Donate
Resourcing

UTC College of Nursing, ENCORE Ministry launch Age-Friendly Congregation Certificate

Age-Friendly Congregation Certificate team members Rev. Dr. Richard Gentzler, left, and UTC’s Kristi Wick and Stephanie Blaine.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Nursing is partnering with ENCORE Ministry Foundation to launch a new Age-Friendly Congregation Certificate program designed to help faith communities and individuals better support older adults through intentional, practical action.

The eight-module program, believed to be the first of its kind nationally, offers a structured, nondenominational approach to helping congregations better support older adults. Open to congregations and individuals across the United States and beyond, the program is free through grant funding and delivered in a self-paced, online format with optional in-person sessions.

Developed by UTC faculty in collaboration with ENCORE Ministry Foundation, the certificate program equips participants with tools to reframe aging, improve accessibility, strengthen intergenerational connection, and support physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Congregations that complete the program earn an Age-Friendly Congregation designation, while individuals may earn recognition as Age-Friendly Congregation Champions.

“The Age-Friendly Congregation Certificate program gives individuals and congregations a practical way to become more intentional about supporting older adults,” said Dr. Kristi Wick, UC Foundation associate professor and Vicky B. Gregg Chair of Gerontology in the UTC College of Nursing. “It is a first-of-its-kind program built around learning modules that help congregations turn that commitment into action.”

The program reflects years of age-friendly work led by the UTC College of Nursing and supported through a Tennessee Department of Health grant now in its fifth year.

Read More
Share the Post:

Related Posts

Senior Care Series Part 5: Memory Care

Much like assisted living, memory care communities and sections of senior communities provide seniors with a safe and secure living environment, quality food, access to social and recreational activities, housekeeping, and help with activities of daily living (ADLs).

Read More

Champion Your Health

While many people hope they are financially secure for a long, good life and having lived to a ripe old age, are we equally concerned about a healthy old age?

Read More
In Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Connell Memorial United Methodist Church has anchored its neighborhood since 1902. On Sundays, about 130 people fill the pews, with nearly 100 more joining online. But on Tuesdays, faith leaves the sanctuary and takes to the streets. For over a decade, Joe McHenry, the church’s program contact, has led the Meals on Wheels ministry. What started as a way to care for aging church members has grown into a vital lifeline for the broader community. Today, the program delivers meals to about 60 homebound neighbors each week—nearly 80% of them not church members.

A Century of Faith, A Community Fed: Connell Memorial United Methodist Church

In Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Connell Memorial United Methodist Church has anchored its neighborhood since 1902. On Sundays, about 130 people fill the pews, with nearly 100 more joining online. But on Tuesdays, faith leaves the sanctuary and takes to the streets.
For over a decade, Joe McHenry, the church’s program contact, has led the Meals on Wheels ministry. What started as a way to care for aging church members has grown into a vital lifeline for the broader community. Today, the program delivers meals to about 60 homebound neighbors each week—nearly 80% of them not church members.

Read More

Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus: Support Feeding Ministries

Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, feeding the hungry, caring for the vulnerable, and showing love to those who need it most. Every dollar you give to the Kent and Ellen McNish Fund for Older Adult Food Security helps feeding ministries stretch resources and serve more meals to those in need. Donate today and help support life-changing feeding ministries like the People’s Table.

Give Now