Registration now open for Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network annual conference
Nationally recognized physician and ethicist Jean Abbott headlines speaker roster for the Sept. 16-19 gathering in Boulder, Colorado
LOUISVILLE — While the Psalms may consistently remind believers that God’s “faithfulness endures to all generations,” fostering healthy communication across those generations is an entirely different — and altogether challenging — matter.
That’s just why the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network (POAMN) has designed its 2025 annual conference around the theme “Bridging Generations: Navigating Difficult Conversations and Embracing New Opportunities.”
Clergy, lay leaders, chaplains and others ministering to and with older adults will have a unique opportunity to gather at the Frasier Retirement Community in scenic Boulder, Colorado, from Sept. 16-19 to address the emerging challenges and needs of older adults, caregivers and faith communities in an ever-changing cultural, sociopolitical and cross-generational context.
“I became aware of POAMN by happenstance when I was a pastor at a small, rural church in Colorado where most of my congregation were older adults over the age of 75,” said POAMN moderator, the Rev. Denise Shannon, pastor of Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church in Weldona, Colorado. “When I Googled ‘older adult ministry’ to get new ideas of what I could do for these folks, POAMN came up. Then, when I saw it was a Presbyterian organization, I wondered why I never knew about this resource. I visited the POAMN website and was overwhelmed by what was out there and by what the group has done over the years, like this amazing conference.”
This year, the POAMN national conference will offer a wealth of workshops, opportunities for networking, and inspiring worship services planned by the Rev. Bill Davis, senior director of Theological Education Funds Development for the Presbyterian Foundation and former development manager for the Presbyterian Association of Musicians.
The conference’s roster of outstanding speakers will be headlined by Dr. Jean Abbott, a retired physician who practiced and taught emergency medicine in Denver for 48 years. Abbott, who has also led an acute care hospital ethics consultation service for 15 years, still serves on multiple community and hospice ethics committees.
“Because I have 30 years of experience in hospice care, both as a nurse and a chaplain, I have a lot of history with Jean,” said Shannon. “I also know her as a nationally recognized speaker and a phenomenal human being. If I saw that she was part of a conference I would do anything to attend.”
As a network of persons engaged in ministry with older adults, POAMN’s mission includes nurturing the faith community, equipping leadership, and resourcing congregations and other organizations that minister to, for, and with older adults. POAMN seeks to encourage ministries that affirm the dignity and value of the multiple generations of aging adults with a focus on spirituality, wellness, care, and social involvement. Its purpose is to educate, advocate, develop and share resources, and train leaders by raising awareness around issues facing aging adults and those who serve those aging adults, all in a covenant relationship with the Interim Unified Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
“I look forward to the September conference to connect with faith leaders and learn from experts supporting older adults,” said Miatta Wilson, an associate in the Office of Christian Formation for the IUA, who was named Enrich Educator of the Year 2025 by the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE). “We believe the opportunity to work alongside POAMN in equipping and supporting faith leaders in Older Adult Ministry is an important piece our emphasis on lifelong faith formation and intergenerational ministry.”
Wilson explained that POAMN is one of five members of a group known as the Christian Formation Collective. All five of the member organizations — POAMN, the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association, UKirk, the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association, and the Association of Partners in Christian Education — work in collaboration with the Office of Christian Formation to support lifelong faith formation and discipleship.
“For this year’s POAMN event, it is great to see that another Collective partner is participating in conference leadership with PCCCA executive director Joel Winchip leading a workshop,” she added.
Because today’s population of older adults is growing in numbers, diversity, energy and activity, their unique caregiving needs are also increasing. POAMN has developed multiple resources under the title “Expressions of Older Adult Ministry” to address the shifts in demographics and life experiences of today’s older adults. One of its newest resources, a Quick Sheet for Youth and Youth Leaders titled “My Grandparent has Dementia...What do I do?”, relates directly to the cross-generational conference theme of the 2025 conference.
The registration cost for the annual conference is inclusive of all program activities, worship experiences, a welcome reception on Tuesday evening, four meals and snacks. Conference attendees can also save on the registration cost by registering on or before the early bird deadline of August 10 and/or becoming a POAMN member.
POAMN’s selection of the Frasier Retirement Community as the host site for the 2025 conference was intentional for several key reasons. Not only is the organization attempting to shift regions every year, but the leadership is also branching out to host the annual conference in different settings such as seminaries, camps and retirement communities.
“One of our 2025 presenters, the Rev. Cheryl Swing, and I were talking at last year’s conference about how older adult ministry takes place in a lot of places, not just churches,” Shannon said. “When [Cheryl] told us about the great space at the retirement facility where she serves, we decided to expand our horizons by hosting this year’s conference at this beautiful site at a time of year when it’s ideal to be in Colorado.”
Visit the POAMN conference website for complete information or to register.
The Interim Unified Agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) partners with POAMN through the Office of Christian Formation to support and celebrate ministries of older adults.
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