Conference to Focus on Ministering to Aging Congregants

How to minister to the nation’s growing older population will be explored in an interfaith conference on aging and spirituality Wednesday and Thursday at the Kensington Episcopal Retirement Community, 1428 S. Marengo Ave. in Alhambra.

The graying of mainline Protestant churches has been documented for the last 20 years. As baby boomers begin to swell the ranks of older Americans, church officials say that aging and spirituality looms as among their biggest ministry challenges.

The conference will feature speakers from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Native American and Sikh backgrounds to explore such issues as aging and poverty, illness, cultural differences in perceptions of the elderly, and how to transmit spiritual heritages to younger generations.

“This will help congregations not stereotype older people as people in wheelchairs and walkers, but as active and contributing members of society with incredible gifts to share,” said Rod Parrott of the Claremont Theological Cluster’s Institute for Continuing Ministry Studies, one of the sponsoring organizations.

A related daylong seminar on the spiritual tasks of later life, “Does God Save the Best for Last?” will be held in the same location Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. Conference fee is $95. The seminar fee is $50. Lunches are included. (909) 621-0982.

EVENTS

The much-debated topic of Jewish intermarriage will highlight a conference on Jewish identity and continuity Sunday and Monday at three locations in the Southland. Rabbis and scholars from Israel and the United States will lead discussions on the American Jewish community’s current religious renaissance, along with how to maintain its identity in an increasingly multicultural society. The conference is co-sponsored by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and USC’s Institute for the Study of Jews in American Life. Events will take place at those two adjacent campuses off West Jefferson Boulevard and at Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s campus at 11661 W. Olympic Blvd. Admission is free, but reservations are required. (213) 740-3405.

* Southern California Presbyterians launch observance of the national denomination’s “Year of the Child” with a rally and youth theater performance today at Torrance First Presbyterian Church, 1900 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. The 22nd annual rally on missions and stewardship will feature workshops exploring such children’s issues as day care, gang violence, sexual exploitation and mental health. Registration, including lunch, is $20 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. (213) 483-3840, Ext. 222.

* Top names in religious broadcasting, music and ministry will headline the 57th annual National Religious Broadcasters convention, which begins today through Tuesday at the Anaheim Convention Center. The convention is expected to draw nearly 4,000 participants, including national televangelist Pat Robertson and syndicated columnist Cal Thomas, for educational workshops, networking and marketing. A record high of 1,731 radio and TV stations carried Christian programming in 1999. (714) 765-8950.

* A film documentary and discussion of Sudan’s civil war, which has spawned charges of religious persecution, slavery and other human rights abuses, will be presented Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Museum of Tolerance, 9786 W. Pico Blvd. The film, “The Hidden Gift,” documents the work of Catholic Bishop Macram Max Gassis in aiding the indigenous Nuba population, which reportedly has suffered devastating declines after the National Islamic Front regime seized power in 1989. The exiled Gassis, who now runs relief operations from Kenya, will lead the discussion. (310) 772-2452.

* Interfaith speakers will headline a rally against nuclear weapons Sunday at 5 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave. in Pasadena. (323) 223-9047.

* A Greek Orthodox “spiritual odyssey” conference will feature a youth rally and discussions on “The Apocalypse: An Orthodox Christian Understanding,” today at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church, 4949 Alton Parkway in Irvine. The conference began Thursday and will conclude Feb. 7 with a special program for senior citizens. Events are free. Child care is provided. (949) 733-2366.

PERFORMANCE

A Valentine’s Day concert of music, song and dance will be offered Thursday by the Understanding Principles for Better Living Church at the Veteran’s Complex, 4117 Overland Ave. in Culver City. Church founder Della Reese-Lett, who performs in the TV series “Touched by an Angel,” will make a cameo appearance. Free admission will be offered to the first 1,500 attendees. (323) 655-8617.

* “Chaya’s Letter,” a dance performance on the spiritual courage of 93 Jewish women captured by German soldiers during World War II, will premiere today at 8 p.m. at Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Advance tickets are $20. (323) 957-9614.

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, faxed to Southern California File at (213) 237-4712, or e-mailed to religion@latimes.com. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event and should include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time. Because of the volume of submissions, we cannot guarantee publication.