May. 3, 2004     News media contact:   General Conference  Newsroom * (412) 3256080*   {GC04053}

NOTE: News media contact: after May 10: (615) 742-5470.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

PITTSBURGH (UMNS) - A plan to strengthen older adult ministries in local churches won overwhelming approval May 3 by the United Methodist General Conference.

The plan, submitted by the United Methodist Board of Discipleship, will establish a council on older-adult ministries in each annual conference.

The council will support ministries, plans, activities and projects of particular interest to older adults, including "retired persons, working persons, persons with handicapping conditions, persons with chronic illnesses, single persons, widowed persons, married persons, persons living in a variety of residential settings and persons with a wide variety of family situations."

The council will relate to the annual conference board of discipleship or the annual conference board of laity or equivalent structure.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer.
********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

BACK TO MAY 3          BACK TO GENERAL CONFERENCE PAGE            NCCUMC HOME