When I use the term elders, I am referring to a very specific group of Christian people who should be defined not only by their ages but, even more significantly, by their past and present roles of participation within the life of our congregations. Consequently, it is my belief (and practice) that our honoring of those older adults, our elders, requires a somewhat different approach than that which we might utilize for many other church-related groups.

But what are those differences that necessarily tailor and define the "honoring of our elders"? I think there are several. First, we need to learn of and then utilize their historic perspectives upon those ministries of their past, which can be vital sources of wisdom and experience for our continued numerical and spiritual growth. We can also provide the more active elders with current positions of ministry in relation to whatever aging limitations might be individually involved. But to always emphasize that these elderly member's worth is in their being who they are, not in the doing of what they perhaps can (or cannot) do. Additionally, it will be important that we continuously update our assessments of their unique physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Subsequently, we will be more informed in our constructing an overall plan of ministry involving these above issues, with a special emphasis upon developing and facilitating a program of visitation to those older adult members who are either shut-ins or reside in nursing and retirement homes. In a more general sense, we should always seek to honor our elders with certain formal, as well as informal, expressions of respect and appreciation for their very dedicated years of volunteer service as they helped to sustain the various ministries within today's churches. In return, I assert that we will receive certain blessings from these elders, as represented in the historic tradition of the blessings that Jacob gave to his twelve sons and the twelve tribes of Israel.

Therefore, I am writing this book as a user-friendly handbook, which I envision as one that is both motivational and informational for those of you involved in the older adult ministries of your church. I think that it can be a way in which you may gain some further insight into the honoring of your own precious elders and to explore a few constructive means by which you can further express that honor to those older adults of your faith community. Many of these are ways that I have found to be effective during my ministry to our own elders at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

From the Preface of Honoring Our Elders in Today's Church by Rev. J. Ronald Sauer, Copyright © 2007.Used with Permission. For more information, you may contact the Rev. Sauer by e-mail at saueron@earthlink.net. This article appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of Center Sage.

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