wfn.org | Nothing About Us Without Us

["Daphne Martin_Gnanadason" <Daphne.Martin_Gnanadason@warc.ch>]

Uniting General Council 2010                                    

>News Release 
>23 June 2010

>Nothing About Us Without Us

>By Jackie Macadam, UGC correspondent 

Carolyn Thompsonknows how perception can affect a person’s
attitude about disability. She has lived her life with a facial
difference due to radiation treatment as an infant.

“Historically, faith communities have often been among the last
to welcome the full participation of people with disabilities,”
says Thompson, a United Church of Christ member from
Massachusettsin the United States.

She is co-presenting workshops this weekon how the church deals
with its memberswith disabilities. She says churches lag behind
society in barrier-free accommodations.

“The separation of church and state here in the US means
churches are often exempt from some laws requiring equal
physicalaccess.Bars and restaurants are more accessible than our
churches!”

Even at this conference, she says, seating for people with
disabilities at the celebration service was around the edges and
the stage is inaccessible.

“Churches need to start talking to their disabled members,”
Carolyn says. “Ask them what they need in order to participate
fully. It’s part of the church’s identity to be inclusive. Until
the church starts raising leaders with disabilities it will have
trouble understanding the issues.”

She suggests several ways the church can do better:
·       Seminaries shouldencourage people with disabilities to
apply so the church gets ministers and pastors who can look at
the scriptures in a new way. How would a blind person or
paralyzed person relate to Bible texts that refer to their
impairment? 
·       Have large-print copies of your church newsletter or
worshipservice ready to be used. Get a good sound system or
install a hearing loop.
·       Take some seats out at the end of the pewsso there
isroom for people with disabilities in the body of your church.

>UGC could do better too, she adds.

“I’ve seen some people using canes here this week, but hardly
any other disabled delegates. They’re just not put into positions
of leadership in their churches.

“Advances in medical treatment mean many more people are living
with disability,” she notes. “Remember, this is the only minority
that everybody can join!”

The Uniting General Council 2010 in Grand Rapids, United States
(June 18-28) marks the merger of the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council to form the World
Communion of Reformed Churches. 

>Contact: Kristine Greenaway
>Executive Secretary, Communications
>World Communion of Reformed Churches

UGC News Room – Calvin College - Hoogenboom Center Room HC 204
Cell phone: 1-616-826-5540 or 1-616-826-8636
News Room: 1-616-526-7885
email: kgr@warc.ch
web: www.reformedchurches.org (
http://www.reformedchurches.org/#_blank )