Jean Carr of the California-Pacific Conference Older-Adult Ministries (second from left) shows materials to Blanche Caughlin and Lois and Jim Dayhoff at Sacred Dying Conference.

La Mesa United Methodist Church, with seed money from a grant awarded by the United Methodist Committee on Older-Adult Ministries and with the support of the San Diego District UMC, organized three interdenominational conferences related to health ministries. The purpose of each was to learn and share information about strengthening the health ministry for the frail elderly and older adults in faith communities.

1. On September 30, 2003, the conference, "Fostering Faith and Wholeness for the Aging Community," was held at the Poway Adult Day Health Care Center. More than 70 people attended and received resource information from organizations such as the health-care district, home health providers, the Alzheimer's Association, the Parkinson's Association, and hospice organizations. The two principal speakers — Dr. Marsha Fowler, a Presbyterian minister and the director of a health ministries and parish nurse program at Azusa Pacific University; and the Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, a United Methodist pastor and coordinator of mental health ministries for the California-Pacific Annual Conference — emphasized the need for broadening the church's outreach to the frail elderly by ministering to their physical, mental, and spiritual needs.


2. On April 24, 2004, a second conference, "The Courage to Care," was held (organized in partnership with the nursing department of Point Loma Nazarene University). The Rev. Sharon Rhodes-Wickett, senior pastor of Westwood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, shared her very moving story of "Being a Care Partner." Her husband, also a United Methodist pastor, has early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. Susan Fuentes, MSN, who supervises a large parish nurse program in Los Angeles, shared the nuts and bolts of starting health ministries in local faith communities.


3. The third conference, conducted in partnership with Sharp Medical Center in Chula Vista, was held on October 30, 2004. More than 100 people attended this gathering, which focused on end-of-life issues — caregivers, clergy, chaplains, nurses, other healthcare professionals, lay leaders/visitors, and older-adult ministry visitors.

   The morning program focused on the spiritual needs of the dying person. "Sacred Dying: Creating Spiritual Presence at the End of Life" was the theme presented by Megory Anderson, theologian, educator, and liturgist. Megory, author of Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life, emphasized the importance of creating a spiritual environment: "Our role is to help make the transition a spiritual one, deserving of careful and prayerful preparation. Our work is sitting, talking, praying, and creating rituals to help them let go. And then we vigil until they die."

   Ministering to the bereaved was the focus of the second half of the conference. Laura Grayson of Sharp HospiceCare spoke about "Companioning the Bereaved on Their Spiritual Journey." She stressed the importance of rituals (e.g., memorial services, family gatherings) that bring closure to a life and of supporting those grieving over an extended period.

For further information on Sacred Dying, go to www.sacreddying.org. Doubleday will soon publish a book by the Rev. John Fanestil, Senior Pastor of La Mesa First UMC, about an ancient way of dying — the "happy death" — that has been practiced by Christians for centuries. E-mail: Johnf@lamesaumc.org. For more information on the components of a successful conference, e-mail LoisKnow@aol.com.

See "Spotlight on Caregiving: Parish Nurse"