June 2022 ENCORE Ministry Connection

Dear Church Leader,

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD is a call to action for individuals, congregations, and communities to raise awareness about the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older members of the community. As church leaders, we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe.

The United States Declaration of Independence reads, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Today, we regard these words to mean for both men and women and without regard to race, creed, sexual orientation, or age. Unfortunately, there are a startling number of older adults who experience or remain at risk for abuse.

As a church leader, you may be in a unique position to observe signs of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. While older adults may experience the same crimes as other age groups — including physical, financial, sexual, or emotional abuse and neglect — they are less likely to report the crime and recover from their victimization.

Promoting the just treatment of our neighbors from loss or pain is a faith duty. In addition, reporting elder abuse is an ethical — and in many states — a legal responsibility. To these ends, this issue of ENCORE Ministry Connection includes articles related to issues and activities around World Abuse Awareness Day.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.

Director, ENCORE Ministry

Webinar Coming Soon!

ENCORE Ministry: How Your Church Can Benefit

In mid-July, ENCORE Ministry staff Kent McNish, Rev. Dr. Richard Gentzler, and Cindy Solomon will present a webinar featuring an overview of ENCORE Ministry's resources, training, and grants. The 45-minute webinar will also include time for your questions. Closer to the day of the webinar, we'll send out more detailed information but if you or other older adult ministry staff and volunteers at your church would like to be added to a list of those interested, please contact Cindy at csolomon@encoreministry.org. Space will be limited so indicating your interest now will put you at the top of the list!

ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS AND THE ROLE OF CHURCH LEADERS

by Dr. Richard H. Gentzler, Jr., director, ENCORE Ministry

The concept of justice is deeply ingrained in our American psyche. We learn as children to pledge allegiance to a flag that stands for liberty and justice for all. We learn in school about the Declaration of Independence reciting the self-evident truth that all men are created equal, with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. At sporting events and on other occasions, we hear and sign the rousing national anthem in which the first verse concludes: “O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” Caring about elder abuse is caring about justice for all. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, but there are a startling number of older adults who experience or remain at risk for abuse. Every year, an estimated 5 million — or 1 in 10 — older Americans experience elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Many experts agree that even these staggering figures are undercounts and believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as 23.5 cases go unreported.

READ MORE

BON AIR UMC RECEIVES $10K GRANT TO START FOOD MINISTRY

Sparta’s Bon Air United Methodist Church received a $10,000 grant from ENCORE Ministry to help fund a new meal ministry for low-income older adults. The ministry, Impact Senior Meals, began in May 2022. About 28 percent of White County residents are senior citizens. Sixteen percent of residents live at or below the poverty rate — higher than the national average. The largest group living in poverty is women over 75 years old, followed by women 54 – 65 years old. “I learned about these stats while working on a paper for a class,” said Bon Air Pastor Rodney R. Ritchie. “I remember thinking, ‘As a church, if we really think of ourselves as the hands and feet of Christ, we need to do something about this because there is a huge need for meals for senior citizens in our community.’

READ MORE

SCAM OF THE MONTH: PASSWORD SECURITY TIPS

Internet usage among older adults has increased over the last couple of years. Seventy-five percent of older adults 65+ are now online. With an increase in online presence, comes more opportunities for hackers to access personal accounts. Click Read More below for Better Business Bureau tips on how to keep online accounts and passwords safe. READ MORE

UPCOMING BEERSHEBA RETREATS; CHRISTMAS AT BEERSHEBA HOSTS NEEDED

2022 Men's Retreat

Featuring Harpeth River District Superintendent Rev. Allen Black, the August 12-14 retreat includes your stay in a hotel-style room, dinner on Friday evening, three meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Single occupancy is $215; double occupancy is $155. To register for the event, click here.

Introduction to SoulCollage®

You are invited to join 15 other creative, spiritually-minded people learning the basics of SoulCollage®. Led by Sarah Ratz, Beersheba's director and a SoulCollage® facilitator, participants will learn more about their stories and their part in God's story by creating a personal collage deck of cards revealing their inner selves. Supplies are included. The July 22-24 retreat includes collage supplies, your stay in a hotel-style room, dinner on Friday evening, three meals on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Single occupancy is $225; double occupancy is $183. To register for the event, click here.

Christmas at Beersheba

Beersheba staff are looking for churches to host Christmas at Beersheba on December 1, 5, 6, 8, and 10. The time commitment is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the church is responsible for providing morning activities -- skits, games, Christmas carols, stories, etc. -- from 10:15 -- 11:50 and a one-hour Christmas-themed worship service after lunch. For more information or to sign up to host one of the days, contact Program & Retreat Director Trevor Gentry at trevor.gentry@twkumc.org.

OLDER ADULT MINISTRY SURVEY

ENCORE Ministry would like your feedback and ideas related to older adult ministry in your church. A brief survey will be emailed to you on June 21. Please take a few minutes to respond to the questions. With your input, ENCORE Ministry will have a better idea of how to serve the needs and nature of older adult ministry in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.

Completed surveys will help identify exemplary older adult ministry for annual conference recognition and the information received will be used on the ENCORE Ministry webpage (www.encoreministry.org) as best practices which will serve as a helpful resource for church leaders.

We invite you to complete the survey form when you receive it even if you do not have an intentional older adult ministry committee in your church.

IN MEMORY OF DR. RICHARD MORGAN

Written by Dr. H.R. Moody, Human Values in Aging Newsletter, May 2022. Used with permission.

Light of Setting Suns: Remembering Richard Morgan

It is unusual for experts on aging not only to live into advanced age, but also to write about it with the voice of experience. Dr. Richard L. Morgan, who died on March 25 at age 93, was such a rare person. Dr. Morgan was a Presbyterian minister and much else, too: a widely read author and founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Clergy Network, the first national advocacy coalition bringing all faiths together against Alzheimer’s. He called his work “the legacy of the last chapter of my life.” Richard Morgan never had dementia himself but he understood loss and vulnerability. He understood more, too.READ MORE

NATIONAL CENTER ON ELDER ABUSE RESOURCES

For a list of elder abuse resources in Kentucky and Tennessee, click Read More.READ MORE

NEWS FROM AGEWELL MIDDLE TENNESSEE

A Positive Aging Conference will be held June 10 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Middle Tennessee University's Miller Education Center. The purpose of the conference is to bring together MTSU faculty, students, community providers, caregivers, and older adults to drive a more-productive narrative about the benefits of an increase in the average lifespan. Other conference topics include exercise, nutrition, cognition, living environments, financial decision-making, and scam prevention. For more information or to register, visit mtsu.edu/pac.

The Tennessee Coalition for Better Aging and Nashville Public Television will host an "Aging Matters: Reimagining Long-Term Care" virtual screening and panel discussion on June 22 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. To register for this webinar click here.

AgeWell's Eldercare Coach is offering complimentary 30-minute phone consultations now through the end of June. These confidential calls with a geriatric care professional provide individualized guidance on care and support options. Caregivers can learn more and sign up for a consultation at www.eldercarecoach.org or by calling AgeWell’s Helpline at (615) 353-4235.

BOOKS AND WEBSITES OF INTEREST

Books

Elder Justice, Ageism, and Elder Abuse by Lisa Nerenberg (Springer Publishing Company, 2019)

The Church Responds to Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of Older Adults by Joy Thornburg Melton (Discipleship Resources, 2012)

Light of the Setting Suns: Reflecting on Realities and Mysteries at Ninety Years of Life by Richard Morgan (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Websites

Aging Matters is a Nashville Public Television original documentary series that addresses issues affecting our aging population. To view a video on elder abuse, click here.

National Center on Elder Abuse provides the latest information regarding research, training, best practices, news, and resources on elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. For more information, visit click here.

National Center on Law and Elder Rights provides the legal services and aging and disability communities with the tools and resources they need to serve older adults with the greatest economic and social needs. For more information, click here.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The USC Center for Elder Justice provides tools and tips to help church leaders get started on raising awareness on elder abuse. For more information, click here.

DOES YOUR OLDER ADULT MINISTRY NEED A FRESH START?

ENCORE Ministry provides consultation for local church leaders and older adult ministry leadership teams concerning the needs of older adult ministry in their local congregation. Consultations can be in-person or virtual. ENCORE Ministry members are here to help you to start or revitalize your intentional ministry by, with, and for older adults.

This is a free service to you and your church. At a time that's convenient for you and your church's older adult ministry leaders, we will meet virtually via Zoom or in person at your church. During the meeting, we will:

• Review your church’s existing older adult ministry (if applicable)

• Assess your older adult ministry needs

• Develop older adult ministry plans

• Share resource ideas and ENCORE Ministry grant funding information

• Offer program models to help you start and/or sustain intentional ministry by, with, and for older adults

If you would like to have an ENCORE Ministry member meet with you and your team in person or via Zoom, contact Dr. Richard Gentzler, director of ENCORE Ministry, at rgentzler@encoreministry.org.

SUBSCRIBE ENCORE Ministry Connection is published monthly. To receive future editions, email info@encoreministry.org. APPLY FOR A GRANT To apply for an ENCORE Ministry grant, visit https://encoreministry.org/grant-application/ and download a grant application. Grant applications are accepted all year and are reviewed at quarterly ENCORE Ministry board meetings. SUPPORT A tax-deductible donation supports your passion for older adult ministry. Visit https://encoreministry.org/funding/ to make a recurring or one-time donation. Thank you! QUESTIONS & COMMENTS If you have comments or ideas for future stories, contact Cindy Solomon, ENCORE Ministry Connection editor at csolomon@encoreministry.org.