Redefining a Graying Church as a Growing Church

31Aug09

The Rev. Joy Rose, at St. Paul’s Piney, is writing her doctoral dissertation on the church’s approach to Aging. Sadly, she reports “It’s not positive”. She envisions a different approach. ‘A graying church is not a dying church but a different church’ is a quote she read. That started me to wondering what a graying church might look like.

Here is a personal “whine”: All too often the Church places little attention on its older parishioners. “Senior” Ministries often implies programming for the frail elderly rather than those whose lives reflect vitality. Our language is part of the “problem”. The word “senior” feels like an ending, rather than a rebirth or wisdom.

Here are two positive notes: At St. Paul’s Piney, the group for older adults is increasing in attendance now that its name is the Over 55+ lunch group. Mother Rose is encouraged by this growing and vital ministry.

And, Reformation Lutheran in Culpeper VA reports that “When we started focusing on our senior ministry, our youth and young adult numbers started growing…. The senior ministry has brought renewal” (Culpeper Star-Exponent, August 17, 2009). Read this article and learn how this church in Virginia is growing its congregation. http://www.starexponent.com/cse/lifestyles/culpeper_news/article/vbs_not_just_for_kids_anymore/41490/

What might a graying church look like? I’m not certain but these are a few thoughts I’ve considered as a member of the senior “tribe”.
But I know that we older folks fall in love or lust, or not; date; get married (or not), dance, take on new careers, travel, have fun, and often take on some of the care of grandchildren. We know how to save… money, time, and energy. We value our friends, young and old.
We are seasoned self-reinventors. We have lived through so many changes and know we are resilient.
We provide great advice – based on experience!
We have more freedom, if retired, to take on new hobbies, other occupations, new challenges.
We have grown beyond seeking to please.
We value our life, health, our friends, our faith, our church, more fully.
These characteristics seem to me to be the breath of fresh air that our churches crave and need to grow.

So a graying church can be a church of great … potential and wisdom, a church of innovation… and sometimes too, a church where comfort in the familiar may be found.

And when congregations talk about us as frail and to be cared for…know that that aspect of us is true AND it is likewise true that we are vital, life-bringing, leaders in the church. On which do we focus?
So, I challenge us all:
We older adults have re-invented ourselves many times in our lives.
Can we not refocus from viewing “senior” as deficient and reclaim “senior” and “elder” so that we acknowledge ourselves as “wisdom-holders” for our families, our communities, our parishes, and our society. Let’s gray and grow our churches. The younger generations will follow. Just talk to “those people” down in Culpeper.

Filed under: Uncategorized   |  Leave a Comment