What Could Be Better?

NBA’s Special Initiative for Older Adults is starting something new by growing from what has already begun. This two-year initiative is enacting NBA’s core values of innovative approaches, prophetic tradition, collaborative partnerships, and work rooted in justice by working to meet this current time with awareness, grace, courage, and compassionate action.

“Since its beginning nearly 140 years ago, NBA has played a major role in creating and sustaining ministries for older adults,” says Jan Aerie, NBA’s Older Adult Ministries Mission Specialist. “Today, we continue this work by accompanying leaders, congregations, organizational partners, and others to advocate for and support older adults in our communities.” 

The Initiative’s goals are to:

Amplify and support ministries who claim a particular identity of service with and for older adults by intentionally networking with congregations, facilities, NBA and DOC programs, and ecumenical groups.

Connect leaders and ministries for mutual dialogue and collaboration in responding to the needs of older adults.

Provide education, inspiration, and resources to strengthen ministries and leaders serving older adults and those who care for them by sharing leadership intergenerationally through this newsletter, resources, worship materials, webinars, and workshops.

Innovate programs that offer opportunities for engagement and transformation, and that broaden and deepen positive impact in vulnerable older adult communities.

Advocate for rights, dignity and the humanity of older adults by sharing ways to develop community organizing strategies for congregations and communities to make real change in our churches and communities.

Support and collaborate in the efforts of the Older Adult Ministries and Silver Chalice working teams.

The Initiative has already been exchanging resources, co-leading webinars, and jointly innovating new programs with other older adult ministries, as well as youth ministries, health and human service programs, Disciples Home Missions, Green Chalice, and groups from Presbyterian and Methodist denominations to become more strongly aligned for action.

“As I see it, deepening collaborative relationships is the very best stewardship of our resources, time and knowledge,” says Aerie.

By expanding our connections and deepening our networks, we are doing more to reach a greater number of people. We are showing up, embodying the values we hold, and contributing as best we can to God’s Beloved Community…

…What could be better?!