The members of our congregations are aging. We believe that God is calling us to a ministry with the aging, first of all, to serve a group of people who are often left out of the life of parishes and of the diocese because of increasing limitations caused by declining health - or by perceived limitations. They can be and need to be served by the church - on parish, deanery and diocesan levels.

We believe that we are called to seek ways to provide resources to our aging members. We can begin by educating parishes to the changing needs of this population. Programs need to be offered by parishes, but also by deaneries and the diocese, that address the spiritual, physical (i.e. issues of health and wellness), legal, and emotional needs of the elderly and also their caregivers. One program, for example, that is working in many parishes - but needs to be in many more - is the Parish Nursing program. Programs like this could help to serve the needs of our at-risk aging parishioners.

Another program that has been asked for is on the spirituality of aging. People expressed the desire to have a forum where they could come together to talk about how our image of God changes as we grow older and as we grow nearer to the end of our lives.

For more information, contact:
biliegordon [at] verizon [dot] net
617-244-4028