Aging and the Church in the 21st Century
by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.

Likewise, The United Methodist Church is experiencing an increase in older membership. While this may be a result of fewer younger people joining the church and the change in age demographics in society as a whole, it also reflects the increase in longevity of adults.

Awareness of the magnitude of this demographic transformation is growing. In 1992, General Conference adopted legislation creating the United Methodist "Committee on Older Adult Ministries" (¶1119, The Book of Discipline). "The committee provides a forum for information sharing, cooperative planning, and joint program endeavors as determined in accordance with the responsibilities and objectives of the participating boards and agencies."

In addition, a Comprehensive Plan for Older Adult Ministries was approved by the 2000 General Conference. The Plan proposed funding for staff, resources, and grants for ministry in annual conferences, districts, and local congregations. Further, in 2000, the General Board of Discipleship started the Center on Aging & Older-Adult Ministries, which provides resources and training support for leaders in older-adult ministries.

There are other examples of ministry that are helpful. The S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry, developed by the Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries, lifts up Spiritual, Educational, Nutritional and Fitness, Intergenerational, Outreach, Recreation, and Service opportunities with older adults. In addition, the General Board of Global Ministries has created Primetimers, a ministry that invites older adults to participate in learning and service, drawing upon ideas from Elderhostel and Volunteers in Mission.

An unfortunate trend in recent years has been the increasing tendency to depict the growing numbers of older people in the population as a problem. Fears related to health-care costs, Social Security solvency, Medicare expenses, social services, and so on create a scenario of "denial," "burden," or "impending crisis" in society. But this "social problem" is not limited to this decade or even to this century. According to some writers, the Second Great Awakening, a religious and social movement that swept the country during the second quarter of the nineteenth century, viewed older adults as useless, dependent, and obsolete. By contrast, young people could be redeemed and sanctified. Older adults were portrayed as relics from an outdated and regressive past, while youth and young people were embraced in this evangelical movement oriented toward self-improvement and progress.

The evangelist Charles Grandison Finney, one of the leaders of the Great Awakening, "railed against the traditions of the old, arguing that they were the 'grand sources of most of the fatal errors of the present day'" (Marc Freedman, Primetime: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America, p. 43).

Likewise, today our society is experiencing rapid change. We are living in a new age of technology and information. Computers are obsolete the moment they're shipped, and information updates are moving at lightning speed. Who can keep up with all the change?

While leaders in the church today may not "rail against the traditions of the old," we have to admit that ageism is prevalent in many congregations. In some, older adults are ignored or portrayed as "problematic." Resources and programmatic ideas ignore their needs and concerns, while attention and energy are directed toward the young. How we conduct worship, the songs of faith that we sing, the people we seek to evangelize, and even the type of pastor we ask the conference to appoint may well reflect our ageist tendencies. As a result, many older adults believe that the church no longer needs them (except for financial reasons) or finds their experience and faith to be of any significance. With prolonged apathy from the church, older members feel frustrated, useless, and without purpose.

Yet, the future of The United Methodist Church is in the hands of its older members. Older adults play a pivotal role in the future of our church. First, older adults as a group give proportionately more financially to the church. They are paying the bills and providing for ministry. In many United Methodist churches, the older adults are the ones keeping the church doors open.

Second, older adults are often the leaders and teachers in the church, proclaiming and teaching the faith. They are passing on the traditions and values of the Christian faith. They are preaching the Word, teaching the Scriptures, and telling the stories. They are demonstrating Christ's love as mentors, teachers, and leaders. They are teaching and learning from our children and youth. They are inspiring and being energized by our young adults. They are caring for the sick, frail, and needy. They are making God real through living their faith as our leaders and teachers.

Third, older adults are present and active in the life of the church. They participate in adult Bible study and Sunday school classes. They are present in worship and engage in spiritual growth opportunities. Older adults are often the first to sign up, the first to attend, the first to invite, the first to welcome, and the last to leave.

Fourth, older adults are engaged in service. They want to feel useful. They need to be needed. Older adults want to experience a sense of meaning, and they want to make a significant difference to others. Older adults have time, and they have practical knowledge (wisdom) gained from years of experience. Churches that invite, equip, and empower older adults for service are making a difference in the lives of older adults and of the people they seek to serve.

For all these reasons, the future of The United Methodist Church is in the hands of older adults. As congregations become "grayer," older adults may well be our only increasing natural resource. May we incline our hearts and minds to the words of the psalmist who proclaimed: "In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap" (92:14). Older adults have much to give to the church, not the least of which are wisdom, faith, and experience.

Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., D.Min., is the Director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries. He is a clergy member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference. He may be reached at rgentzler@gbod.org.