CHURCH SERVICES WANTED BY 80 OLDER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST (RELIGIOUS, ELDERLY CLERGY, GERONTOLOGY, PROTESTANT, SOCIAL WORK)

Using social science/social work knowledge, techniques and research methodology, the desires of older church members for church services are studied. Chapter 2 examines both general and the research literature. The study utilized a cross-sectional design and both random and purposive sampling techniques. Using a questionnaire, eighty members 65 years of age and older from four United Church of Christ congregations in southwestern Connecticut were interviewed. Comparisons are made between church members with limited physical mobility and those who are mobile and independent. The 30 services studied are categorized as follows: (1) spiritual; (2) social/interactional, and (3) concrete. The study reveals that age and sex make no difference in degree of desire for church services but that degree of mobility does make a difference. Persons with limited mobility tend to want more services than do their mobile/independent counterparts. The recommendation is made that churches actively reach out to persons with limited mobility and include them in as many services and programs as possible. The study elicits the social component to be found in nearly all the services. Because of the appropriateness of their training and experience, a strong recommendation is made for churches to employ professional social workers at the parish level