NEXT Steps: Re-Imagining Your Elderhood

NEXT Steps: Re-imagining Your Elderhood

NEXT Steps introduces participants to theological, philosophical, and psychological concepts of vocation and aging. It is a gathering for adults contemplating or entering retirement, and for those who are recently retired. All program activities are designed to stimulate your individual self-discovery as you develop a personal plan for your new and meaningful chapter of life. NEXT Steps participants follow a 16-week process of self-discovery through readings, presentations, small group discussions, and discernment. All classes will meet via ZOOM. By the end of the course, participants will have developed a vision and a plan for their next phase of life; their elderhood.

For more information and to register

Learn About the Ruth Parker Center for Abundant Aging

Course leaders:

  • Beth Long-Higgins, Executive Director, Ruth Parker Center for Abundant Aging
  • Steve Lawler, Director of the Walker Leadership Institute @ Eden Theological Seminary
  • Jill Schantz, Coordinator, NEXT Steps
In our NEXT Steps graduate's own words:

Recent NEXT Steps participant, Rev. Denise McGary tells of her NEXT Steps experience.  Rev. McGary found that the program gave her a “plan that was empowering and energizing” for facing her future NEXT steps.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but it was beyond my expectations really. It was fabulous.”

“I’ve worked in the same field for four decades. There’s a certain mindset and way of looking at the world – this is the first time I’ve had conversations with adults who have no clue about my field. It really helped expand my thinking and looking at the world going forward. Isn’t that exciting?!”

“It took me down a path that I never would have considered before.”

“What I learned is that the earlier you start to think about this new phase, the more options you have available to you. It’s not too early to start thinking about this.”

“I’m really pleased at how things came together for me. I’m not sure how that happened. Between the leadership and the class, things began to gel for me and it became clearer and clearer what I wanted to do.”

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