Bridges

As we approach the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century, America’s infrastructure in both physical and social terms is deteriorating. An evening telecast on the History Channel pointed out how our bridges, dikes, and highway systems are falling apart much the same way as during the Roman Empire. Reporters talked about fifty years of neglect and the peril that was likely to occur in both dollars and safety.

Essentially, the same thing has occurred with the largest generation we have known – the Baby Boomers. At eighty million strong, Boomers are aging to the point where they will not be contributors but consumers, many of whom are likely to be dependent on Medicare and/or Medicaid. Paraphrasing the thoughts of former Comptroller General of the United States David Walker, we have been following fiscal policy that is not sustainable, suggesting hard choices must be made because we are mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren. This matter becomes even more focused when one considers that Generation X, the generation that immediately follows the Boomer Generation, numbers only forty-six million people. How will America cover the loss of thirty-four million taxpayers? If we are not careful, we will not only see our bridges falling down, but the collapse of economic structures put in place to take care of people as they age.

For years The United Methodist Church has had within its faith community both theology and systems to meet human need from the cradle to the grave. Yet, similar to what has happened within the physical realm of our society, we have allowed the vigor and vitality, which at one time were apparent within the Connection relative to caring for our frail and older members, to waste away through lack of focus within the local church and extension ministry. One of the principal causes of this tragic event was Pacific Homes, which created a chasm between the Church and agencies it helped to birth.

I believe the opportunity exists to reconstruct bridges between the Church and agencies for the good of our United Methodist family through the ongoing work of the Discipleship Ministries-Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries and the United Methodist Association (UMA) of Health and Welfare Ministries-Older Adult Ministries.

Aging in America is increasing at a rapid rate. People age sixty-five and older make up approximately thirteen percent (thirty-eight million) of the total population. The percentage of older adults will likely increase to twenty-one percent (seventy-two million) by 2030. By 2011 the oldest Boomers will begin turning sixty-five every 7.7 seconds. Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., in his book, Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century, says fifty-five percent of the membership in The United Methodist Church is fifty years or older, and nearly thirty percent is sixty-five and older. Clearly, this points to a church where many people will likely have needs that could be met if Church and agencies would reconnect and work together.

In 1992, General Conference adopted legislation bringing into existence the Committee on Older Adult Ministries. The 2008 Book of Discipline (paragraph 1121.2) states that the purpose of this committee is to "…provide a forum for information sharing, cooperative planning, and joint program endeavors as determined in accordance with the responsibilities and objectives of participating agencies. The committee will serve as an advocate for older-adult concerns and issues and shall serve to support ministries by, to, with, and for older adults throughout The United Methodist Church and its affiliated agencies and in the larger society." In paragraph 651, annual conferences are encouraged to implement conference councils on older adult ministries. Presently there are at least twenty conferences that have a conference council on older adult ministries. One of the major responsibilities for the council is "to initiate and support ministries, plans, activities, and projects that are of particular interest to older adults, including…persons living in a variety of residential settings…" In paragraph 1327, health and relief units exist to assist churches to become involved in health and welfare ministries, including institutions and programs. It would seem to me, because of the experience of the members of the Older Adult Ministries section of UMA, there would be vast opportunities to lead the local church in structuring programs to meet the needs of United Methodists as they age.

This possibility takes on even greater significance when one understands that more than three hundred UMA Older Adult Ministry agencies are found in forty states. After decades of fractured relationships, primarily originating in the Pacific and Southwest Conference in the 1970s, the time is right for healing so that ministry can be the outcome and people can be served in their later years.

There are those who will say that too much time has passed and too much enmity has occurred to bring the church and historical ministries of health and welfare back together. Undoubtedly, without effort and the willingness on the part of denominational leaders and those who provide guidance within institutional ministries, nothing will happen. Yet, when we think about the tax-based system that began in 1935 with Social Security and in the 1960’s with Medicare and Medicaid – programs that now appear to be headed toward major financial crisis – there may be no better time for healing to begin and connections to be established between UMA Older Adult Ministries within annual conferences and local churches for the benefit of members in need.

Experience has taught me that growing older is generally something many try to avoid by ignoring changes both personally and within family structures to the point of creating uneasiness in life. For example, until recently personal health and well-being were generally neglected until dramatic events like cancer or heart disease precipitated trauma. Likewise, changes in family structures, including lower birth rates, increasing numbers of divorce, and family mobility, have caused a shift from larger extended family networks to nuclear households. These factors have helped to create a growing population of people who have little or no understanding of how to plan for their care, if and when they can no longer care for themselves.

Major advances in medical care that allow life expectancy to increase are positive as long as quality of life is not diminished. However, many people with dementia and other disorders will likely require support that families cannot provide because there are not enough members to do so or economics will not allow. One of the most startling facts the Alzheimer’s Association has advanced is that roughly sixteen million people will develop the disease by 2050. For an older adult population numbering eighty million, finding ways to assist those at risk could greatly tax systems that are ill-prepared to serve. It is at this point that the Church can provide at least two valuable functions: one, by equipping volunteers to be in ministry with older persons, and second, by restoring an intentional in ministry in residential settings.

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish…" When people are in a state of flux and support systems begin to crumble, ways to overcome demoralized and discouraging conditions can be found through servant leaders. When this happens, misfortune and decisions of the past can be set aside so needs can be met for the common good. This is where I believe we stand today in rallying United Methodists around Older Adult Ministries and institutional programs that serve people of an advanced age through the United Methodist Association.

As this happens for the good of a society that is seeing centenarians as the fastest growing group, it can be healthy for our Church to be positioned to do something of major import in caring for "elders." As Dr. Richard Gentzler suggests, the future of the Church is presently in the hands of our older adults rather than the hands of our children and young people. It is time this fact is recognized, and it is time the Church and its historically-related extension ministries act to build bridges to avoid collapse in our systems for care and ministry. To do so can help negate the chaos of a failed government that has ignored the need for services required by an older population.

Rev. Dr. Daniel W. Farley
President/CEO, GlenWood Park, Inc.
Chair, Council on Older Adult Ministries – West Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
You may contact him by phone at 304-425-3478, or by e-mail at [email protected]

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