Authors, lecturers, and teachers will be amongst speakers at The World, the Church and Older People - the first major conference that focuses on an ageing population in the Christian community.

The conference, which takes place 21 November in London, will include workshops and speakers dealing with provocative topics such as euthanasia, the value of life, and the growing incidence of dementia.

Author and lecturer Brian Edwards is the keynote speaker at the conference, which is a joint initiative by the John Owen Centre and Pilgrim Homes.

Among other speakers are The Christian Institute and Pastor Roger Hitchings, who has extensive experience in pastoral care of elderly people and who once ran the biggest day unit in the country for Alzheimer's suffers.

The event will note many challenges the aged can potentially face, ranging from physical decline to social exclusion. According to recent research, ageism is the biggest prejudice in society. At the same time studies confirm that such values as spiritual belief and marriage contribute to well-being and longevity.

All of these facets will be dealt with from a practical viewpoint within a Christian context.

Peter Saunders, the General Secretary of the Christian Medical Fellowship, will be among those encouraging participants to look at bio-ethics from a biblical perspective. Other contributors include specialists from Pilgrim Homes, which is celebrating 200 years of ministry to older Christians this year.