1. Future of Older Adults in the Rural Church
Inaugural Rural Church Summit
February 24, 2007
Rev. James W. Ellor, Ph.D.

3. Type County
<6
6-11
12-17
18-24
25-34
35-54
55-64
65+
Metro 1M
10%
12%
15% 9%
11%
22%
Central county of a metro
area with 1 million population or more
Fringe 1M
16%
18%
13%
Fringe county of a metro area
with 1 million population or more
Other Metro
14%
County in metro area of fewer
than 1 million population
Non-metro 8%
Non-metro counties
19%
All

4. Church Growth
Traditional Growth
Evangelism
Parish renewal

5. Evangelism Assumes sharing something new
It may not be new to the older adults
It may in fact reflect a lot of pain
Evangelism with the aged often looks more like pastoral care than sharing the good news.

6. Church Renewal Older adults are NOT the enemy of church growth
Honor the past and then move to the things that are new
Developing programs that can be helpful, Bible study, clubs, Sunday school classes

7. You have met the aged…and they are us!