In a few decades when the retiree population reaches 20 percent, evangelism among older adults will be a priority. How will such huge numbers of older adults reshape our churches?
1. FEWER FAMILY SERVICES
Research from both the US and Australia shows that Boomers have a strong preference to retire in their existing suburb, when compared to their parents. In fact the majority are unwilling to give up the large backyard and quiet cul-de-sacs of their family home. It is likely that churches in suburban Sydney, rather than the seniors enclaves in Queensland and on the NSW coast, will bear the brunt of the age wave. In this context the large number of services aimed at families will be even more difficult to justify.
2. ACTIVE ADULTS NOT SENIORS
The marketers for US retirement villages are busy rebranding themselves as "active adult communities' because of the self-perceptions of Boomers. Likewise, there is anecdotal evidence that Boomers respond poorly to most forms of "senior' adult ministries in Sydney today. They do not perceive themselves to be seniors, and any organisation that communicates to them that they are old will quickly lose them.
3. PARTNERS IN MISSION
From surfers' ministry to reaching the Grey Nomads, Boomers will invest themselves in a ministry that is meaningful and longer term. They already turn away from churches that focus on "socials' and programmed events as the primary ministry to retired adults. Many will be great mission partners for those pastors who can develop new models of "active adult' ministry. Because they are less respectful of authority than previous generations, today's young pastors will need to learn how to facilitate the ministry passions of their older members rather than just expecting them to "get with the program' focused on under 40s.
4. CHURCH FOR THE FRAIL AGED
Within the lifetime of today's workers, the ABS predicts that up to 800,000 people in NSW will be aged over 85. If gospel opportunities are to be pursued, local ministries will need to be reshaped. Churches will need to find ways to spend significant ministry resources on members who are homebound or in nursing facilities. The design of post-1970s suburbs presents significant challenges for an ageing population. Suburban churches may have more volunteers for ministry but there will be many more volunteer tasks to do, such as respite care and transportation especially in suburbs with poorly designed public transport links.
Building the future
Retirement villages lead the way in designing churches for the age wave.
Anglican Retirement Villages (ARV), are working with St Faith's, Narrabeen, on the design of ARV Warriewood Brook Retirement Village. The first stage is planned to be completed by early 2009, and it will include a unique community church for the estimated 548 residents.
Bill Parks, a chief architect of America's giant retirement enclaves, says Baby Boomers will shake up the aged care industry with their preference for "hanging out' over structured activities.
"They are not as organised as past generations have been in terms of social activities," Mr Parks told Bankrate. "We are now doing a lot more Starbucks-type venues where they can come in. The Boomers came out of the coffeehouse era; they are more casual, less structured, and they are not prone to accept the controls of the codes, covenants and restrictions of large developments."
Parks' architectural emphasis on "cafe' spaces for casual socialising rather than rooms for programmed activities is worth reflection for future church designers.
While ARV is already working closely with other churches across Sydney Diocese, the Warriewood initiative is the first time that a local parish has been involved in the design of the chapel and community facilities of an ARV village. A child care centre on site will double as a crèche and Sunday school for the church.
"We want the intergenerational connection," said ARV design manager, Clive Furness. "The more families that are involved in the residents' lives, the better."
Mr Gallant, pastor of St Faith's newest congregation, Warriewood Anglican Church, has asked for moveable walls, a larger kitchen and extra rooms to be incorporated into the building plans. ARV will fund Mr Gallant as a chaplain to the village, as they do with other churches.
"This is when the real planning is, before they start building. You want to get it right," he said. "They've wanted my input the whole way " it's been awesome seeing [ARV] take on board our suggestions. We see an outreach to the residents when it's built and we're hoping Christians who move into the site will join us in the mission of reaching out to the local area."
