There are some things which just have to be said. We have to speak out because at the heart of the Christian message is our belief that God is not silent. God has spoken through creation itself and the evolving universe; through the human story; through the dwelling of Jesus Christ in time; through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in each believer; through the inspiration of the scriptures; and through the wisdom and the teaching of the Church through the ages. We use … [Read more...]
National attitudes to death
On our News page there is a report about an initiative earlier in 2018 by Co-op Funeralcare: the provision of low-cost funerals which involve no mourners and no ceremony. The Co-op announced that it would be conducting a nationwide survey of British attitudes towards death. The results of the survey have been published as ‘Making peace with death’ and can be read here. The Co-op says that over 30,000 responses were received although this figure is amended in the formal reference to the size … [Read more...]
Euthanasia
A recent ‘long read’ contribution in The Guardian explores reflections on the availability of legal access to euthanasia in a growing number of countries. The subject is headlined: Death on Demand: Has euthanasia gone too far? https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jan/18/death-on-demand-has-euthanasia-gone-too-far-netherlands-assisted-dying? … [Read more...]
Older people, depression and its treatment
A commentary on recent research and media reports by David Jolley, a member of the Christians on Ageing Executive Committee and, formerly, holding senior positions in the study of Old Age Psychiatry at Wolverhampton and Manchester Universities. https://christiansonageing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2019/03/Too-many-old-people-are-given-antidepressants.pdf A response from Dr Susan M Benbow drsmbenbow@gmail.com I have read David Jolley’s blog with interest and, whilst I agree … [Read more...]
Assisted Dying
The Royal College of Physicians has recently adopted a position of neutrality on whether or not the law should be changed to allow a doctor to hasten a patient’s death in keeping with their expressed wishes. David Jolley, a member of Christian on Ageing Executive Committee, offers this comment: https://christiansonageing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2019/03/Assisted-dying.pdf … [Read more...]
Funerals without Ceremony
Co-operative FuneralCare has recently publicised the growing popularity of no-frills cremations: no ceremony, no mourners, low cost. It cites the growing popularity of events celebrating the life of a dead person being held at a time and place unconnected with the funeral. It suggests that this will provide an alternative to traditional religious and secular funeral ceremonies. It also refers to the significant saving in costs compared to standard funerals. It has now published (August 2018) … [Read more...]
Dementia: The forgotten heroes.
A new study supported by Christians on Ageing: Churchgoing carers speak of their long and lonely road In a new and pioneering study, those caring for loved ones with dementia emerge as the forgotten heroes amongst carers. 53 churchgoers who have (or have recently had) this caring role speak out passionately for the first time about their experience. You can read a more detailed article about the research here … [Read more...]
More about us
Our History Christian Council on Ageing (CCOA), more recently styled Christians on Ageing, was established in May 1982, following a public meeting in Westminster Cathedral Conference Centre, and became a registered charity in 1984. Founding members included Mannes Tidmarsh, a psychologist who became convinced in the 1970s that the spiritual and emotional development of people in later life were not being recognised or encouraged; Donald Bell, a field worker with Age Concern England (now Age … [Read more...]
Being Older
Being older is first and foremost: being an older woman or man. We are people with hopes and fears, loves and hates, friends and enemies, things to do and things to avoid, times of sickness and times of health: we are human. Being human brings with it the ability to give as much or as little to the world around us as we wish, and the need from time to time to seek and to receive help and support from others around us. In this part of our website you will find reflections on some of the facts of … [Read more...]
About us
Christians on Ageing works throughout the United Kingdom operates as an ecumenical, Christian organisation publishes resources for individuals and local ministries arranges conferences and events promotes research and innovation comments on current issues affecting older people Here's our Annual Report 2019 Please note: the AGM due to be held on April 29th 2020 has had to be postponed due to the coronavirus therefore the Annual Report has not yet been … [Read more...]
Ministry and Training
People who are involved in ministry of any kind in the Churches need training. This applies to lay people as well as to those who are formally ordained or commissioned. Training demands being open to ideas and it means having enough ideas to generate enthusiasm and commitment. It also needs time, and often it can seem there is no time for everything so some things get left behind. The place of older people in the life of the Churches and the ways in which ministry can focus on older people's … [Read more...]
Helpful contacts
A small organisation like Christians on Ageing cannot provide guidance and advice on more than a selected range of topics, usually related to current issues about ageing or those which have a direct connection with our membership. The list of other sites listed here is neither comprehensive (the subject is too big for that) nor recommended by Christians on Ageing but you might find it a useful starter in your search for more information. No responsibility can be taken for the content of … [Read more...]
Prayers and Reflections
Spirituality, for a Christian, is that part of our daily experience which allows us to reflect on everything in our lives, to seek sense in our relationships and our reactions, and to enable God to be involved in and to influence that reflection. Part of this reflection is prayer, time that we actively give to seeking the presence of God, either together with others and in a formal way, or on our own, wherever and whenever we manage to find space and time. Prayer during the night. Many … [Read more...]
Ageing Issues Study Network
This Network was launched in September 2015. Following a wide-ranging discussion at the launch meeting, an outline of possibilities under the heading Cherished or forgotten was circulated to the many people expressing an interest and further work was undertaken to establish the Enquiry proposed. It has been a matter of deep disappointment that we have not been able to secure funding for the development of the Ageing Issues Study Network. We have not lost sight of the main purposes of the … [Read more...]
Spirituality
Spirituality Members of Christians on Ageing are usually Christians, though some are just interested in our work or support our endeavours. A Christian is defined not only by her or his acceptance of a set of beliefs or practices, but by an attitude towards living which includes seeking the presence of God. One of the reasons for it being so difficult to be a Christian in the developed countries of the West is that opportunities to experience the presence of God are reduced by the clamour of … [Read more...]
Dementia Network
Our Dementia Network brings together a wide range of those who support people with dementia or who are professionally involved in treatments or research. It has, under different titles, been an important part of Christians on Ageing work for over twenty-five years. Our twice-yearly Dementia Newsletter has been published continuously since 1992. The newsletter, which is available free by email attachment to anyone interested, seeks to do the following: Keep readers up-to-date on media … [Read more...]
The Churches’ pastoral care
The Churches begin their thinking and action about caring for others in the words of Jesus: ‘Feed my lambs; feed my sheep’. This straight-forward invitation to continue his ministry is called pastoral care, and it is carried out in many different ways – nationally, locally, and in specialist ministries. Local A local church or ministry offers support and help to a whole congregation or different groups with specific needs. Part of pastoral care is the regular meeting for prayer or social … [Read more...]
Publications
Christians on Ageing publishes short, accessible, low cost booklets and related material. All our publications are on topics of interest to older people and to those people who support their life of faith. Our current list can be found by visiting the Bookshop where you will find details about the individual titles and can make purchases. We publish items for various reasons: sometimes we wish to fill a gap in provision, or there may be a need for an easy to read introduction or overview … [Read more...]
Health & Social Care
Being older does not mean being ill or needy all the time. There will be times, however, when being older brings with it needs in health and social care which are different from those of younger people. This is such a statement of the obvious that it sometimes gets forgotten in discussions about age and ageing. The increase in the numbers of people living for much longer than, say, fifty years ago, has distorted attitudes towards being old, and especially towards the needs of those who are in … [Read more...]
Some facts
Those commonly described as ‘older people’ number over 10 million, and cover an age range of up to 40 years. Within such a large group there will be great differences not only in terms of age, but of family structure, social class, gender, sexuality, health, income and wealth, housing, social contacts, employment status, retirement, and religious practices and beliefs. To differentiate within this diversity, some people distinguish between active retired people up to about the age of 75 – … [Read more...]
About our Members
Older Christians are probably the greatest underutilised resource in UK churches. In some churches considerable resources are spent on children, youth and young families, while little or nothing is done to understand and respond to the needs of older Christians. We would like to change that and each additional member makes that more possible. Our members belong to all the major Christian denominations. A questionnaire was circulated to members in the autumn of 2012. One third of the … [Read more...]
Support our work
Christians on Ageing relies on its members’ subscriptions, sales of its publications and the generosity of donors. Donations If you would like to support our work by making a donation, once or from to time, please send a cheque (payable to Christian Council on Ageing) to the address below. If you are a UK tax-payer you might consider making your donation worth even more by agreeing to Gift Aid *. You will be able to make your donation on-line soon here. Legacies If you are … [Read more...]
Our magazine
Every three months, the members of Christians on Ageing receive a free copy of the organisation’s magazine. It is called plus and is a means of communication between the Executive Committee and members, between members themselves, and a source of information and reflection on issues of age and ageing. You can choose to receive plus by post or via email as a pdf. If you choose to receive plus via email it means that we don't have to print and post the magazine and so your membership fee can … [Read more...]
