Celebrating the Graying Church (Richard P. Olson) -- A Review

 

CELEBRATING THE GRAYING CHURCH: Mutual Ministry Today, Legacies Tomorrow. (An Alban Institute Book). By Richard P. Olson. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield

                You may have heard about all those churches filled with "gray hairs." The question often asked is, who wants to go to a church with a lot of old people? Well, I serve as pastor of a congregation that fits that description. A majority of our members are over 60. In fact, I'm over 60 myself! That means I'm part of the gray-haired population and I'm the pastor! So, is it okay to celebrate the gray-hairs that populate churches? After all, many of them serve as active leaders of our congregations well into their 80s and even 90s. So, how do we welcome younger people into the church without excluding those of us with gray hair?

                One who seeks to offer an answer to the question of what to do with all these gray-haired people in our churches is Richard Olson. In Celebrating the Graying Church he has written a valuable book that speaks to the possibilities of ministry with those who make up the older population of our communities and our congregations. He writes from the perspective of being older himself, having served for many years as a pastor and then as a professor of pastoral care and practical theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in the Kansas City area.  He brings to the conversation his own experiences as a pastor ministering to and with older persons, as well as being an older person who remains active in the life of the church. He notes that as a younger pastor he "tried to provide good pastoral care to older adults and give at least some support to the groups and organizations that they had created. But the more intentional focus— both of those churches and me—was young families, children, and youth. For, we believed that is how a church could be strong, its future assured" (p. 2). It's an understandable belief. I've held it myself. The problem, however, is that the senior population (those over 60) is growing exponentially as we live longer. This population also needs to be engaged by the church. For one thing, they can continue serving the church, offering wisdom and leadership. At the same time, as they age, they will need care. So, while we need to attend to the needs and concerns of younger members of the population, we can also celebrate the gifts brought to the church by our elders.

                In the course of this book, the reader will learn about this cohort of seniors (many of us are part of the Baby Boomer generation that has been dominating conversations for decades). Once we get a handle on this cohort, Olson describes some of the barriers to the full acceptance of seniors in society. He discusses barriers to participation in the life of the church such as hearing issues as well as the challenges of mobility (walking). There are also cultural concerns, including ageism. Ageism is complicated by sexism and racism. Understanding these challenges will assist in building the necessary bridges to effective ministry.

                He offers chapters that share stories of individual lives, describing people who have coped with their aging process. There is a chapter on laughter and play among older folks, which is quite eye-opening. He writes about housing and work issues, as people move from being active in life to slowing down and facing health issues. He speaks to such issues as care facilities and the costs involved (nursing care is very expensive!) He speaks to health issues specifically, detailing some of the challenges that people face as they age ranging from arthritis to cancer to respiratory issues. Of course, there is the issue of memory. So, what is needed? You will find some helpful suggestions that will be useful in ministry with those who age and have health concerns.

                One of the things that often serves as a challenge is the fact that as we age we often leave behind our previous vocations. That can lead to questions about the purpose of life. There is also a challenge of loneliness (something that is exacerbated by the loss of ability to drive and get out as one could at an earlier age). Thus, ministry with older persons can help them find meaning in life. While chapter 7 raises the question of meaning, in chapter 8 he speaks of some of the ways in which older persons can be assisted in recognizing and claiming their passions. In thinking about these two chapters, many conversations come to mind as I've ministered with older persons who feel they have lost their purpose. So how do we find new opportunities? That’s the question.

                Since this is a book about ministry, one should expect something to be said about faith development and expression. There is a chapter on it as well. One thing about spiritual life is that growth need not end early in life. I know this to be true, as I lead a Bible study with a largely older population (everyone is over 60). This study is a joy because these folks want to learn and grow! So, there is still much to be experienced regarding faith formation. It’s not just for the children! So, Olson offers us guidance as we discern pathways for continued spiritual life. I appreciated that in this chapter he speaks to the power of music, as I've seen people who seem mentally adrift during a nursing home service perk up when we sing Amazing Grace. Music is powerful, which is why music therapy plays a role in ministry. This chapter on spirituality is followed by one on acts of kindness—both for those who are older and by those who are older for one another and for those who are younger. It's important to remember that kindness and caring is a two-way reality.

                Aging also involves saying goodbye. It might be a move to a new place of living. Often older folks move closer to their children, which means leaving behind church and friends. There is also the reality of death to be faced. So, how do we say goodbye? Now, saying goodbye is one side of the coin, but there is also the matter of grief. Olson addresses this concern, which includes such questions as rituals to the disposal of the body. What is it that we wish for ourselves? How do we have those conversations?

                Having laid out all of these realities and attendant possibilities for ministry, the question then is: How do we get to a place in congregational life where our elders are celebrated, and true ministry takes place without abandoning ministry with younger persons? With that in mind, he shares the stories of four congregations that have been intentional in their ministry with the aging population. These stories don't cover all the possibilities, but one of the values of this conversation is that for the most part, these are ministries taken up by smaller congregations. In other words, you don’t have to have 1500 members to engage in effective ministry among seniors!

                Olson wrote a postscript to the book that speaks to what ministry among seniors might look like post-pandemic. He shares with us that he wrote most of the book before the COVID-19 pandemic hit but finishing it and submitting it for publication during the pandemic. In this post-script, he offers his thoughts as to what ministry might look like going forward. I thought this was a wise choice, helping us understand that we may have learned some things during the pandemic about ministry and the church that will be helpful long term even as we deal with the ramifications of such a long period of isolation.

                The great value of Richard Olson's Celebrating the Graying Church is that it is written from the perspective of a "participant observer." This isn’t a clinical examination of the church and its life written by a consultant who hasn’t tasted life on both sides of the divide. Olson may have engaged the work of a consultant with churches on such matters, but has lived and lives now on both sides of this question. He’s been a pastor who has ministered with older people. Now, he is older. Thus, he speaks with wisdom gained from these experiences. Therefore, I believe that this book will be of great assistance to the church as it seeks to minister across generations.

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