Boomers: A New Kind of Aging?

"The glory of youth is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair" (Proverbs 20:29).

Beginning January 1, 2011, leading edge Boomers will start turning sixty-five! Most congregations that are intentional in ministries with older adults have already started engaging this generation in ministry. Others are just beginning to wonder who and what is this generation.

Boomers (a.k.a. Baby Boomers) are a post-World War II generation. Most demographers indicate that Boomers were born in the years 1946-1964. There are approximately seventy-eight million Boomers in the U.S. In 2011, every eight seconds a Boomer will turn sixty-five, roughly ten thousand per day.

There are many myths often attributed to Boomers. Here are just five such myths:
1. Boomers are all alike. False. Boomers are a diverse, multi-faceted, and complex generation.
2. Boomers are all college educated. False. While Boomers have the greatest rate of higher education, more than twenty-five percent of Boomer men and twenty-three percent of Boomer women have at least a college degree,seventy-five percent do not have degrees.
3. Boomers are spoiled, self-centered, and materialistic. False. While Boomers have always acted in ways that are contrary to the behavior of the Builder Generation that preceded them, Boomers consider family and friends the most important and satisfying aspects of their lives.
4. All Boomers went to Woodstock. False. Approximately five hundred thousand people attended this famous musical event in Bethel, New York, in August 1969, a very small fraction of the total generation.
5. Boomers are not interested in faith concerns or spirituality. False. Boomers are looking for ways to find meaning and purpose in their lives. They are open to religious and spiritual engagement.

Perhaps because this is such a large generation, there aren’t Boomers who fit every description, interest, habit, plan, or activity attributed to them by the media. But there are some things that can be said about most Boomers. For example, the concept of "anti-aging" has captured the interest of today’s Boomers, making them a huge market for products such as nutritional supplements and "anti-wrinkle" creams and lotions. Boomers will do much to keep themselves young, and that includes looking and acting youthful.

Another example, Boomers do not identify with the label "older adult" nor with such labels as "senior citizen," "elder," and "retirees." Address them in any of these ways and most Boomers will refer you to their parents. Labeling Boomers as "older adults" isn’t always helpful and may actually hinder your ministry. Since Boomers are no longer "babies," you might want to avoid calling this generation "Baby Boomers." If you need to identify this group, you might want to try: Boomers, Midlife Adults, Active Adults, or Seekers. The best way is to simply ask a group of Boomers in your church what they want to call their Sunday School class or a particular ministry for adults.

Sometimes this generation is divided into two groups: Early Boomers (1946-1954) and Late Boomers (1955-1964). Because of social-economic and political influences taking place in the world during these years, Boomers have had different experiences. The Early Boomers are often associated with individualism, experimentation, anti-war and civil rights movements. The Late Boomers are most often associated with general cynicism, less optimism, and fewer opportunities. But, for the purpose of this article and our concern related to aging and older adult ministries, I am giving more attention to Early Boomers.

Some Boomers are already retired or are thinking about retirement. But, many Boomers will continue working well beyond the "normal" retirement years. The reasons for this variety:

• Can’t afford to retire
• Have continuing career interests
• Want to stay productive
• Work gives them meaning
• Dwindling or little retirement investments
• Healthcare needs and costs

Presently in the U.S., on average, one job in five is held by an employee old enough to be retired. Mandatory retirement has been illegal in the U.S. since 1980, and the average age of retirement is currently sixty-three years old and will probably increase to age sixty-seven by 2025. Rising life expectancy and poor economic conditions will force many Boomers to keep working after sixty years of age. This trend may have serious consequences on the job market if too many Boomers choose to work beyond the traditional retirement age.

Congregations wanting to be intentional in ministry with Boomers will accept this generation for who they are. Churches will:

• Offer a variety of entry points where Boomers can meet others
• Develop activities that engage Boomers for their own sakes, not just for their children
• Provide opportunities for meaningful service and mission
• Schedule activities that nurture the reflective life (e.g., journaling, prayer, meditation)
• Form small groups and support systems
• Recognize that many Boomers will be working well beyond the "normal" retirement age and may not provide the same degree of volunteer service as the Builder generation
• Realize that Boomers have a tendency to financially support "a cause" rather than simply give to the "general fund" of the local church.

Keep in mind, Boomers do not think of themselves as older adults and, as such, have very little interest in the current design of most older adult ministries. Rather than asking Boomers to participate in an existing older adult ministry, a new group designed specifically for Boomers should be started.

While it is not clear what this ministry will look like as Boomers age, I believe that it will be an exciting and challenging opportunity for congregations. Psycho-social, biological, spiritual, and economic issues will greatly impact the well-being of aging Boomers and how the church responds to the needs of aging Boomers will determine the health and vitality of most congregations. How is your congregation preparing to meet the needs of aging Boomers? What are ways you are helping Boomers find meaning and purpose in their later years?

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The Reverend Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. is Director of the Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries for the Discipleship Ministries. He is author of numerous books and articles on mid-life and older adult ministries. His most recent book Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century: An Inquiry Approach (Discipleship Resources, 2008) includes a chapter on Boomer Ministry.