As the United States mourns former President Jimmy Carter who died last month aged 100, church leaders are being challenged concerning the ministry they supply to seniors of their congregation and beyond.
Carter, who died in December, was still teaching Sunday School at his church in Plains, Georgia, into his nineties. He was a high-profile example of how older Christians can live fulfilled lives, serving God and helping others find faith.
Carter’s ministry and mission stand in contrast to many churches where their outreach and activities are focussed on younger people and families.
The Church of England, under former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, set as certainly one of its key priorities ‘growing younger and more diverse’, and set a goal of doubling the number of kids and young energetic disciples within the Church of England by 2030. In some ways, this can be a commendable aspiration.
But is that this emphasis on the young making older people feel not noted or neglected? Especially as, in lots of churches, energetic older persons are fully engaged across a spread of ministries.
At a recent London conference, a senior Salvation Army officer declared, “An older church is just not a failing church.”
The Salvation Army’s objectives for its ministry amongst older persons are clear. They include difficult negative stereotypes of older people, countering ageism, resourcing and affirming older Christians and providing appropriate resources to local centres and leaders.
Now Christian charity Faith in Later Life has produced a difficult 10-point questionnaire for church leaders, asking ‘Is your Church faith in later life friendly?’ It’s designed to be used by church committees, diaconates and other leadership groups across denominations. Although produced within the UK, it’s relevant for churches internationally.
Key questions include: How ceaselessly does your church offer activities, programmes or services specifically aimed toward older people? Does your church proactively provide love and pastoral care tailored to the unique needs of older people in your community? And does your church actively help older people in your community find and explore faith through evangelism, Alpha courses, or other introductory faith programmes?
Alexandra Drew, chief executive officer of Faith in Later Life, describes herself as “passionate and experienced in inspiring and equipping people for the opportunities and challenges of later life, and in helping them know Jesus more deeply or for the primary time”.
Alexandra, who produced the questionnaire, explained: “Our population is ageing fast. That means more older people in our churches and communities – what a beautiful opportunity for the gospel, and to reveal God’s unfailing love.
“Helping people to think about later life is vital and urgent. The Bible says that the harvest is plentiful. But if we’re to assemble this harvest in before it’s too late, churches must be intentional about their ministry amongst older people.”
Other challenges posed by the questionnaire include: how easy is it for older people to seek out out about your church – including non-online methods? How accessible are your facilities for individuals with a spread of abilities? And does your church actively encourage and help older people to make use of their spiritual gifts?
Church leadership groups are encouraged prayerfully to discover areas where the church could improve its ministry amongst older people, to set goals and timelines to boost their later life ministry, and appoint a ‘Faith in Later Life Champion’ to be a magnet for its older individuals’ ministry.
President Jimmy Carter was a remarkable man, who made an enduring impact into his later years. His example may possibly encourage other Christians to look more seriously at ministry amongst older people. It’s a necessity that is growing.
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK, and a former communications director with the CofE.
