The reality is that we will spend more of our individual lifetimes as older adults than as anything else. In fact, the fastest growing segment of our church’s membership is women who are over the age of one hundred. These women will spend half a century living as older adults.

Is the church prepared to minister effectively with and to this new demographic of older adults? We’re going to be! The Office of Older Adult Ministries has launched an ambitious $6 million endowment effort to permanently provide operating funds to ensure that the congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meet the needs of older adults, utilize their talents, and value their participation at every level of the church.

Older Adult Ministries provides printed materials and services to congregations through the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network. The network equips congregations to:

• encourage older adults to become involved in service;

• provide practical support and support groups for caregivers, while paying attention to the needs of care-receivers;

• educate the church to recognize the signs of older adult abuse; alert older persons concerning scams and con games; fight age discrimination and ageism; and partner with other denominations and government agencies in addressing abuse in the areas of housing and care facilities;

• pay attention to the unique needs of racial ethnic older persons and learn from other cultures about aging;

• provide services such as the parish nurse program to educate congregations about healthy lifestyles and to stay in touch with health situations in the congregation, especially those of the homebound and those in care facilities, in some cases providing a vital link between distant relatives and their loved ones;

• share legal and ethical information concerning end-of- life issues.

Other programmatic themes include intergenerational activities, retirement, and redirecting one’s life after career work, evangelism among and by older adults, opportunities for growing and learning, saving and sharing life stories, and spiritual growth in the later years.

Older Adult Ministries (OAM) also makes available numerous print resources and videos to assist presbyteries and congregations in organizing, supporting, enhancing, and developing older adult ministries. OAM works in partnership with its covenant partner The Association of Retired Ministers, their Spouses and Survivors to maintain connections with and support our retired clergy who have committed their lives to serving our church.

Older Adult Ministry:
A Guide for the Presbytery Committee

Revised and edited by Dr. Miriam Dunson, this resource is designed to assist presbytery committees in finding ways to address ministry with, by, and for older members of congregations. Presbyteries can learn to translate concern into action by starting intentional ministry with older adults. From the creation of the committee or task force to the selection of leaders, to direct involvement with congregations, this guide can be used to educate, train, and support.

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To learn more about these many vital ministries with older adults and how you can financially support the work of Older Adult Ministries, please visit the Older Adult Ministries Web site at www.pcusa.org/olderadults.

Opportunities to support the ongoing budget of Older Adult Ministries are also available through the Extra Commitment Opportunities (ECO) program. For more information, call the author, Gregory Cohen, Associate for Older Adult Ministries, Program Mission and Funding. He can be reached at (888) 728-7228, x5487.