Developing Deeper Meaning & Fresh Purpose in Elder Years

Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 3:00-4:00ET

Register to get the Zoom link.

Help older adults experience deeper meaning and fresh purpose by fertilizing the soil of aging with imagination and curiosity. For Rev. Don Robertson, endings can be seen as life-changing thresholds between ‘what was and the not yet.’ Rev. Robertson will discuss how churches can use his downloadable resource, Generative Aging: A Congregational Study Resource for Older Adults to invite members to view aging more positively.

2024 Annual Wisdom Conversation: Mental Wellness and Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities

Faculty:
Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, Author, Pastor & Advocate; President and Founder, Blessed Mind, LLC
Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging at United Church Homes
Becky King, Director of Spiritual Care for Trinity Communities of Greater Dayton and Dean of Chaplains, United Church Homes

While it is estimated that 20% of people aged 55 years and older experience some type of mental health concern, there is very little conversation about mental wellness within faith communities. What are the risk factors and warning signs we should be aware of, what resources are available, and what can we do to reduce the stigma associated with asking for help in order that more may age abundantly?

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund led this important conversation. Sarah offered real-world, practical advice based on many years of service as a local pastor in large and small congregations in Brooklyn, Minneapolis, New Smyrna Beach and Indianapolis. She holds a Master of Divinity degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, a Master of Social Work degree at Rutgers University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary with a focus on revitalizing the local church.

Sarah is the recipient of the Bob and Joyce Dell Award for Mental Health Education from the UCC Mental Health Network for her “outstanding authorship and leadership in breaking the silence about mental illness in family and in church and offering healing and hope.”

The 2024 Annual Wisdom Conversation was attended by pastors, educators, volunteers and others who work with older adults.

Wisdom is a process—a verb, not a noun!

Here are some key questions that lie at the heart of the Wisdom Conversation Program:

• How do we activate our communities to engage in the process of ripening and deepening our relationships with the divine?
• What are the experiences of others who are called to work with older adults in ministry?
• What is the role of community in this sacred wisdom growing work?

We invite you to join the conversation!