The United Lutheran Seminary has received a grant of $250,000 from the Lutheran Foundation for Long Term Living (LFLTL) to implement the project: <>“Aging Grace-Fully: Author Lecture Series.”

The project is being funded through LFLTL’s Community Benefit Initiative, according to a release issued by Martin Otto-Zimmann, seminary senior director of continuing education.

"The aim of the initiative to encourage programming that enhances the lives of people in a variety of societal settings, especially ministries that celebrate the contributions of aging adults in society," the release reads.The Aging Grace-Fully program will be implemented under the auspices of the Kindling Faith Continuing Education Initiative at United Lutheran Seminary. Kindling Faith expands upon previous programs and events through ongoing collaborative efforts with a think-tank group consisting of alumni and friends of the seminary, who will contribute ideas on program development and best practices.

Programs and events are offered throughout the year via Zoom and in person on both the Gettysburg and Philadelphia campuses of ULS, according to the release.

“This exciting program will feature eight authors over a period of eighteen months who will give lectures on various aspects of aging adulthood,” said Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, seminary president. “The bulk of the grant will pay the authors’ speaking engagement fees, travel and accommodation. We will also buttress our own marketing efforts to reach the broadest possible audience.”

Kindling Faith will host the Aging Grace-Fully series in the chapel of the seminary’s Gettysburg Campus which can offer livestreaming so people can also attend virtually. The seminary will collaborate with chaplains of all the church-affiliated senior living facilities within driving distance and use the alum email network to market the series to all synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American and its full-communion partners for those who cannot attend in person yet might be interested in attending.

“At United Lutheran Seminary, we are dedicated to raising up saints for ministry in many different contexts, including ministry to aging adults,” said Otto-Zimmann. “This program will benefit our student population as they prepare to work with people of all ages. Many of our graduates are already involved in chaplaincies, church relations, and other roles in retirement communities in the Mid-Atlantic region. This program will benefit not only our alums, but aging adults from a variety of backgrounds and denominations. Our intention is to invite participation from retirement living communities all over the Northeastern United States.”

Seizing the opportunity to advance Founder Dr. Gustave Benze’s mission, a program called, “Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE), known nationally as the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), was created.

LIFE-NWPA, as part of the Lutheran Home for the Aged of Erie, Pennsylvania, initially only operating in Erie County, grew to operate in 12 counties throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania. Due largely to the growth and success of the LIFE-NWPA program, The Lutheran Home for the Aged of Erie Pennsylvania has been able to create and identify an additional opportunity to provide charitable services to the elderly.

In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, the board of directors authorized the creation of a charitable organization to be called The Lutheran Foundation for Long Term Living (LFLTL). The specific purpose of the new foundation is to help other nonprofits throughout the world, and to support, enhance and grow that original mission to assuring “long term living” for all. Instrumental in this transformation, modernization and growth of the dream has been the many devoted years of service and leadership from Pastor Albert U. Gesler Jr., Class of 1959 from the former Luther Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, a predecessor school to United Lutheran Seminary.