UCC Disabilities Ministries

The 2008 Worship and Disability Conference, “Being Whole in the Eyes of God,” will be held October 27-29 at Stony Point Center, a national conference center of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in New York. The theme, “Gathered at the Table: A Safe Haven for All,” will focus on worship life.

For a brochure and registration, visit www.stonypointcenter.org.

We, as organizations and self-advocates representing members of the
disability community, recognize the dignity of individuals with
intellectual disabilities, the challenges they and their families face, and
the meaningful and powerful contributions they make to their families,
their communities, and their country,

Acknowledge that individuals with intellectual disabilities have been
subject to discrimination, abuse, and exclusion from society throughout
history;

Recognize that the more than 200 million individuals with intellectual
disabilities worldwide, and more than 6 million individuals with
intellectual disabilities in the US, have suffered severe consequences
including: institutionalization, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse,
denial of education, employment, and healthcare, segregation, and targeted
hate crimes;

Acknowledge that “attitudes and expectations of the public, in part,
determine the degree to which children, adolescents and adults with
intellectual disabilities are able to learn, work and live alongside their
peers without disabilities.” (President’s Committee for People with
Intellectual Disabilities, 2004);

Understand that for over four decades, the media has consistently
mischaracterized people with intellectual disabilities; (Pardun, 2005)

Realize that over 80% of U.S. adults surveyed feel that media portrayals
are an obstacle to the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual
disabilities. (Pardun, 2005)

Recognize that many people, including those with intellectual disabilities,
their families and friends, consider the “R-word” just as offensive as the
“N-word;” and

Declare that under the guise of “parody,” whether intentional or not,
Tropic Thunder demeans, insults, and harms individuals with intellectual
disabilities by using the “R- word.” Furthermore, it perpetuates derogatory
images and stereotypes of individuals with intellectual disabilities
including mocking their physical appearance and speech, supports the
continuation of inappropriate myths and misperceptions, and legitimizes
painful discrimination, exclusion, and bullying;

TOGETHER, we declare our intention to make the public aware of the need to
create and foster inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities
as a matter of social justice by:
. Boycotting the film and explaining to our nation’s children why the
film is harmful;
. Educating the public, especially young people, about intellectual
disabilities through far-reaching awareness campaigns to ban the use of the
“R-word,” and other initiatives to permanently change attitudes and promote
inclusion;
. Calling on Hollywood studios, writers and executives to pledge to
make this the final chapter in a sullied history of demeaning portrayals of
individuals with intellectual disabilities and assist in public education
campaigns;
. Requesting that Congress investigate and conduct oversight of how
Hollywood portrays individuals with intellectual disabilities and the
effect these portrayals have on our nation and around the world.

Signatories:

National:

American Association of People with Disabilities
American Foundation for the Blind
Arc of the United States
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
Best Buddies International
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc.
National Council on Independent Living
National Down Syndrome Society
National Down Syndrome Congress
Special Olympics
TASH
United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries

State:
Disabilities Network of NYC

If your group is interested in signing on to the attached Statement of
Support and Solidarity, please send your name, group name, and contact
information to Barbara Kornblau at Special Olympics, ASAP at
bkornblau@specialolympics.org

Quarterly Report from Connecticut Conference DIAs

April

The team met in New Haven on April 25, 2008.

In attendance were Jacky Schofield, Ann Marino and Rev. Karen Jodice.

Issues Discussed:

1. Preparations for an information table to be set up at the upcoming Annual Conference Spring Meeting.

• To have an A2A poster made
• To obtain a tri-fold stand for the poster
• To make copies of several documents for the table (A2A Guide for Ushers, A2A Worship Guidelines, a sign-up sheet for people interested in working on the team, “Anybody, Everybody, Christ’s Body” – A2A brochure, several flyers from the UCC Mental Illness Network).

2. The need to grow our team and ways in which it may be accomplished.

3. Goal of applying for official status as a Ministry Team within the Connecticut Conference in September.

4. Most efficient way to communicate with and visit churches within the Connecticut Conference that have worked to achieve accessibility and to disseminate information abut A2A.

May

1. An information table on Disability Ministry and A2A was set up at the Conference Annual Spring Meeting on May 10, 2008.

The table was staffed alternately by team members and a good number of people stopped for information and pamphlets, but only two people expressed interest in working on our team. We followed up with both people and Their contact information has been retained for future reference.

2. Two articles on the team and A2A were published by the Conference. One in the “Conference Call” newsletter and One on the Conference website “ConnnTact.” Visit at www.ctucc.org. Go to NEWS, ConnTact, Archives,

June

The team met in New Haven on June 5, 2008.

In attendance were Jacky Schofield and Rev. Karen Jodice.

Issues Discussed:

1. The response to the sign-up sheet at the Spring Meeting.
• Both interested parties had been contacted and their numbers kept for future reference.

2. How best to locate and contact potential new team members from around the Conference.
• We discussed the possibility of sending out a letter to all pastors and/or Regional Ministers asking for names of people who may be interested in joining the team.
3. What would be the most efficient way to locate and visit churches that have already done the most towards full accessibility?
• The possibility of directly contacting and visiting local churches, or
• Asking Regional Ministers to assist in targeting specific churches.

Meeting held in New Haven on June 18, 2008.

In attendance were Ann Marino and Rev. Karen Jodice.

Issues Discussed:

1. Using their knowledge of local churches and their members, they finalized plans to contact Regional Ministers to recruit a diverse core team.

2. The plan also included a way to elicit information about churches that have already taken steps to welcome and embrace members with disabilities. These churches would be recognized at the Fall conference Meeting.
• Ann Marino will compose a letter to all Regional Ministers asking for their help in locating potential team members as well as identifying local churches that have taken steps toward accessibility.

A new interfaith resource guide on autism is available for congregations, clergy and families. Titled, Autism and Faith: A Journey into Community, The guide provides an introductory, empowering resource for use by clergy, religious educators, and families to develop inclusive spiritual supports for children and adults with autism and their families and recognize the unique gifts that congregations and people with autism can offer to one another.

The fifty-two page guide for including individuals with autism in faith communities was developed by The Autism and Faith Task Force of The Boggs Center and The Center for Outreach and Services to the Autism Community (COSAC) with funding from The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation. The Task Force worked for more than two years collecting stories and experiences from families, best practices and strategies from clergy and human service professionals, and resources from around the country.

The guide features more than fifteen short articles written by clergy, parents, professional experts on autism, religious educators and people with autism, illustrated by numerous sidebar stories and examples from families who shared their experiences, both positive and negative, with their own faith communities in New Jersey. It is interfaith, including examples from Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim communities.

The guide is edited by Mary Beth Walsh, PhD, Alice Walsh, MDiv, and Bill Gaventa, MDiv. Dr. Walsh is Roman Catholic and a graduate of Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY. Rev. Walsh is United Methodist, and a graduate of Drew Theological School, Madison, NJ. Both are parents of children with autism. Rev. Bill Gaventa is associate professor of Pediatrics and director of Community and Congregational Supports at The Boggs Center, and editor of the Journal of Religion, Disability, and Health. The editors were assisted by an interfaith editorial review committee, copy editor staff at The Boggs Center and COSAC, and members of The Autism and Faith Task Force.

The guide is expected to be available at the COSAC conference in May. It will be disseminated to faith groups, families, and disability organizations in New Jersey for free and to anyone outside New Jersey for a nominal fee of $5. Ordering information will be available on The Boggs Center’s web site at rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter.

For more information, please contact Rev. Bill Gaventa, director of Community and Congregational Supports at The Boggs Center, 732-235-9304 or email rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter or call 732-235-9317.

With Disabilities Inclusion Associates (DIAs) from another conference interested in dialoguing about Inclusion Committees and Boards at the conference level, a new networking section has opened.

Kevin Pettit, a seminary student from Rocky Mountain Conference has joined the informal, informational chat room with DIAs, Jacky Schofield and Ann Marino, in Connecticut Conference.

The Disabilities Inclusion Associates (DIAs) ongoing conversation can be found under Networking at the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries website, www.uccdm.org.
Among the goals of the UCC DM is to bring inclusion resources and accessibility tools to local churches and conferences.

All interested in furthering Accessibility2All, a mission mandate of the United Church of Christ, are invited to join in this conversation.

The United Nations Postal Administration has issued six new stamps on the theme of “Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The two U.S. stamps include a 42-cent and a 94-cent disability stamp.

The 42 cent stamp has a deep blue background with the wheelchair symbol and the word “Accessibility.” The 94-cent stamp has a gold field with the letters U N in white Braille. I wonder if the dots are raised!

If your local post office does not have them yet, the stamps can be ordered on line at www.unstamps.un.org

The United Church of Christ Fellowship of Architects, a program of Local Church Ministries, will host a conference for persons wishing to become members of the UCC Fellowship of Architects. The conference, “Building Now for the 22nd Century,” will be held at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in New Brighton, Minnesota, the weekend of October 17-19.

The Rev. Dr. Leonard Sweet will be keynote speaker. He is E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University. He is the author of FaithQuakes: The Gospel According the Starbucks.

Workshops:

1. From Worship to Architecture
2. The Christian Imperative for Greening and Sustainability

Panel Discussion: Spaces and Worship for the 21st Century

Tours: Architecturally significant churches and public buildings

RSVP & Information: email, call or fax to:

Violete de Banate
Local Church Ministries - Church Building and Loan Fund
700 Prospect Avenue E
Cleveland OH 44117
Phone 1-866-822-8224 Ext. 3834 or 216-736-3834
Fax: 216-736-3818
Email: debanatv@ucc.org

WHAT IS THE UCC FELLOWSHIP OF ARCHITECTS?

The UCC Fellowship of Architects is a national gathering of architects and allied professionals who are members of UCC local church congregations.

We also welcome the participation of clergy, lay-people, and seminarians who share our interest in the relationships between architecture, theology, and congregational life. Please consider yourself invited to become a part of the UCC Fellowship of Architects if you share these interests!

Since 1988, members of the Fellowship have met to enjoy stimulating lectures and discussion, the fellowship of professional peers, and worship in a variety of inspiring spaces. Members have also traveled together with scholars to experience and study historic and new examples of worship spaces in the middle eastern and European countries of our liturgical and theological roots.

Members of the Fellowship have assisted many local churches across the UCC as they contemplated building programs to support current and future ministries. Several members of the Fellowship collaborated on the design of the Amistad Chapel located at the UCC National
Church House in Cleveland, Ohio and dedicated in 2000. The Fellowship gathers or travels together roughly annually.

Please give us your contact information if you would like to be on our mailing list.

The Mission of the UCC Fellowship of Architects

In service to God and the United Church of Christ we are called to build and renovate spaces for worship, education, and mission that serve the Christian community and transform lives.

What Do We Do?

We continue to learn, spread the word and build churches.

CONTINUE TO LEARN: We gather to learn from each other, from guest scholars, theologians and practitioners as well as from the special places we gather in. Each year we will alternate between gatherings some place in the United States and a traveling seminar to a foreign country.

SPREAD THE WORD: We communicate the insights we have gained and the lessons we have learned to seminaries, architectural schools and UCC church organizations.

BUILD CHURCHES: We actively pursue and assist one another in getting commissions to design and build places for worship. The making of a place, whether new or renovated, is the culmination of all our efforts. It is also the best way for us to learn and influence others.

Follow Disabilities Inclusion Associates Jacky Schofield and Ann Marino and blog with the team as they develop the Connecticut Conference Disabilities Ministry Team.

Connecticut Conference Disabilities Ministries Team Report
First Quarter 2008

JANUARY

The first meeting of the Disabilities Ministry Team was held on January 29, 2008 at the office of the Connecticut Conference in Hartford.

In attendance were the Disabilities Inclusion Associates and the CT Conference Minister, Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree.

Issues Discussed

1. Reviewed proposed strategy for the introduction of the “Accessible to All” initiative to the local churches in Connecticut.

2. Discussed formation of a ministry team to be based on a community organization model (an initial small core group of 4-6 people charged with planning the A2A introduction strategy). Upon launch of the A2A initiative (Fall Conference Meeting, 2008), the team will be expanded to include regional “ambassadors” who will spread the program to local churches. This group will be diverse in gender, race and disabilities.

3. Developmental Strategy

• The conference minister will alert Regional Ministers about the ministry team and the work that it will be doing.

• Ministry team will begin to recruit additional members for team core.

• Ministry team will attempt to secure printed materials from Disabilities Ministries Board.

• Ministry team will operate a display booth at the Spring Conference Meeting on May 10, 2008.

• Publicize the formation of the ministry team through brief articles in Conference Call and Contact.

• Survey local churches to identify and recognize those that have already begun to accommodate and welcome people with disabilities.

• A short presentation will be planned for the Fall Conference Meeting as a formal “launch” for the A2A program.

FEBRUARY

Two new members, both clergy, were added to the team.

MARCH

The ministry team held its first meeting on March 28 in New Haven with three members in attendance.

Issues Discussed

1. Strategy for accessibility survey of local churches.

• Write letters to the regional ministers introducing the ministry team and the accessibility survey, and advising them that we wish to contact the Association moderators.

• Write letters to the Association moderators introducing the team, advising them of the survey and requesting an opportunity to speak at the annual meetings or monthly meetings.

• Create email survey that can be completed and emailed back to team. Ask churches to share what they have done for accessibility so far so that we can celebrate together.

• Visit churches that have done the most.

2. Spring Conference Meeting

• Check about reserving a booth at the conference meeting.

• Copy flyers as handouts: Mental Illness Network Brochure; Pathways to Promise Brochure; Usher’s Guide; “Anybody, Everybody, Christ’s Body” brochure and “The Local Church and the ADA.” Have materials sent to a designated team member’s house.

• Create a poster

The meeting was closed with a plan to meet again on April 25.

Interested readers are invited to view and comment on 41 related articles and comments found at the Networking Category on UCCDM.ORG. Scroll to UCC Conference/Association DIAs and Committees.

Shared by Jacky Schofield, Connecticut Conference DIA
April 1, 2008

Resource Persons: Jacky Schofield is a recent seminary graduate who plans a specialized ministry in disabilities. Ann Marino is a former nurse who worked with adults and children with developmental disabilities as well as other disabilities. Both can be reached through the Connecticut Conference office at 860-233-5564 or www.ctucc.org.

A request has come to UCC Disabilities Ministries for resources for children with autism, aspergers and adhd. The inquiry is focused on confirmation material. Our experience has been to tailor a course in basic content to the individual as each youth has specific gifts of understanding. Much depth can come with simplicity. Meet your young person where he/she is in understanding.

Persons who wish to share what they have done in preparing youths for confirmation are invited to make a comment and/or contact the webmaster if you have notes or other resources that can be put on the website.

I worked individually with a young woman who was in a similar situation after brain surgery. For us, it worked to be together 15 minutes at a time. Those minutes were focused on one topic to help her to concentrate. She responded well to art and concrete forms of symbols. We went through the basic material of confirmation in short form but enough so that she could connect and have a level of understanding appropriate for her. I believe that God does not require a test but comes to us with open-armed invitation.

As a young child, I was allowed to grow in my understanding of Holy Communion at my own pace. What I remember clearly today about this experience was the loving hands that carefully lowered the plate of bread and held the container of juice cups as they were passed in the pews. My family was busy in the choir and at the organ bench so I sat “at home” anywhere and with anyone in our church. I did not grasp the fine points of symbolism but you can be certain that I caught the essence of the act and the holiness of the moment. I was included without reservation in the family of God. db

Anyone with information for Mike Howard is invited to contact him at 208-880-1902.

Dear Friends, At Blazing Hope Youth Ranch we have a 4 year old with no arms or hands and a 5 year old with only arms that work-hands are non-functioning. Do you know of people with these disabilities who ride or who have ridden in the past? Is there any literature or pictures we could provide these Children? Thank you, Mike Howard of Blazing Hope in Nampa, Idaho.