The leaders of the four founding denominations of Good Shepherd Ecumenical Retirement Center in Little Rock gathered in McDonald Hall at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock March 5 to raise money and highlight the needs of the elderly in central Arkansas.
Good Shepherd was founded 30 years ago by the Diocese of Little Rock as well as the Episcopal Diocese of Little Rock, the United Methodist Church of Arkansas and the Presbyterian Church of Arkansas. Today the center serves 420 seniors in 397 apartment units in west Little Rock. The retirement center is in much demand, with 234 people on the waiting list.
The eight-person board of directors includes two representatives from each denomination.
Richard Cheek, of Rivercliff Company Inc. and a member of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church, and Sharon Priest, of Downtown Partnership and a member of St. Theresa Church, both in Little Rock, represent the Catholic faith.
Cheek said the faith component makes Good Shepherd more than the average retirement center.
“With 40 years in the apartment business, I do understand this is a people business,” he said.
For the past nine years the Bishops’ Luncheon is hosted by one of the religious leaders to raise money for the center’s capital improvements.
Chandra Vaughn, director of operations, said this year’s lunch, attended by 250 people, raised $25,000.
Episcopal Bishop Larry Benfield said the first time he met Bishop Anthony B. Taylor he quickly realized that he is “kind, honest, approachable and straightforward,” qualities that not all bishops possess.
 Read Bishop Taylor’s complete keynote address Click here |
In his keynote address, Bishop Taylor spoke to the attendees about the need to expand the pro-life message to issues affecting the elderly.
“Life is a gift from God, and every gift from God is, by definition, sacred,” he said.
Bishop Taylor challenged the retirement center board and staff to look at ways to expand its service to nursing home care and to recruit more minorities.
“The city of Little Rock is 40 percent black and 55 percent white, while Good Shepherd is presently about 99 percent white,” he said. “This obviously must change. As we serve the elderly, we need to ask ourselves constantly, ’What would Jesus do?’”
Attending the luncheon this year were Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays, Rep. Barry Hyde of North Little Rock and Peter Banko, president and CEO of St. Vincent Health System.
The text of Bishop Taylor’s keynote speech is available here.
