wfn.org | Grants awarded to programs for older adults

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Oct. 14, 2002	News media contact: Kathy Gilbert7(615) 742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.	10-71B{471}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-The United Methodist Committee on Older Adult
Ministries awarded grants to 22 programs to benefit senior citizens. 

This was the first time the committee has given grants. The funds came from
the Comprehensive Plan for Older Adult Ministries approved by the 2000
General Conference.

"There were 88 applications received and 22 were funded. The total amount
requested was $208,219 and we had only $42,500 at our disposal," said the
Rev. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., director of the church's Center on Aging and
Older Adult Ministries, Nashville, Tenn. 
 
Five grants were awarded in the North Central Jurisdiction:
7	Fernwood Senior Service Program, Fernwood United Methodist Church,
Chicago-- $2,500
7	Oshkosh United Methodist Older Adult Ministries, Winnebago District,
Wisconsin Annual Conference-- $2,000
7	Helping Hands Ministry, Belmont United Methodist Church, Dayton,
Ohio, $1910
7	Mature Adult Ministries, Trinity United Methodist Church, Ft. Dodge,
Iowa, $1,500
7	Open Hearts-Helping Hands, Motley United Methodist Church, Motley,
Minn., $780
	
	Two grants were awarded in the Northeastern Jurisdiction:
7	Ages Together, Park United Methodist Church, Bloomfield, N.J., $2000
7	Parish Nursing Database, Evangelical Service for the Aging, Eastern
Pennsylvania Annual Conference, $1,700
	
	
	Three grants were awarded in the South Central Jurisdiction:
7	The STAR Team, First United Methodist Church, Brinkley, Ariz.,
$2,500
7	Age, An Asset in the United Methodist Community, United Methodist
Church Mission, Houchen Community Center, El Paso, Texas, $2,400
7	Edith Anderson Telephone Sunday School Class, Levy United Methodist
Church, North Little Rock, Ark., $2,000
	
	Six grants were awarded in the Southeastern Jurisdiction:
7	Pine Tree Quilt and Crafters, United Methodist Cooperative
Ministries, Madison, Fla., $2,285
7	Senior's Outreach, First United Methodist Church of Interlachen,
Fla., $2,000
7	Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength, Council on Older Adult Ministries,
South Carolina Annual Conference, $2,000
7	Conference Older Adult Design Team, Memphis Annual Conference,
$1,800
7	Holston Older Adult Ministries Team, Holston Annual Conference,
$1,000
7	Children of Aging Parents, Brentwood United Methodist Church,
Brentwood, Tenn., $500
	
	Two grants were awarded in Western Jurisdiction:
7	Senior Challenger's Library, Wesley United Methodist Church, Fresno,
Calif., $1,500
7	Art of Faithful Aging, Los Altos United Methodist Church, Los Altos,
Calif., $1,400
	
	Three grants were awarded in the Central Conferences:
7	Golden Years Center for the Elderly, Stewart Memorial United
Methodist Church, Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines, $2,500
7	Hope for the Aged, United Methodist Church House, Freetown, Sierra
Leone, West Africa, $2,500
7	Eldercare Ministry, United Methodist Church in Lithuania, Kaunas,
Lithuania, $2,500
	
	Tikba Pisa "Looking Forward," a project of the Native American
International Caucus, was awarded $2,500.
	
	The committee affirmed the U.N.'s International Plan of Action on
Aging and pledged to support and implement the document's recommendations in
their national and global work.
	
	The plan of action on aging was adopted during the 2002 meeting in
Madrid held in April. The plan was signed by 162 countries, including the
United States, and makes clear that aging is not just an issue of social
security but also an issue that should be part of overall development and
economic policy.  The committee, meeting in Nashville Sept. 13-14, plans to
ask all churchwide boards and agencies to take similar action. 
	
	The 24-member Committee on Older Adult Ministries serves as a forum
for cooperative planning of programs by, with and for older adults. Created
by the 1992 General Conference, it is administratively related to the Board
of Discipleship, based in Nashville.
	
	The committee also passed a resolution to call on all churchwide
agencies and boards to support the efforts of the U.N. to recognize older
adults as protected non-combatants in areas engaged in armed conflict or
situations of foreign occupation.
	
	During the meeting, the committee also noted a symposium for annual
conference leaders of older adult ministries that will be held March 27-29
in Nashville at the Scarritt-Bennett Center. This symposium is by invitation
only. Devotional worship, keynote addresses, and workshops are planned.
	
	In other action the committee voted to:
	
7	Establish a national awards program to be used in annual conferences
to recognize individuals or congregations for outstanding contribution to
spirituality and aging
7	Change the March meeting date for the next committee meeting to
March 25-26 to coincide with the March 27-29 symposium.

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