Archive: Around Town

Anybody over a certain age might be inclined to wonder, "Is it me or is it thee?"

Those questions brought nearly one hundred clergy and lay people of many different faiths to the Canandaigua, New York, Inn on the Lake, October 7 and 8, for a two day conference on the sometimes overwhelming subject of "The Graying of the Church: Older Adult Ministry in the 21st Century". The Rev. Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., author of a book by that name, led a series of lively discussions on the chapters in his book and several others in this genre.

Though heads full of white hair dominated the audience, it didn't take long to determine that most felt someone other than themselves should be labeled the "older adult!" Especially when Rev. Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. opened the first session, a lively discussion of "Myths and Realities of Aging", by asking attendees to explore the images of aging by "writing down the first three words or phrases that come to your mind when you visualize an older woman or older man?" The mostly positive answers flew thick and fast, and there were very few duplicates among them.

The positive perspective continued even after Rev. Dr. Gentzler displayed a Ram Dass quote on the projector screen: "When your mind seeks what your body cannot fulfill, you're an older adult!" This quote may have only been intended as a comment provoking statement, or a thought to be contradicted, but the audience presented a united determination to simply overcome any obstacle aging places in the path of the faithful. Practicing what she preaches, one woman had received her PhD at age 85.

Each slide projected on the screen during all five sessions was duplicated in a thick handout that had plenty of blank spaces for the attendees to take notes. Writing instruments flew across the pages as fast as the words across the room! Audience participation often became so lively that answers could only be taken from small portions of the group at a time. All attendees were present for all the sessions. Other topics presented by Gentzler were: "Spirituality and Aging", "Designing an Older Adult Ministry" and "Intentional Ministry with Older Adults".

Barbara Bruce, an author and consultant in Christian Education, raised the already high decibel noise level in the room with excerpts from her most recent book: "Mental Aerobics, 75 Ways to Keep Your Brain Fit” when Rev. Dr. Gentzler took an afternoon break. Drawing attention to an "Alphabetical Actions for Aging Gracefully" handout, Ms. Bruce reaffirmed the positive atmosphere.

Using an overview of stereotypes and statistics, Rev. Dr. Gentzler made guidelines available for establishing a ministry among older adult that the aging population is making necessary. He pointed out that, in his (Methodist) denomination, "Nearly 50% of membership is 60 years of age or older” while "In the United States, the average age is 39". He hastened to add, "The reality is, we are BLESSED to have so many older adults!"

Rev. Dr. Gentzler, a teacher, writer and leader in the field of aging and older adult ministries, led all but one of the sessions. He is also the Director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries of the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, he is in such demand as a lecturer on the subject that the organizers of the Canandaigua event had to wait two years for him to be available. His audience was diligent: nobody left until he headed for the airport to catch a plane back to Nashville. Even as the participants were leaving, discussions continued as all dispersed through the rain and fog that had persisted all weekend... not that any of us had paid any attention to the weather until we had to get out into it.

Personally, after spending a couple of days receiving such positive vibes, I'm convinced that "It's me and thee" is an understated answer to the question "What age group is the 'older' adult anyway?"

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