A Vision for the Aging Church - Renewing Ministry for and by Seniors

Houston, James M./ Parker, Michael

Inter-Varsity Press,US（2011/10発売）

• 製本 Paperback:紙装版/ペーパーバック版／ページ数 279 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9780830839483
• DDC分類 259.3

Full Description

Are we ready for the opportunities and challenges facing the aging church?
Now is the time for the church to offer ministry to its increasing numbers of seniors and to benefit from ministry they can offer. In this book James M. Houston and Michael Parker issue an urgent call to reconceive the place and part of the elderly and seniors in the local church congregation.
Confronting the idea that the aging are mostly a burden on the church, they boldly address the moral issues related to caring for them, provide examples of successful care-giving programs and challenge the church to restore broken connections across the generations.
Cowritten by a noted theologian and an expert in the fields of social work and gerontology, this interdisciplinary book assesses our current cultural context and the challenges and opportunities we face. The authors show us that seniors aren't the problem. They are the solution.

Contents

Preface

Prologue: Distressed Communities




Part I: An Ageist Zeitgeist


1. The Aging Church: A Future Katrina?


2. Is Society Prepared for Its Aging Population?

3. The Confused Cultural Role of Seniors in Secular Society and the Church



Part II: Biblical And Historical Themes Of Aging


4. Aging in a Biblical Context

5. Biblical Roles for Seniors-Elders

6. The Portrait of a Mature Christian Senior-Elder

7. Elders as Exemplars and Mentors for Christian Renewal

8. The Lived Wisdom of Christian Elders

9. Honoring Elders in Early Christianity



Part III: Solutions For An Aging Church


10. The Primacy of Theological Anthropology in an Aging Church

11. Aging Successfully: Myths and Realities


12. Caregiving: The Twenty-First Century's Greatest Test of Character


13. Local Senior Ministry Associations and Ecumenical Partnerships

14. Important Steps to Unifying Our Communities



Part IV: Late Life Significant Living


15. Faith Is All About Relationships in a Culture of Disability and Depression

16. Facing Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias with Hope in God's Remembrance

17. Christians, Seniors, and a More Personal Society

18. The Vital Role of Repentance

19. In Summary: Becoming a Christian Elder in Rebuilding the Church




Part V: Finishing Well


20. Facing Death and Bereavement



Epilogue: Dying Elders, Living Church


Appendix A: "The Life Review" Preparation Tips and Questions


Appendix B: Church Survey Questions


Appendix C: Parent Care Readiness Program


Appendix D: Sample Senior Ministry Association Correspondence


Appendix E: State Agencies on Aging




About the Authors

Index