wfn.org | Committee calls for change in mandatory retirement age

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

April 7, 2003 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.	10-71B{204}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Calling forced retirement at age 70 "antiquated and
ageist," the United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries finalized
proposed legislation that will relax the rules on mandatory retirement for
lay employees, pastors and bishops of the church.

Meeting March 25-27, the committee forwarded the resolutions to the
churchwide Board of Discipleship for submission to the 2004 General
Conference. The top assembly of the church meets every four years and will
gather in Pittsburgh.

"God does not take away God's blessing, including opportunity to serve in
full capacity, simply because someone has reached the age of 70 years or
older," the resolutions state.

The action involves amending or changing paragraphs 714.3; 356.1; 430.1 and
409.1 in the 2000 Book of Discipline, the church's law book.

"The committee is concerned about ageism in the church," said the Rev.
Richard Gentzler Jr., director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult
Ministries at the Board of Discipleship in Nashville.

"Chronological age should not be the determining factor for removing people
from their positions," he said. 

The wisdom of age is often overlooked, said David Maldonado Jr., president of
Iliff School of Theology in Denver. He was invited to speak to the committee
about theological education as it relates to aging and ministry with older
adults in United Methodist-related seminaries. 

"In theological education, the assumption is often that pastoral care equals
problems, having to take care of the aging. Aging is part of God's creation;
it is not a condemnation," he said.

Committee members are concerned about training pastoral candidates to care
for and minister to older adults. The members discussed the idea of hosting a
symposium that would bring together seminary professors and those working in
older adult ministries to develop course work for seminaries.

In other action, the committee:
7	Proposed and forwarded to the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society a resolution titled, "Deficit Spending and the Elderly," protesting
such spending to finance foreign conflicts.
7	Voted to contact all general board and agency heads to evaluate
compliance with a General Conference call to examine pension policies.
7	Endorsed creation of a chair of gerontology at Africa University, a
church-related school in Zimbabwe.
7	Discussed creating a general church award for each annual conference
to use in recognizing an individual or congregation doing extraordinary
ministry with older adults.
7	Approved a June 30 deadline for sending in applications for grants
for older adult ministry programs. The committee will review and award the
grants at its Aug. 15-17 meeting.
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United Methodist News Service
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