wfn.org | Title: Disabled people call for a church of all and for all

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches
Press Release 03-29.12e
For Immediate Use
1 September 2003

Central Committee		     12

Disabled people call for a church of all and for all  

Disabilities advocates have challenged churches to accept that "We are not a
full community without one another."   

A statement prepared for the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central
Committee by the Ecumenical Disabilities Advocates Network (EDAN) urges a
reconsideration of Jesus' parable of the great banquet in Matthew 22, and
says: "When all are invited to this feast, to one church, the list will
include people with physical and mental impairments and chronic illness."   

The implications of this admission for worship include making certain that
people with learning disabilities are not excluded on the grounds that "they
do not understand", being careful over the choice of metaphors - for instance
not speaking of being "disfigured by sin" - and including a range of sensory
experiences rather than relying wholly on words.   

Practical issues include making physical provision for people with
disabilities, such as space for wheelchairs, large-print books, and assisted
listening devices for those who are hard of hearing. However, in a press
briefing held after the presentation of the statement, Rev. Dr Martin Robra,
WCC programme executive for ethics and ecology, warned people not to think
first of the "technological fix". "The first question, he said, is 'What
would our community lose by not allowing people with disabilities to fully
participate?'"	 

EDAN coordinator Samuel Kabue noted that making provision for people with
disabilities requires others to make adjustments. "If we do not see [people
with disabilities] as 'nuisances', we will be able to meet their needs."  

Entitled "A Church of All and for All", the EDAN statement builds on the
theological and pastoral contributions of disabled people, parents and those
who experience life alongside them. Identifying the vulnerability of disabled
people both to discriminatory social trends and manipulation by religious
groups, it says that while disabled people "find strength in the care of
Christ", many have found "that the church's teaching on this truth has been
too limited".	

Flawed theology?

The statement identifies negative perceptions of disabled people as objects
of charity, sometimes based on flawed theological readings of the Bible. It
urges Christians to make the link between the disabilities they may see
around them today, and the disability of Christ on the cross. "Often, we
choose to forego or forget  the crucifixion, preferring to turn directly to
the resurrection. Christ rose from the dead with his wounds."	

Pastoral concerns are underpinned by theological reflection on the notion of
humanity created in the image of God. Criticizing the idea that the mind or
soul alone is in God's image, the statement suggests that "This understanding
of human nature is both inherently elitist and dualist. It ultimately tends
to exclude those whose mental or physical incapacities profoundly affect
their entire personality and existence."  

According to the statement, a more appropriate theology of disability takes
account of the corporate nature of being "in Christ". "Christ was abused,
disabled and put to death. Some aspects of God's image in Christ can only be
reflected in the church as the Body of Christ by the full inclusion and
honouring of those who have bodies that are likewise impaired."   

This understanding of the Image of God has implications for the church's
teaching on healing and wholeness. "Jesus did not make any distinction
between social restoration and physical healing. Both always happened at any
given time of healing. Consequently, the integral relationship of health,
salvation and healing is an imperative for a holistic theological
interpretation of disability."	

However, the statement continues, "Disability in all its forms is a negation
of God's good intention." Healing is "an act, event, system and structure
which encourages and facilitates God's empowering, renewing, reconciling, and
liberating processes in order to reverse the negation of God's intended good
for God's creation."   

It also speaks of the gifts which disabled people are able to bring: "We have
become skilful in areas we never intended to master. We have become
accidental experts with skills and expertise to share with the wider
community and church."	 

Appealing to churches, the statement says that disabled people "do not need
pity, or mercy, but compassionate understanding, and opportunities to develop
their vocations, possibilities and abilities".	

The full text of the statement, "A Church of All and for All" is available
at:  
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments2003.nsf/index/plen-1.1-en.html  

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Office,  tel: +41
(0)22 791 64 21 /61 53	

**********

The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 100 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly, which
meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally inaugurated in
1948 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Its staff is headed by general secretary
Konrad Raiser from the Evangelical Church in Germany.

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