Disability from the Margins to the Center: Hospitality and Inclusion in the Church
Current State of the Church Regarding Disability
Lagging Trends: Churches have historically lagged behind wider societal trends in the inclusion of people with disabilities (physical, intellectual, profound).
Cultural Shifts: The emergence of the disability rights movement (late 1960s-1970s) and the passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 marked significant turning points in cultural attitudes, aiming for fuller integration and non-discrimination.
Church's Position: In many respects, the church is still one or two steps behind, sometimes exhibiting resistance to changes advocated by the disability rights movement. However, slow but sure changes are occurring, especially at the level of ecclesial life.
Central Thesis and Approach
Core Argument: If secular agencies are motivated by a "people first" agenda, the church ought to be guided by a vision that involves ministry not only to people with disabilities but also with them.
Resource Utilization: The essay explores resources from the secular domain (Department of Veterans Affairs, inclusive education, L'Arche) to help reshape the church's ministry. This process can serve as a springboard toward a more inclusive communal life and invigorate the church's evangelistic mandate.
Focus Groups: The discussion distinguishes between three groups: people with physical, intellectual, and profound disabilities.
Reasons for the Church's Disability-Exclusive Perception
There are several reasons why people with disabilities often perceive the church as unwelcoming:
Untormented Theological Assumptions:
Linking sin, lack of faith, and disability.
Biased assumptions about healing and curing disability.
These underlying beliefs foster biases, fears, and stigmatization, hindering the formation of a disability-welcoming church (Yong, 2007).
Paternalistic Postures and Practices:
Despite a long history of charitable services, these often perpetuate paternalistic attitudes.
Current State of the Church Regarding Disability
Lagging Trends: Churches have historically lagged behind wider societal trends in the inclusion of people with disabilities (physical, intellectual, profound).
Cultural Shifts: The emergence of the disability rights movement (late 1960s-1970s) and the passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 marked significant turning points in cultural attitudes, aiming for fuller integration and non-discrimination.
Church's Position: In many respects, the church is still one or two steps behind, sometimes exhibiting resistance to changes advocated by the disability rights movement. However, slow but sure changes are occurring, especially at the level of ecclesial life.
Central Thesis and Approach
Core Argument: If secular agencies are motivated by a "people first" agenda, the church ought to be guided by a vision that involves ministry not only to people with disabilities but also with them.
Resource Utilization: The essay explores resources from the secular domain (Department of Veterans Affairs, inclusive education, L'Arche) to help reshape the church's ministry. This process can serve as a springboard toward a more inclusive communal life and invigorate the church's evangelistic mandate.
Focus Groups: The discussion distinguishes between three groups: people with physical, intellectual, and profound disabilities.
Reasons for the Church's Disability-Exclusive Perception
There are several reasons why people with disabilities often perceive the church as unwelcoming:
Untormented Theological Assumptions:
Linking sin, lack of faith, and disability.
Biased assumptions about healing and curing disability.
These underlying beliefs foster biases, fears, and stigmatization, hindering the formation of a disability-welcoming church (Yong, 2007).
Paternalistic Postures and Practices:
Despite a long history of charitable services, these often perpetuate paternalistic attitudes.