John recently retired as an Assistant Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Oklahoma. He received his undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University, and was commissioned an officer in the United States Army through the ROTC program. He served in Vietnam and retired as a Colonel in the Army Reserves. He was the Training Officer for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation for over seven years. He holds two Masters Degrees in Counseling Psychology and Secondary Education and his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Oklahoma. He was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 2005. Recently he has met the state requirements to be a Divorce and Family Mediator. He and his wife Alma co-chair the diocesan Committee on Senior Ministry and both serve on a national committee on Senior Ministry for the Episcopal Church.
Dr. Alma Belzer received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1970 and worked 20 years as graphic artist, technical illustrator and art director. She made lifelong learning her personal goal and field of study, which led to a Master’s in Human Relations and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Belzer has worked in aging services for the past 20 years yet has continued to find ways to combine art and aging issues. In 2009 she coordinated the 1st annual “Active Aging Photo Contest” for the OU Health Sciences Center with the Oklahoma Geriatric Education Center. Since her retirement from DHS Aging Services Division in 2007, Dr. Belzer has served part-time as Clinical Assistant Professor at the Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, OU College of Medicine, where she assists with classes and conferences. This will be her 20th year with the Summer Geriatric Institute! |
Links |
• Older Adult Formation, ECUSA
• Older Adult Formation, Task Force, ECUSA
Aging, Spirituality, and Religion, Volume 1 published in 1995 by Fortress Press, provided the sociological, psychological, and theological perspectives for examining the ways in which spirituality and religion are experienced by aging persons in our society. As such, it provided the theoretical foundations for considering aging, spirituality and religion. Volume II picks up where Volume I left off—with practical advice and tools for ministry with the aging in a variety of settings. Gerontological and theological perspectives undergird the practical guidance and a final section treats of the unique ethical issues involved in ministry with the aging.
• Ask Alban: Ministry to and With Older Adults
• Assorted Resources
• Senior Ministries: Episcopal Diocese of Washington
• Viewpoints on Aging: A blog of Episcopal Senior Ministries |
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For Your Information
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A Message from the Belzers
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We have been concentrating on developing an Older Adults Ministry in parishes across Oklahoma, to raise awareness of this vital and growing demographic group, to focus on seniors serving seniors. We are very excited about sharing ideas with Province VII folks!
It has also been our honor to participate in the Senior Adult Ministry Task Force in NYC, joining Vycke McEwen of our Diocese and other gerontologists and priests in developing an Older Adults Ministry (OAM) Resolution for the General Convention. |
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Reasons for an Older Adult Ministry
in Your Parish
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With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of years, understanding. - Job 12:12
• Every hour, 330 Americans reach the age of 60. Now “baby boomers” (born 1946 to 1964) will be turning 65. Ask anyone - these are not your grandma’s sixties and retirement no longer means what it did then!
• In the next few years, the age 85+ population will nearly double. Already the 85+ age group is the fastest growing segment of the population! An estimated 214,000 Americans will be 100 or older this year, and by 2050, that number could exceed 4,200,000.
• At the marker age 85+ there is increased risk for frailty, depending on an individual’s heredity, chance and lifestyle. However, with a little help, a majority of elders remain independent throughout a long life.
• In parishes, a substantial percentage of leadership, presence, gifts and services are provided by older parishioners, the fastest growing age group everywhere. They are wisdom keepers, a vital resource, a living bridge between generations to come and those who have gone before.
What would your church look like without them?
In1980, President Carter’s proclamation declared May as Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate persons age 65+ through ceremonies, events and public recognition. See www.aoa.gov for Older American’s Act information and programs for older adults. For more information, contact Rev. John Belzer, PhD and Alma Belzer, PhD, jabelzer@allegiance.tv or (405) 273-6779.
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| Worship Resources |
SACRED CELEBRATIONS:
HONORING OUR ELDERS HONORS US ALL |
| Grow old along with me The best is yet to be, The last of life For which the first was made. - Robert Browning
The following passages are from the book Changes: Prayers and Services Honoring Rites of Passage (Church Publishing) and may be used, all or in part, in services to honor our elders, especially during Older American’s Month in May.
Gracious One, we pray for all our Elders who are living treasures and keepers of lore, so that they might be honored by us, held in your love, and remain ever faithful to the life you created, God of the Ages.
Hear us, we pray.
Gracious One, Beloved God of all generations, we pray for ourselves that, one and all, we may be young in hope and ageless in wisdom. For our failures at love, forgive us. For the work of love, encourage us. For the gift of your unfailing compassion, make us thankful. As we near the end of our days, relieve our fear of death and make us bravely follow Jesus, who is Resurrection and Life, who takes away the sting and fear of death and gives life for all time, in whose Name we pray. Amen.
The Peace
If the service continues with the Eucharist, the following Preface may be used. From day to day, from age to age, throughout our lives in this world and the next, you show yourself to be eternal Love, giver and sustainer of all goodness and joy, and so, with all the saints of every generation who are ancient in faith and young in hope, we join to sing your praise.
For more information, contact Rev. John Belzer, PhD and Alma Belzer, PhD, jabelzer@allegiance.tv or (405) 273-6779. |
Forming an Older Adult Ministry in Your Parish 
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Senior Adult Facts
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compiled by Dr. Alma Belzer
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FACTOID # 1
The unprecedented rapid growth of the older adult population nationwide and worldwide, and the resultant burden on the social and economic system demands that the church address this crisis. Currently 1 in every 8 Americans is age 65 or older and over 1 in 4 of these seniors live alone. Every hour, 330 Americans reach the age of 60. In two years, these same "baby boomers" will start turning 65. Every 10 years, the age 85+ population increases by 40%.
FACTOID # 2
Older Americans Month began when President John F. Kennedy designated May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in some way to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter's proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65+ through ceremonies, events and public recognition. The following is a quote from President Carter's book, The Virtues of Aging, "We worry too much about something to live on -- and too little about something to live for."
FACTOID # 3
Over one in four people age 65+ live alone. Half of women age 75+ live alone. Only 4% of the 65+ age group live in nursing facilities and over half of them receive no visitors. The majority of older adults live with relatives. More than eight out of ten long-term care services are provided by unpaid family caregivers. One in three family caregivers caring for older relatives are themselves aged 65+.
FACTOID # 4
Every minute of the day, three older adults are treated in the emergency department for a fall. Every hour, falls result in the death of two older adults. Every year, one in three persons over age 75 fall and 20% of these will have a moderate-to-severe injury. Persons who fall once are highly likely to have a second fall. See www.fallprevention.org for ways to reduce falls in the community. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR CHURCH?
FACTOID # 5
"According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as many as 214,000 Americans could be 100 or older by 2010. By 2050, that number could exceed 4,200,000." What may be more surprising is the fact that the fastest growing segment of our population is the 85+ age group! The ten states with the highest percentage of the total U.S. population are California (10.1%), New York (8.4%), Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Michigan. That Florida is only 24th when it has the largest share of those age 65+ may be because the state attracts the healthier "young old" while those much older return to their origin state to be cared for by their families. Some states across the country are following Oklahoma's lead in forming a "Centenarian Club" to honor and celebrate the hundreds of hundred-year-olds in their state! www.ckokc.org/centenarian-club-of-oklahoma . How can the consideration of these facts impact planning for senior adults in your congregations and communities?
This handout was provided as an attachment to the Adult Education Newsletter published by LeaderResources, Spring 2009. |
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