Building Adult Ministries, Leadership for Adults Over 50

A very popular question among those who are involved in older adult ministry (OAM) is, “Why can’t we get the Boomers involved?†When the question is presented to Boomers, a common response is “Why would we want to be involved in that?†While the Boomer response has many layers in it, one of them is the presence of generational differences between those who are currently involved in an OAM and those who are becoming chronologically eligible to join but choose not to do so. Understanding the generational perspectives can be a powerful tool in building a more comprehensive and effective OAM.

A generation is a group of people who were born during the same period of time (usually a 15–20 year span) and have experienced significant events at approximately the same point in the life cycle. Their shared experiences are then used to develop a lens through which members of the generation see the world and respond to the circumstances around them.

Those who are currently involved in OAM have a generational perspective that is noticeably different than that of the Boomers. Individuals born before 1946 tend to be more group oriented because they were more likely to be raised in a large family that lived on a farm or in a small community. Many of the young men served in the military where the concept of the group was further reinforced. Thus, the focus of the pre-1946 generations is on “we†rather than “me.†They tend to be very loyal to the groups and causes to which they belong, including their church. In contrast, Boomers tend to focus more on individual wants and needs with “me†taking priority over “we.†The root of this perspective can be traced to the enormous size of the Boomer generation and the focus on children that existed in the United States during the late 1940s and 1950s. By the time the 1960s began, Boomers had developed a strong sense of entitlement and held to the belief that the desires of an individual could take precedence over the desires of the group.

Many of today’s OAMs have been designed with the pre-1946 perspective in mind, which is more appealing to Senior Adults (born in 1926 or earlier) and Builders (born between 1927–1945) than Boomers (born between 1946–1964). Thus, Boomers are reluctant to participate not only because they see OAM as something for “old people†but also because the underlying philosophy of the OAM is not in line with the Boomer perspective.

An effective response to this challenge is to add programs to the existing OAM with Boomers in mind or to create a new ministry that is designed specifically for Boomers while still being loosely connected to the existing OAM. A growing number of churches are beginning to recognize the wisdom in this approach and are taking steps to enact it. For instance, the Golden Eagles of the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Marysville, Ohio, seek to engage all of the members who are over the age of 50. However, in an effort to respond to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the Boomers, the Silver Eagles have recently been established. While still a part of the Golden Eagles, the Silver Eagles are a subsection of the larger group and are designed to appeal to persons between the ages of 50 and 60. Activities for the Silver Eagles are scheduled only after considering the work and family-related responsibilities that many individuals in this age range must fulfill.

The Middle Adults and Torchbearers are part of the Rolling Hills Covenant Church in the Los Angeles, California area. While they fall under the guidance of the same pastor, they are distinct groups with separate leaders, mission statements, and newsletters. The Middle Adults seek to minister to and through individuals who are 50 to 64 years old by dealing with issues such as full-time employment and preparation for retirement, the “empty nest,†and caregiving for older family members and/or dependent children. In contrast, the Torchbearers focus on issues that are more relevant to those who are 65 years of age or older including adjustment to retirement, widowhood, and the possibility of increased dependence due to health limitations.

In Dallas, Texas, the Skillman Church of Christ has developed the Faith Corp in an effort to appeal to Boomers. Recognizing that a large number of Boomers are retiring early and looking for a place to use their talents, Dr. Jim Hughes has encouraged them to develop new forms of ministry that can strengthen the church. Among the many creative responses is a former restaurant owner who prepares meals for senior adults through Skillman’s nutrition program, a retired physician who cares for chronically ill members, and an electronic systems engineer who has updated the computer system used by the church.

Efforts such as these will continue to appear as Boomers reach the age at which they can exit the workforce and channel their energy in other directions. OAMs that focus exclusively on ministry to those born before 1946 will have little appeal to Boomers because they are a generation that wants to be engaged in activities and worthwhile causes. Thus, OAMs that are open to new ideas and provide opportunities for meaningful service to members of the church and the community at large will be in a position to flourish.

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