Designing an Older Adult Ministry [Perfect Paperback]

Richard H. Gentzler Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

Building on the success of Designing a Ministry by, with, and for Older Adults, author Rick Gentzler gives readers new ways to develop and strengthen ministries with older adults, providing: information about the needs and life issues of older adults; tools to help congregations evaluate their current situation; models for ministry with older adults; and suggested resources. 6"" x 9"" (1999) For more information on ministries with older adults: United Methodist Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard H. Gentzler Jr., DMin, is an Ordained Elder in The United Methodist Church and the Director of The Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries, General Board of Discipleship, Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to his experience as a parish pastor, Rick has been a college and seminary instructor, has served as a chaplain in various nursing homes and retirement communities and is presently an adjunct faculty member for Wesley Theological Seminary. He is the author of many books including Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century, Designing an Older Adult Ministry, Aging: Challenge to Church and Synagogue (with Donald Clingan), Forty-Sixty (with Craig Miller), and The Graying of the Church, and is Editor of Center Sage Newsletter for persons in ministry with midlife and older adults. He is recognized throughout The United Methodist Church as a key leader in aging and older adult ministries. He is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), the 2003 recipient of the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging (NICA) ""Spirituality and Aging"" award, and he produced the award winning video in 2006, New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Discipleship Resources (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881772690
• ISBN-13: 978-0881772692
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brief and Informative, January 7, 2004

By 

Andrew Shults (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Designing an Older Adult Ministry (Perfect Paperback)

Designing and Older Adult Ministry is part of the United Methodist Church's effort to help congregations better serve older adults. While there are a fair number of Methodist-specific references (e.g. quotes from the Book of Discipline), as a non-Methodist, I still found this to be a valuable resource.

The book explores basic issues such as the needs of older adults and reasons ways congregations fail to understand and meet these needs. It also provides a sample process for developing an older adult ministry and examples of effective ministries. A useful list of resources and an extensive set of assessments and sample forms are also included.

While Gentzler does not explore subjects in great depth, the short, easy-to-read sections both enlighten and challenge. Portions of the book could be used as discussion pieces with groups of congregants or among a large staff.

Whether you are seeking to develop an older adult ministry in your congregation or to improve an existing ministry, you will certainly find something useful in Designing and Older Adult Ministry.

4.0 out of 5 stars very good, April 9, 2010

By 

J. Russell (Reinbeck, IA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Designing an Older Adult Ministry (Perfect Paperback)

This book must have been hard to write, considering the large range of environments to apply it to. My comment is not to detract from the book, which is excellent, but to suggest another consideration. The small church is common in rural environments, and in many areas of the country, heavily ethnic because of immigration patterns that happened years ago. Small churches in small town environments, where the influence of a really big city is almost absent, presents a challenge where Dr. Gentzler's approach might seem heavy handed. A bottom up approach, backed by the councils and committees described in this book, might make more sense. Find a church that is already doing a program of interest to older adults, and publicize it to the church community. Follow up and assist. Network. Have at the ready a group of dedicated, trained people to jump at expressed interest, assist in getting an activity going in a church, and then help it grow into a OAM program. Keep networking.