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UMNS# 05144-Committee works to celebrate,


From "NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>
Date Wed, 9 Mar 2005 17:25:17 -0600

Committee works to celebrate, recognize older adult ministries

Mar. 9, 2005 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert * (615) 7425470*
Nashville {05144}

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)-Society and the United Methodist Church are
"graying," and the church cannot afford to abandon or under serve older
adults, according to an expert on aging and older adult ministries.

By 2020, the number of people in the United States over 50 will grow by
74 percent, while the number of people under 50 will grow by only 1
percent. In the United Methodist Church, about 62 percent of the members
are 50 or older, said the Rev. Richard H. Gentzler Jr., director of the
Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries for the United Methodist
Board of Discipleship.

Gentzler was addressing the denomination's Committee on Older Adult
Ministries at its first meeting for the 2005-2008 quadrennium in
Nashville, March 5-7. The committee advocates for older adult concerns
and supports ministries "by, with and for" older adults in the church
and society.

The Rev. Hazel Bennett, elected as chairwoman of the committee, said the
words "by, with and for" are important. "Older adults want to serve as
well as be spiritually enriched," she said. "We don't want something
prepared for us without our input. Older adults can serve as long as
they live."

Gentzler, who has written several books on aging, set the tone for the
meeting with a presentation on the history and biblical foundation of
the committee.

"At the time of Jesus Christ, the life expectancy was 22 years old,"
Gentzler said. "In John Wesley's time it was 35; 100 years ago, it was
47; and today in the U.S., it is 80. It won't be long until it is 120
years old, which the Bible speaks of."

"Ageism is happening in many congregations," said Bishop Violet Fisher,
New York West Area. "It is showing in the leadership of our churches. We
forget the gifts seniors have to offer, one of which is seniors are
financially supporting our churches."

A church that recognizes every member of its family will not leave
anyone out, said Marvin Cropsey, an editor at the United Methodist
Publishing House and a consultant to the committee.

The committee will look at issues that are important to older adults and
submit legislation for the 2008 General Conference. One issue it will
discuss is mandatory retirement for pastors and bishops. A resolution to
do away with mandatory retirement failed to pass at the 2004 General
Conference.

"General Conference is a perpetrator of ageism," said Bennett. "Many
pastors can be effective beyond age 70. The committee will be working on
some hard decisions."

The committee has $80,000 to use for grants for older adult ministries.
Guidelines for criteria, submission procedure and the application form
were discussed. The grants will be given in 2006 and 2007.

The committee also voted to hold a convocation for annual conference
councils on older adult ministries in 2007. At the committee's March
2006 meeting, plans will be announced for the design of the convocation.

The 2004 General Conference approved legislation to encourage each
annual conference to create a conference council on older adult
ministries. Bennett said the committee would work to get councils formed
in every annual conference.

In other action, the committee elected James F. Fox, Northeastern
Jurisdictional representative, as vice chairman of the committee, and
Cathy Rafferty, North Central Jurisdictional representative, as
recording secretary. Bennett, chairwoman of the committee, is the
Southeastern Jurisdictional representative.

# # #

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org


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