Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. (Rick) is the director of the Center on Aging and Older-Adult Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. His ministry involves providing resources and training support for leaders of midlife and older-adult ministries. His work encompasses a large number of constituents, since nearly a third of the approximately 8 million members of The United Methodist Church in the United States are 65 years of age and older.

Dr. Gentzler is a much sought after speaker and seminar leader. He is nationally recognized as a teacher, writer, and leader in the field of aging and older-adult ministries. He is the 2003 recipient of the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging (NICA) "Spirituality and Aging" Award, presented at the annual meeting of the National Council on Aging (NCOA).

Dr. Gentzler is the author of numerous books on adult and older-adult ministry. His latest book, Aging & Ministry in the 21st Century: an Inquiry Approach will be available in August 2008. Other books by Dr. Gentzler include: The Graying of the Church: A Leader's Guide for Older Adult Ministry in The United Methodist Church; Designing an Older Adult Ministry; Aging: God's Challenge to Church and Synagogue; Adult Ministries (Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation series); 1999 International Year of Older Persons: Resource Materials for Congregational Ministry with Older Adults; The Pulse of United Methodist Baby Boomers; Forty-Sixty: A Guide for Midlife Adults Who Want to Make a Difference, and Rock of Ages (a large-print worship and songbook). He is editor of the Center Sage newsletter; and in 2005, he produced an award-winning video on aging titled, New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging.

Prior to joining the staff at the General Board of Discipleship, Dr. Gentzler served as pastor of several United Methodist congregations in Pennsylvania and Maryland. He also served as chaplain in various nursing home settings and developed a chaplaincy services program while working on his doctorate at Boston University. He taught in various undergraduate degree programs and is presently an adjunct faculty member at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., where he teaches various courses on aging and older-adult ministries.

Dr. Gentzler received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Shippensburg University (Shippensburg, PA), a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, D.C.), and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Boston University School of Theology (Boston, MA). Dr. Gentzler is a clergy member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is married to the former Marilyn Hozyash; and they have two children, Richard, III (D.D.S.), and Elizabeth (J.D.), and one granddaughter, Katie.

Contact Information:
THE REV. DR. RICHARD H. GENTZLER, JR.
Director, Center on Aging and Older-Adult Ministries
General Board of Discipleship, The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003
Nashville, TN 37203-0003
Office Phone: 615-340-7173 or Toll-Free: 1-877-788-2780, ext. 7173
Fax: 615-340-7071
E-mail: rgentzler@gbod.org
Website: www.aging-umc.org

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