GPARCS stands for the Great Plains Association of Retired Clergy and Spouses. This group gathers several times each year, with one time each year being an online learning opportunity.
The purpose of GPARCS is to offer learning opportunities and resources to help clergy and/or spouses who have retired from the Great Plains Annual Conference, or one of the predecessor conferences — Kansas East, Kansas West and Nebraska — of The United Methodist Church, to enrich their lives and connect with one another.
Chair -- Claudia Ricks Hubbard
Vice-Chair -- Trudy Kenyon Anderson
Secretary -- Jo Mead
Treasurer -- Ken Parker
Communications — Lois Johnson
Several Great Plains Retired Clergy met with representatives from Eden Theological Seminary and the Parker Center for Abundant Aging of United Church Homes to deepen the possibilities for connection and enrichment of retired clergy in the conference. The group focused on recognizing the various stages of retirement, partnering with others, and the importance of curiosity and joy in life and ministry.
The group left with several next steps in hand to continue broadening the scope of support for retired clergy.
All retired clergy are invited to mark your calendars for a lunch gathering at Orders and Fellowship in Kearney, Nebraska on October 21st. More information to follow.
GPARCS REMARCS is a regular newsletter sent to GPARCS members. Find published newsletters here:
Discover essays considering aging through the lens of faith with questions for reflection at the Abundunt Aging blog