Jim Stinson, Consultant on Older Adult Ministries

Older Adults are often seen incompletely! They are often seen through the lens of age as a defining factor in which frailty, impairment, limitations etc. becomes the only thing about them that is really noticed. We

often make erroneous assumptions about them. A prime example is the frequency in which their ideas are dismissed because they are presumed to come from ones “set in their ways.” Another is the expectation that "older folk" don’t have the energy or the desire to really be in service and therefore would rather be waited on and cared for. Still another erroneous assumption is that they are really like children, often lacking judgment and realistic attitudes about their own well-being and that we "must" make decisions for them.

A Christian approach to ministering with/for older adults, while affirming limitations and such as being real, moves beyond them and seeks ways to enable the whole person to reemerge and engage life as fully as possible, even if in different ways than when that person was younger.

The great joy I have experienced in ministering with/for this population is the never-ending discovery of the unique value of old age when it is embraced as yet another part of the gift of life.  I have seen people in the eighties and nineties suddenly begin talking about the “next chapter” in their lives and begin to reach out to others in new and substantial ways. These people continue to teach me that there is no age limit on Jesus’ call to follow him or on the promise to “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

I happily offer my services to any church, group or caregiver who seeks to join me, and others, on this special journey of caring for and with this portion of God’s people.

Jim Stinson's Articles

To read some of Jim Stinson's articles concerning older adults, please click here.

Jim Stinson's FAQs

Jim gets asked a lot of questions and would like to share some of his answers with you. To read Jim's Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.

Jim Stinson Workshops and Presentations

I invite you to request my services in sharing any of the workshops/presentations on ministry with//for older adults with you.  These workshops/presentations are very fluid, designed to fit the need of the congregation/group to whom it is presented and are not limited to those listed.    The length varies according the needs and time constraints of those likely to attend.   All such events are filled with active participation, lively discussion, humor and honesty.

1. Spirituality and Aging – designed to help congregations/groups/persons seeking to do ministry with and for older adults understand the nature of spirituality and the ways in which spirituality affects their lives.   Offers suggestions for ways to do ministry in ways that encourage spiritual health.

2. A Christian View of Aging – discusses aging from a Biblical perspective, stresses the unique value of each individual regardless of age or limitations.  Looks at cultural assumptions of aging and how it often warps a Christian understanding.   Offers specific suggestions on how to overcome cultural attitudes in ministry with/for older adults.

3. Remaining Faithful as Our Bodies Wear Out – designed to enable congregations/groups/caregivers to understand the ways in which aging can affect our faith lives and to offer ways to encourage and enable faithfulness despite what is happening to our bodies.

4. Doing Ministry with Older Adults – offers specific ways to do effective ministry, always allowing the person(s) to whom we are ministering to be seen (and to see themselves) as whole people, complete with gifts and grace that might be used in the ministry of care.  Offers suggestions about how not to see the limitation rather than the person.   Discussion will center on the “dos” and “don’ts” of older adult ministry.

5. Humor and Ministry with Older Adults – offers a variety of ways in which humor may be used effectively in ministry with/for older adults.  Specific examples of when humor has been used to defuse anger and frustration, to redirect conversation in constructive ways to allow the Gospel to be heard will be shared.

6. Issues of Aging — This workshop/presentation explores the many ways in which older adults feel dis-membered. These people experience loss on so many levels, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through a presentation and interactive sharing, participants discover ways to enable the older adult(s) (for whom and to whom they minister) to re-member themselves.  It is based on Biblical insights about wholeness. Anyone involved with this age group would benefit from this presentation/workshop.

These are workshops/presentations I have done in various churches and senior citizen groups that seemingly have been well received.   I am more than willing to work with any congregation/group/caregivers on any other concern regarding issues of ministry with/for this age group.

You can contact Jim via email at chaplain.umh@gmail.com for more information or to schedule a workshop/presentation for your congregation. 

For more information about Older Adult Ministries, please visit the GBOD site by clicking here.

Jim Stinson Named "Chaplain of the Year"

How does a “retired” elder get selected as chaplain of the year by the United Methodist Association? If you ask recipient Jim Stinson, chaplain at Wesley Village in Shelton, Conn., he’ll say, “I don’t understand it, but I’m grateful.”

Jim Stinson has been the director of spiritual life for United Methodist Homes since 2002. His primary responsibility is to serve Wesley Village, which is home to approximately 400 seniors and workplace for more than 300 employees. In addition, he provides support to the residents and staff of Sharon Health Care Center and assisted living communities in Farmington and Newington, Conn. Stinson performs ecumenical services and provides religious and spiritual guidance to hundreds of residents, staff, families, and volunteers that he serves.

Stinson also serves as the NYAC’s consultant on older adult ministries, writing a column that appears in The Vision and on the conference web site. He has served in parish ministry for more than 40 years, leading congregations in Middletown, Brooklyn, Monroe and Warwick, N.Y.; and Watertown, Danbury and Norwalk, Conn. He is a member of the Golden Hill UMC in Bridgeport.

In the nomination papers for the award, Wesley Village’s Campus Administrator Ron Bucci wrote about Stinson: “Jim’s presence truly fits his title of director of spiritual life. His ability to be ever-present, and feel the pulse of our community—staff, residents and family alike—is uncanny. Jim frequently “grounds us” by reminding us of the reasons why we are here doing the work that we do. He is always encouraging us to treat each other, and ourselves, kindly. In a non-judgmental way, Jim deals with ethical dilemmas and is quite courageous when frank, or tough love, guidance is needed. We are an infinitely stronger community with Jim navigating our spiritual direction.”

The national excellence in ministry award will be presented to Stinson during the UMA’s annual convention in March in Burlingame, Calif. The United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries (UMA) is a national association of United Methodist and other faith-based ministries that promotes quality care in faith-based settings. The UMA serves more than 380 health and human service organizations and professionals nationwide.