Moving Towards a More Inclusive Ministry

By Dr. Monica Greene-Smalls

Barriers to Inclusive Ministry

Barrier 1: Misunderstandings

A significant barrier to building inclusive ministries is misunderstandings and misconceptions regarding disabilities. Outdated notions, fears, misinformation, and the discomfort of congregants may prevent people with disabilities from being meaningfully and holistically engaged in the life of the local church. This is compounded by the fact that each disability diagnosis brings its own unique challenges and strategies. For example, some disabilities are physical, others are cognitive, or there may be a complex combination of various disabilities, both physical and cognitive. How a person appears, sounds, or acts, may “put people off” or cause others to remain at a distance. Close friendships and committed relationships are one of the greatest needs for many people with disabilities. Indeed, these are the deepest needs of most of us, yet many people don’t face the same number of obstacles in establishing or maintaining these relationships as those with disabilities.

The key to overcoming misunderstandings and the establishment of God’s intention for inclusive ministries is through the study of scripture, education, prayer and perhaps most of all, simply building friendships with people with various abilities. There is no effective one-size-fitsall approach, whether the person has a disability or not. Being a community that makes room for people of all abilities requires an intentional and informed response.

Barrier 2: Age-Appropriate Ministry

Another barrier, especially for people with cognitive disabilities, is that often they are stigmatized as ‘angels’ or perpetual children. Therefore, teaching materials and approaches are often patronizing and not ageappropriate. We must remember that regardless of the severity of someone’s disability, people have the right and the need to be responded to and treated according to who they are, not according to who they are perceived to be. It means that we ensure that our tones are not condescending. We must be mindful of the ‘voice’, phrases, and words that we tend to use when talking to small children. It means that we seek to include persons with disabilities in conversations and welcome their experiences as expressions of the full Body of Christ.

While pictures, songs, and activities are needed and may be appropriate, we simply need to make sure they are honoring and respectful of a person’s age and communication ability. Setting people up as perpetual ‘infants’ is another way of saying that we have little or nothing to learn from them. In doing so, we may be closing ourselves off to the ways that God is looking to teach us about who He is and His love for us.

Overcoming barriers

When working with children with disabilities, one of the best sources of information for education and help in developing strategies are the parents themselves. Frequently, parents are just waiting to be asked the best way to support them or their children. Parents can be a tremendous source of information on how to effectively create an inclusive ministry. This can be an important contact for both the church and the family. Too often, parents feel isolated, misunderstood and at worst, abandoned by the church when they have a child with special needs. The conversation itself can be a vehicle to reconnect and not only support the children but the entire family.

In the case of an adult with disabilities, often the person in question is able to give insight and guidance if we just take the time to ask, listen, and watch. A motto that is helpful for any church to apply while building inclusive ministries is “Nothing about me without me,” This simply means the person with the disability must be included in the circle of communication and planning, regardless of ability. This will help keep the church ‘person-centered’ as it seeks to minister to the person with a disability. The challenges are that although a ministry can be well intentioned, to attempt to make ministry accessible without the input of people impacted by these changes often just furthers the separation of the person and their community.

The entire article can be found at: https://disabilityandfaith.org/inclusive-ministries.

For more information about the A.C.T. ministry, contact Sister Verangela Christy, Sister Pam South, Sister Tonja Dews, or Dr. Monica Greene-Smalls.