The mission of Senior Ministries is to help the diocese and its congregations establish ministries which both celebrate the involvement of seniors in congregation life and respond to senior needs.
Senior Ministries reaches out to the individual, the congregation, and the diocese. Commission members are available to assist congregations in developing active ministries to, for, of and with senior members of the congregation. Tailored presentations are available on diverse topics such as:
- Health and health insurance
- Planning for one's later years
- Advance Directives
- Housing
- Driving and when to stop driving
- Long-term care -- when and where?
- Hospice
- Care giving issues
- Memory changes…what’s normal and what’s not
- Experiential aging
- Identifying the needs of your aging parishioners
- Help in developing intergenerational activities
All programs are designed to support and enrich participants, expand awareness and sensitivity, educate clergy and laity about community resources available for their use, and to provide practical answers to the concerns expressed by members of diocesan congregations. Senior Ministries will assist individuals and congregations who have questions by providing either an answer or the name of a resource.
The Senior Ministries board meets at Episcopal House in Newark monthly, usually the 3rd Wednesday of the month from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
Senior Ministries Board Members
Scott Bennett, Chairperson
Martha Reiner, Vice Chairperson
Mary DePinto, Secretary
Gail Barkley
Jill Eden
Patrick Hammer
Marymae Henley
Lorraine Jones
Jane Jubilee
Hope Lampe
Rhonda Lutz
Cynthia McChesney
Larry Neugebauer
Michael Otterburn
Tricia Smythe
