Southern California Coalition for Spirituality and Aging/New Theological Seminary of the West
Spirituality and Aging Certificate Program
The certificate in Spirituality and Aging will be conferred to persons who complete five segments:
1. 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (no lunch provided)
2. A Retreat plus four Saturday sessions - one each month
3. Each session has a Lead Instructor, but may be taught by more than one instructor
4. Required pre-reading of an assigned book plus a post-class writing project
5. Instructors should include personal illustrations and attention to cultural differences
I. Aging Defined
Prior Reading: James Fowler, “Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian: Adult Development and Christian Faith”
** The purpose of this session is to provide a broad overview of the various aspects of aging to establish a foundation upon which students can build their own spirituality of aging. This foundation should include physiological aspects of aging, psychological dynamics, and spiritual themes.
A. Natural Biological Aging
B. Physical decline and health impairments that impact experience of aging
C. Spirituality and Human Development
(suggested resources)
[Erik Erikson’s seventh and eighth stages;
Carol Gilligan, “In a Different Voice” - female perspective]
[James Fowler, Stages of Faith]
* Class Discussion: Based on the material presented, how do you feel about growing older, or working with others who are aging?”
** Post Class Project: Interview two older adults (who preferably are in different life situations) and ask them about their own aging process. Write a paper of findings
II. Toward a Spirituality of Aging
Prior Reading: Kathleen Fischer: “Winter Grace”
** The purpose of this session is to introduce participants to relevant, useful, sensitive, and sophisticated spiritual paradigms that might enable adults to understand their own aging process in a healthy, productive way.
Opening: Participants share responses to assignment and themes from Session I.
- Contemporary Perspectives on Aging
(suggested resources)
[William Thomas, What are Old People For]
[Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi, From Age-ing to Sage-ing]
B. Integrating Theory and Spirituality of Personal Relationships with Older Persons
- How to discuss aging and related spiritual issues
- What are spiritual questions that older adults may be asking for themselves?
C. Spirituality at the End of Life
* Class discussion: Reflect on concepts presented regarding spirituality and aging and relate them to your own point of view.
** Post-Class Project: Using concepts of spirituality of aging presented in this session, as well as your own unique perspectives, write a paper describing your own conception of a spirituality of aging.
III. Relationship of Culture and Aging
Prior Reading: William Thomas: “What are Old People For?”
** The goal of this session is to show how conceptions of aging can be impacted by cultural views and expectations concerning the role of the elderly in society, and to illustrate how these conceptions may cause people to interpret their own aging in positive or negative ways.
Opening: Participants share about their projects on on a spirituality of aging.
- Cultural Views of Aging, Illness, and Death.
B. Changing Views of Aging over time, as interpreted by different generations of differing eras
C. Paradigms or Pressures that impact spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of aging in different contexts
* Class Discussion: Share the contexts in which participants are experiencing aging, and how these contexts affect views of aging.
** Post-Class Project: Write a paper based on a contextual situation in your life in which you can evaluate attitudes and policies towards aging. Interview leaders in this context and inquire about the place of aging (especially spirituality in aging) within your context. Taking these attitudes into account, formulate a strategic plan to better accommodate aging adults, and to equip leaders within your context.
IV. Practical Approaches to Address Aging
Prior Reading: Gentzler, “Designing an Older Adult Ministry”
** The aim of this session is to help those involved in older adult programs to be able to conceptualize contextual models which open avenues to greater spiritual freedom and fulfillment in aging.
Opening: Participants share papers from Session III evaluating aging within their context.
A. Educating those who are working with older adults
B. Review of Advantages/Disadvantages of existing program models
C. Creating Sensitive and Effective New Models
* Class Discussion: Based on content you have learned from this program, as well as insights you have gained from classmates today, how might you revise or restructure your strategic plan to develop effective programs for older adults?
** Voluntary Request: Email a copy of your strategy to NTSW to be archived and perhaps posted on the Spirituality and Aging Program website.
In six months, participants will receive a survey that will ask for feedback on:
1) What has the participant done regarding the development of a ministry/program engaging older adults?
2) What has been successful, and what are issues that have been encountered?
3) How did your participation in the Certificate Program help you in your own context?
4) From your present vantage point, what suggestions would you make for future aging and spirituality programs?
Readings:
Erikson, Erik (1950, republished 1993), Childhood and Society, New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Fischer, Kathleen (1998) Winter Grace Nashville, TN: Upper Room Press.
Fowler, James (1981) Stages of Faith, New York, NY: Harper Press.
Fowler, James (1984) Becoming Adult, Becoming Christian: Adult Development and Christian Faith, San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row Publishers.
Gallagher, David (2002) Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century: Step by Step Strategies for Reaching People Over 50, Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock.
Gentzler, Richard (2003) Designing an Older Adult Ministry: Discipleship Resources
Gentzler, Richard (2008) Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century: an Inquiry Approach. Nashville TN: Discipleship Resources.
Gilligan, Carol (1982) In a Different Voice, Boston, MA: Harvard University Press.
Koepke, Donald R. (2005) Ministering to Older Adults: The Building Blocks Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Pastoral Press.
Koepke, Donald R. (2015) The Essential Spirit: Providing Wholistic Care with and for Older Adults Eugene OR: Wipf and Stock.
Pargament, Kenneth (2007) Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy. New York, New York: The Guilford Press.
Schachter-Shalomi, Rabbi Zalman, Miller, Ronald S. (2014) From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older: Grand Central Publishing.
Thibault, Jane and Morgan Richard. (2012) Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life: 7 Gateways to Spiritual Growth, Nashville TN: Upper Room Books.
Thomas, William (2004) What are Old People For? Acton, MA: VanderWyk and Burnham.