Disability Inclusion Sunday is Sept. 10
by Dr. Evelyn Worth McMullen for Presbyterians for Disability Concerns | Special to Presbyterian News Service
Dr. Evelyn Worth McMullen
Editor’s note: Disability Inclusion Sunday is Sept. 10. This story, by Dr. Evelyn Worth McMullen, who founded Bright Threads Ministries, and the accompanying videos by Katie Snyder, a certified Christian educator who works in Special Offerings, are designed to help congregational leaders to engage people of all abilities in ministry.
In my disability ministry work with congregational leaders, the question I have heard most often is not, “How can each person experience the love of God?” The question I hear most is, “How can we meet the needs of this family? We can’t start a disability ministry. We don’t even have the volunteers we need for our ‘regular kids.’”
If this is your question, you may be experiencing a common barrier to inclusion in ministry. We may think disability ministry is about building physical ramps into our buildings or starting a major new ministry initiative. Let’s begin to build ramps toward belonging: inclusive relationships.
Presbyterians for Disability Concerns is excited to highlight a new set of videos, tools to help you build those ramps toward belonging. In these three videos, Katie Snyder guides congregational leaders through important ways to engage people of all abilities in ministry. She effectively demonstrates that there is no “one size fits all” strategy for disability inclusion. She shows leaders how to begin with the particular needs of the people in their congregation and then to develop strategies to help them engage with and use their gifts in ministry.
The first video addresses engaging disabled people in our congregations:
The second focuses on the particular needs of engaging disabled adults:
The third vides describes engaging children and youth in ministry:
The videos were produced by Opening Doors to Discipleship, a website full of resources made available through APCE (Association of Partners in Christian Education) in partnership with the Office of Christian Formation in the Presbyterian Mission Agency. These videos and accompanying resources provide important points for congregational leaders to consider as they get to know people of all abilities in the body of Christ.
Snyder said, “I think there are three big takeaways from the module I created for any church:
- “First, it’s not just about welcoming disabled people into our ministries. It’s about active participation. Disabled people have things to offer to the church. You accomplish this deeper experience through relationships. You have to know the people, or you can’t be accommodating in the way that they need because everyone and every disability is different. Start with who you have and build from there.
- “Second, it’s not always about a capital campaign and changing your building. A lot of times it’s about the attitudes, understanding, and education about disability. Ramps and elevators are part of being accommodating, but if you stop there, then you are missing the point.
- “Third, you don’t have to do everything. Do what you can do and do it well.”
Additional Disability Inclusion Sunday resources can be found here.
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