United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries

United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries » Harold H. Wilke Fund

Harold H. Wilke Fund

The U C C D M has designated a fund to honor the life and ministry of Harold H. Wilke, devoted minister, disability advocate and pioneer.

Wilke’s exemplary ministry within the UCC and the world forged a path for leaders with disabilities to emerge. Donations to the U.C.C.DM continue to support his legacy so that leaders with disabilities continue to rise in our midst.

A UCC minister, the first chair of the U C C D M (then the National Committee for Persons with Disabilities), a member of the U.S. Council for the Year of Disabled Persons and a founding board member of both the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) and its international arm, the World Committee on Disability — Dr. Wilke was noted for his unique role delivering the blessing at the White House signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. Following the signing, President George H.W. Bush passed the signing pen to Rev. Wilke, who accepted it with his foot — because he was born without arms.

Rev. Wilke focused on his own abilities, rather than his disability. He had a distinguished career in four areas of service: the Church, rehabilitation medicine, teaching and government. Ordained as a minister of the United Church of Christ, Dr. Wilke served on the faculty at Union Theological Seminary in New York, the UCC national staff, and directed The Healing Community, which promotes awareness about access to a life of faith. He published numerous books and articles, including “Creating the Caring Congregation, Angels on My Shoulders, among others” for congregations moving to integrate persons with disabilities into the life and service of faith communities.

Donations to the Wilke Fund may be sent to:

Ms Michelle Hintz
Local Church Ministries
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland Ohio 44115-1100

Please designate “For the Wilke Fund to support the work of the UCC DM.

Spring, 2003 Update

1999 Wilke Fund Update

1999 Wilke Fund Inauguration

Harold H.Wilke Fund to Support the Work of the National Committee on Perspons with Disabilities

The inauguration of the Harold H.Wilke Fund will be announced during General Synod at the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries dinner on July 4. The Fund is in honor of the Life and ministry of The Rev. Dr. Harold H. Wilke, who this year, celebrates the 60th anniversary of his ordination. The Rev. Dr. Wilke, who has been disabled since birth, is renowned in the life of our church. He has served the church both locally and nationally and been a part of the disability movement ecumenically and in the UCC. He was present in the Rose Garden at the signing of the ADA of 1990, has spoken at the Vatican, and is the founder of the Healing Community in Claremont, CA.

The Harold H. Wilke Fund will be used to supplement the budget of the NCPWD and thus help the Committee meet its objectives which are:

A. To encourage local churches to be open, inclusive, affirming, and accessible in their
buildings, worship, education, fellowship and service, and thereby enabled to proclaim God’s word to and with all persons, including those with disabilities.

B. To advocate for and with marginalized and alienated persons with disabilities.

C. To advocate for and collaborate with care giving ministries with and for persons with
disabilities.

D. To develop and support lay and clergy leadership of persons with disabilities within the entire UCC.

From the UCC DM Newsletter Archive

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009 Donate, News Trackback URL for this entry

1 Comment

1. Vernon A Kuellmer replies at 7th August 2008, :

I knew Dr. Wilke personally. He was the minister of The Chapel in Columbia, MO, while I was a student there in the forties. I served as custodian of the church in exchange for lodging in the back room. He used his feet inplace of hands for everything including driving his 1940 Chrysler I rode with him many times with him driving, even from Columbia to St. Louis and back. The last time I saw him was in the sixties in the Cleveland airport on a chance meeting. I am sorry to hear of his passing, but I guess if he were still living, he would be 100+ years old, because that was 65 years ago. I an 85 now