wfn.org | ACSWP names disability task force

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #7353 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

24-July-2002
02266

ACSWP names disability task force

Other topics under study include Africa, terrorism, the family

by Evan Silverstein

ANN ARBOR, MI - The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP), acting on a mandate from the General Assembly, has appointed a task force to develop a policy statement on ministering to people with disabilities. 

The 12-member group, which includes clergy, disability specialists, social scientists and advocates for the disabled, will work with ACSWP in preparing the statement for the Presbyterian Church (USA) Assembly in 2006. 

"Deriving policy and recommendations to enable the PC(USA) to work for justice with persons with disabilities, both in the church and within society, will be the focus of the task force," said Peter Sulyok, ACSWP's coordinator.

During a July 11-14 meeting in Ann Arbor, ACSWP approved the appointments as recommended by its coordinating committee, which had received nominations from presbyteries, sessions and individuals. The ACSWP is responsible for developing and recommending social-witness policy to the denomination.

The task force will meet for the first time this fall. Its work will be based on the theme, Harvesting Seeds of Justice: Ministering in Church and Society with Persons Who Have Disabilities. A liaison from Presbyterians for Disability Concerns, a network of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA), will also participate.

The 210th GA (1998) called for the ACSWP - in consultation with the National Ministries Division (NMD) and the Presbyterian Board of Pensions (BOP) - to prepare a resolution on the church's understanding of disability issues and its commitment to inclusiveness. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the GA's previous statement on disabilities, That All May Enter: Responding to People with Disability Concerns.

The 1999 Assembly asked ACSWP to work jointly with appropriate agencies in developing a comprehensive disabilities policy statement and to report to the 2005 Assembly. However, it probably will be presented in 2006 because this year's GA voted to have future Assemblies only every other year; 2005 will be the first year without a Presbyterian Assembly since 1789.

The disabilities policy paper will feature the accomplishments of congregations that have achieved full compliance with the church's accessibility standards.

ACSWP suggested during an earlier meeting that funding sources be identified for churches trying to make themselves more accessible, especially to people with visual and hearing impairments; the creation of barrier-awareness education programs at all levels of the church; the preparation of a survey tool to help congregations evaluate their accessibility; and the development of resources to help congregations meet the needs of people with profound or severe mental retardation.

The task force members are: Geraldine Adams-Jones, Detroit, MI; Kathleen Deyer Bolduc, Cincinnati, OH; the Rev. Eber Candelario-Olivieri, Anasco, Puerto Rico; Ellen Brewer Gillespie, Pelham, AL; Trace Haythorn, Nashville, TN; Joo Hai Kang, Jacksonville, IL; David Ray Kiely, Newburgh, NY; Sarah Nettleton, Fairport, NY; David Swihart, Murrysville, PA; Ruth West, Princeton, NJ; and two ACSWP members, Margaret Elliott, of Winston-Salem, NC, and Dorothy Henderson, of Joliet, IL.

Families

Committee members heard from a team appointed to work on ACSWP's "Changing Families" policy paper, a church-wide study of changes in the family, especially those that affect children. 

The team was appointed in January to work on the document, which in October will be the focus of a General Assembly Council consultation with representatives of the PC(USA)'s 16 synods. 

ACSWP must decide during a meeting in January whether the document will be ready for presentation to the 215th GA next year in Denver, CO.

In its editing work, the team took into account feedback from congregations and other PC(USA) entities. 

ASCWP endorsed the team's work and made some revisions of its own that will be incorporated before the consultation. 

Africa

Members of the ACSWP hope another report now in the works will help dispel the misconception that Africa is a continent only of problems.

A public meeting on the Africa study, which will include resolutions of support and advocacy, was held during last month's GA in Columbus, OH. The paper was originally scheduled to be presented to this year's Assembly, but has been delayed until next year because of the financial implications of its recommendations.

A commissioners' resolution passed during the 1999 GA urged the PC(USA) to respond to the challenges and opportunities facing Christianity in Africa with increased attention, compassion and advocacy. That paved the way for the study and its recommendations.

Terrorism

ACSWP announced that a work group will be appointed this fall to study and report on terrorism, the relationship of religion to violence, and U.S. political and economic policies and practices that may contribute to global problems. A report on the matter is to be presented to the 216th GA, in 2004.

The project grew out of ACSWP recommendations to this year's Assembly. An overture passed by a previous GA had directed the advisory committee to study and develop recommendations on terrorism and hate groups.

Some of the vital tasks of the group will be defining terrorism, war and political violence and reviewing the concepts of peacemaking and non-violent intervention in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, DC.

Immigration

The committee announced that another work group will be organized this fall, in response to a request from last year's GA, to review U.S. immigration law.

The Assembly urged the church to call on the federal government to grant "a full legalization program" for immigrants and directs the PC(USA)'s stated clerk to support the passage of an immigration-reform bill that would allow aliens who work and live in the U.S. to apply for and receive permanent residential status. 

The report is expected to go to the 2003 GA.

Child abuse

The committee said progress is being made on a study of the handling of child abuse charges against educators. The ACSWP is preparing the report with the help of the PC(USA)'s three ministries divisions.

A work group is to begin meeting this fall and submit its final report to next year's GA. The 2001 Assembly instructed ACSWP to evaluate the potential risk to children; evaluate legal and political issues related to civil mandatory reporting statutes and state administrative provisions; decide whether the scope of the study should be broadened to include other professions; and assess the balance between the rights and duties of parties involved in cases of alleged abuse or violence.
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