POAMN

The Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network (POAMN) is a group of dedicated Presbyterians nationwide who have recognized the need for a special ministry to, for; and with older adults and who have dedicated their time and efforts towards helping congregations establish such ministries. For the past 30 years the Presbyterian Church (USA) has been a leader in the area of Older Adult Ministry among the Protestant denominations (go to national POAM). In 1992 General Assembly approved Seven Priority Issues to help guide local churches in their older adult ministries.

To help call attention to this area of need, the San Jose Presbytery POAMN task force sponsored a workshop in April, 2005 at Los Gatos Presbyterian Church with Dr. Henry Simmons of Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, as keynote speaker. More such presentations will be planned as interest is shown.

Increasing attention is being given to older adults because the fastest growing segment of our society is persons 85 years of age and older; because there are more persons in the U.S. over the age of 65 than there are under the age of 18; because while the current population 65 and older numbers around 13%, that percentage will climb to 20% by 2030 .

OLDER ADULTS A VITAL ASSET FOR CHURCHES

Nowhere is that more apparent than in many of our churches. It is unfortunate, but many of our churches lack youth and young adults but have plenty of more seasoned members. While they may appear to have more problems, health, financial or otherwise, than younger people, older adults also have more experience, more skills and often, more wisdom. They perhaps have a greater need for reassurance as they approach their last days and a greater need to come to terms with their lives.

The church environment is an ideal resource to meet this need. Only the church has the ability to respond to questions of spirituality, of long-term guilt, of immortality, and other major universal concerns. At the same time, our seasoned members still are able to serve, often in ways they have always served, sometimes in new ways, sometimes in restricted ways; but, serve, nevertheless.

The members of the San Jose Presbytery Older Adult Ministry Network task force would like to encourage and help you to take a fresh look at your seasoned members, to educate yourselves about the increasing numbers of older adults in our society, and to encourage you to commit to empowering and encouraging your older members to continue to be active, contributing and recognized members of their congregations.

For more information, please contact The Reverend Nancy Schell, 294-7447 or Judy Lococo, 295-1195 ext. 236.

- Jackie Mattison, POAMN Task Force Member