Description
How do we talk about death in faith communities that often avoid the topic altogether?
How do we prepare ourselves and our entire congregation for the spiritual, emotional, and practical decisions that come at the end of life?
This workshop equips Christian educators and ministry leaders to create intergenerational programming around advance care planning. Rooted in Gospel stories where Jesus names his own death—even when his followers resist—we’ll explore how to follow his lead with courage, compassion, and truth.
Advance care planning isn’t just for the elderly or ill. It’s a faithful act of love that belongs to the whole community. When we engage people of all ages in these conversations, we strengthen relationships, deepen discipleship, and pass on a legacy of care.
Participants will:
1. Gain a working understanding of advance care planning.
2. Explore how end-of-life conversations can include children, youth, and young adults—not just older adults.
3. Learn how to design and lead age-appropriate workshops, small groups, and discussion series.
4. Practice using engaging, accessible tools like The Death Deck, The Hello Game, and other conversation starters.
5. Leave with ready-to-use templates, planning guides, and strategies for launching intergenerational programs.
This session blends presentation, group discussion, and hands-on practice. It’s designed for leaders who want to cultivate brave, compassionate conversations that prepare the whole body of Christ to face death with faith and love.
Workshop Leader: Zeena Regis
Zeena Regis is Managing Director of Community Engagement at Compassion & Choices and an instructor for the Columbia Theological Seminary older adult ministry certificate program. A former hospice chaplain and grief care coordinator, she is passionate about end-of-life equity, spiritual care, and equipping communities to navigate illness, aging, and loss with compassion and dignity.
Co-Leader: Denise Shannon
Denise is an ordained PCUSA pastor living in Thornton, Colorado. Denise’s passion for older adults began over 25 years ago when she worked as an RN, mostly in Hospice Care. Now, as a pastor, spiritual director, and hospice chaplain, she feels blessed to hear the incredibly rich stories and life experiences of the older adult population and loves using people’s creativity to facilitate their spiritual growth.