The Washington Post covers the plight of the disabled as they try to find their place in church. And it only starts with wheelchair ramps, wide doorways, elevators and other physical accomodations. It also involves letting the disabled participate fully in the life of the church.
For as much time as Jesus spent healing people of physical disabilities, it’s sad that this is even an issue for the church.
cryptblade
April 12, 2005
I’d imagine this would be incredibly tough for old churches. I’ve been in old small churches where the restrooms were almost inaccessible for unhandicapped people.
But, modern-built churches have no excuse for not having handicap access. My church does and we have some active handicapped members too. We have an elevator, ramps, everything. Most importantly, we have friendly greeters and ushers who have the spirit to help and make people feel comfortable. That’s a first big step.
Wp
April 12, 2005
“For as much time as Jesus spent healing people of physical disabilities, it’s sad that this is even an issue for the church.”
Heh. Now we might really begin stepping on some toes with that little statement, but I like it. My sentiments exactly – and I’ll leave it at that. ;)
Scot McKnight
April 13, 2005
Maybe the first step (beyond reproaching ourselves for our inconsistency with Jesus’ approach) is to contact some local shelter where we can find access to plenty of handicapped people, invite some leader to our church, and ask him or her what we can do to be more accessible.
http://www.jesuscreed.com
kevin
April 14, 2005
Honestly, I think this issue goes far beyond mere physical accomodation. Just because you have ramps and elevators and make it so a person in a wheelchair can get into your building doesn’t mean they’ll feel accepted.
When I first started volunteering as a youth leader at my church one of the senior highers had some sort of developmental disability. He barely talked, and he did it was slow and halting and didn’t always make sense. But the rest of the youth group showed him so much grace and love. When he raised his hand we’d listen to his question and answer it. When we went around the room we wouldn’t skip him, even if his contribution was minimal.
I learned a lot from how our youth group had integrated this young man. We could have sent him away, told his parents he didn’t fit in or couldn’t participate. And that would have been so wrong.
The church, of all places, needs to make all people, regardless of ability feel welcome. It strikes me that sometimes we make those with physical or mental disabilities feel unwelcome, but in reality we all have spiritual disabilities.
Betsy
April 14, 2005
We had a kid in our youth group like that, too, when I was a teenager. We all loved Troy, and in a way, he became our mascot. Everyone looked out for him and cheered him on however he participated.
I do think focusing on accessibility is missing the point. It’s participation that is important.
But I wonder about developmentally disabled people in leadership (as mentioned in the article). It takes a certain kind of person to lead, and not all people are up to the challenge, disabled or not.
YoursbecauseHis
April 14, 2005
The Bible tells about a disabled man who needed access to Jesus. We could learn from the example. That man had four friends who cared about him genuinely enough to literally pick him up. When there were difficulties navigating the limitations of the physical structure, they again carried him and took radical steps to get him before Jesus by lowering him through the roof.
The problem with giving handicapped people access to “church” is not so much that our buildings are inaccessible. The root problem may be that we don’t really see them at all and fail to take steps to bring them among us. It is no harder for four friends to carry a wheelchair up stairs than to dig a hole through a roof–if you have four friends who care enough to do it.
kevin
April 14, 2005
YoursbecauseHis, when I said
your comment is exactly what I meant. Thanks.