The Church of the Brethren “envisions the church as a nurturing, supportive community that regards older persons as growing, learning, and contributing members of family, church and society.” Undergirded by the affirmations and goals set by the 1985 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Statement on Aging, older adult ministry became a program area of the Association of Brethren Caregivers. The seed was planted, and after several years of careful watering and attention, the first program initiative of this new ministry area was launched.

In 1992 the first National Older Adult Conference was convened in the Smokey Mountains of western North Carolina on the grounds of the Lake Junaluska Assembly. Attended by approximately 600 older adults, the first conference was deemed a success, and plans were made to convene a second conference in 1994. With each succeeding conference attendance has steadily increased with the most recent conference hosting over 1,100 participants.

From 1991 through 2000, the Older Adult Ministry Cabinets planned and executed five NOACs. During its spring 2002 meeting, the cabinet chose to expand its role as the stewards of older adult ministry. That same year the cabinet created a NOAC Planning Committee, which freed the cabinet to expand its role as steward of older adult ministry. Since that time the cabinet has been developing a long-range plan for older adult ministry within the Church of the Brethren.