1995 UCC DM Resolution: Concerning the Church and the Americans with Disabilities Act

Let the church embrace the Americans with Disabilities Act

WHEREAS the provisions of the ADA do not legally bind most religious institutions, organizations, or local churches;

Whereas the Eleventh General Synod voted the resolution, on the Church and Persons with Handicaps; the Twelfth General Synod voted the Proposal for Action on the Church and Persons with Handicaps; and the Fifteenth General Synod voted the resolution, Full Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the Life of the Church;

WHEREAS the spirit of the ADA is in keeping with the commitment of the United Church of Christ to justice for all people, yet the majority of the United Church of Christ church related buildings, information, programs, and services remain out of reach for most persons with disabilities, and

WHEREAS through the continued inaccessibility of our buildings, our worship, and our business, we are actively denying God admission to our hearts, even as God knocks ceaselessly at the door;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Twentieth General Synod:

Affirms that each person is created in the image of God and that persons with disabilities of all ages incarnate the nature and presence of God;

Affirms that as often as we let barriers stand between persons with disabilities and the work of the Church, we intentionally turn our back on our Creator; and

Affirms that part of the Body of Christ, manifested in the United Church of Christ is disabled and less whole when any of its members are denied worship or church programming because of the inaccessibility of our buildings or the more invisible attitudinal barriers;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Twentieth General Synod of the United Church of Christ calls on all boards, instrumentalities, Conferences and Associations, related bodies and member congregations of the United Church of Christ to embrace the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and hold themselves morally bound by the provisions of this act.

© 2005 UCC

From UCC DM Newsletter Archive