Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body
A Congregational Guide for Becoming Accessible to ALL
Written and compiled by:
Rev. Jo Clare Hartsig - UCC Disabilities Ministries
Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. –I Peter 4.8-11a (RSV)
This resource is designed primarily for the enrichment of congregations and other settings where people of faith and good will desire to provide and encourage hospitality and access to all. This resource is divided into three main sections that can be used over a period of weeks or months and in a variety of formats. Ideally a church would culminate this study series on disabilities and ministry with the commitment to become an “A2A Congregation”, thus proclaiming a desire and plan to become a more inclusive community of faith that will be accessible to all.
There is good information for individual and group study and reflection. The inclusion of people with disabilities and a renewed awareness of disabilities can enliven every aspect of congregational life. Within the three main sections to this study guide are many “pull-out” resources that can be used by different groups and committees. It is our hope that congregations will forge some new connections in their own communities – with disability advocates, group homes, communities for independent living, special education teachers, disabled veterans groups, and experts on topics of particular interest and relevance for the congregation (i.e. Alzheimer’s Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Autism Society etc.) The following stories, insights, and recommendations come from members of the UCC Disabilities Ministries (UCCDM), all of whom are active clergy and lay members of United Church of Christ, most of whom live with a disability.
In many of our UCC congregations there has been a study and affirmation process about matters of inclusion in the life and witness of the people of God. Some of us belong to churches that have designated themselves as Just Peace, Whole Earth, Restorative Justice, and Open and Affirming congregations. These designations let people with a particular interest or identity know that they are welcome and acknowledged in this house of God.
Another sign of welcome is the well known “wheelie” icon that has become an international visual symbol for “handicapped access”. Our churches have these bright blue emblems on parking places, bathrooms, attached to our church signage, in newspaper ads, and printed in our brochures and bulletins. We realize that there has been excellent work done in many places to get us in the doors, but now what? What about those of us with so-called “hidden” disabilities who can’t easily follow the patterns of the worship service? What about the teenager, who is resisting the intimacy of a small confirmation class because he is ashamed of his recent hospitalization for depression? Can we take some of the mystery out of pot-lucks so we know if the food we eat will trigger an allergic reaction? Can we teach the Greeters to go ahead and shake our hands, even though we don’t have much strength to grasp them? Shouldn’t our Search Committee consider a candidate who uses a chair and worry about pulpit access later? There are many voices, and many questions coming from people with disabilities who are already part of our congregational life. There are many more who stopped trying. The vast majority of adults with disabilities are not part of any faith community. We have some work to do!
The Scriptural foundation we have chosen is from I Peter 4.8-11. Within this exhortation to a challenged community we found the encouragement and direction to assist our communities of faith in the ongoing ministry of welcoming and embracing adults and children with disabilities. Accessible space is a good start, but it is not enough. We wish to invite our brothers and sisters to examine the possibilities of deeper changes – in attitudes, rituals, theology, leadership, and language – our very essence as a community of faith.
This is a study series designed for a group process of reflection and action. It is best utilized by a core group that shares the desire to become an “Accessible to All” congregation. There are readings and discussion questions for each session. In the disability rights movement our slogan is “Nothing about us without us”. Please include people with disabilities in your study sessions. If you are unable to identify people in your congregation who have a disability and are willing to participate in this process, invite someone from outside the church. Local ARC organizations can help you find a self-advocate. Another idea is to go through the school district and find out who in the community provides advocacy for families. Community services and government listings in the blue pages can provide some resources as well.
Our title “Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body” reflects a progression in the presentation. First, we need to explore the meaning of the actual flesh and blood body we each inhabit, our differences, our gifts, our laments, our anger, our sacred selves, and the ways we can be “good stewards of God’s varied grace”. Next, we would like to learn ways to “practice hospitality ungrudgingly” as we work toward including everybody as part of the family of God. Many excellent writers and theologians have helped explore the concept of hospitality as we welcome strangers in our midst, be they new neighbors from other cultures, people who have been marginalized by economics or physical conditions, or merely new faces on Sunday morning. Our group wanted to focus on the “ungrudgingly” part of practicing hospitality. Lastly, and most importantly, we want to refresh our understanding of the Body of Christ as a symbol of brokenness and healing, of interdependence and community. As the Body of Christ we are reminded yet again, to “hold unfailingly [our] love for one another”. And we must be bold. As we try new things in the spirit of love, we will be met in the spirit of love, and truly become accessible to all.
In “The Low Road” poet Marge Piercy describes the process of becoming more inclusive (and empowered!) this way:
It goes on one at a time,
it starts when you care
to act, it starts when you do
it again after they said no,
it starts when you say We
and know who you mean, and each
day you mean one more.Let the whole church say “Amen”.
Rev. Jo Clare Hartsig
Easter 2005