"Baby boomers who revolutionized youth ministry are now entering their fifth and sixth decades of life. They are marching into their later years at an unprecedented rate. (An American turns sixty every seven seconds.) And the urgency of ministry with them is just as great as when they were young — perhaps even greater," writes Amy Hanson, a speaker, teacher, writer, and consultant who is passionate about motivating church leaders to engage older adults. This volume is part of the Leadership Network Series from Jossey-Bass.
Hanson speaks of older adults in three groupings: the frail elderly, seniors, and the new old. Baby boomers comprise the last group and most of these 50 to 70 year olds are healthy, active, and looking for meaning and purpose. They have a strong urge not to "get old" and are willing to do whatever it takes to stay young. Many churches now have large numbers of the new old in their ranks, and it behooves them to stand by these men and women by offering them resources for their faith or spiritual journey.
Hanson delineates some of the myths about aging that have permeated our society and influenced churches: older adults are unable to adapt to change; older workers cannot work as effectively as younger ones; most older adults experience significant memory loss; older adults are unable to learn new information; older adults want to relax and live a life of leisure. To counter these toxic ideas, the author points to the three pillars of aging well: avoiding disease and disability, maintaining physical and mental function, and being actively engaged with life. Churches should be writing new scripts on how to make the most of these three objectives.
Another area of challenge is relationships. Hanson looks at changes in grandparenting during these economically hard times. Many grandparents have to assume the role of surrogate parents and have become primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Churches can reach out to these people with retreats and conferences and assistance for those elders who want to pass on their spiritual legacy. They can also provide referrals to older people who have problems related to retirement, money, time, and living arrangements.
Because of the diversity of the baby boomer generation, it will not be possible for congregations to offer one-size-fits-all programs nor can they just schedule retreads of past activities. Equipping older saints to be all they can be will take wise leaders and a committed new cadre of educators who appreciate both being and doing, contemplation and action. The largest challenge is to help older adults to tell their stories (life review), share their wisdom, and dialogue with the younger generations.
Baby Boomers and Beyond is a long overdue wake-up call for Christian communities to forge new ministries, programs, and resources for the new old and other elders.