Dismay, Diagnosis, and Delight

Dismay, Diagnosis, and Delight

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

You probably wouldn’t notice the first time you meet me, because I typically have a bright smile and an upbeat demeanor.  There is no way you could know that my mind is racing and I may not be fully focused on what you are telling me.  And I’m too embarrassed to tell you because I want you to think of me as a professional, intelligent woman.  What you don’t know is that I have been diagnosed with Adult ADHD.  And it’s likely you don’t know much about it, or that ADHD affects adults differently than it does children and can be misdiagnosed as “only” depression or anxiety.  In fact, I was on antidepressants for over 12 years for depression that was brought on because I wasn’t able to sleep—and the sleeplessness was a factor in my ADHD.  And the older I got, the worse my symptoms became.  Now that I’ve been properly diagnosed and medicated, my anxiety is minimized and I seldom get depressed—unless I don’t sleep enough or eat regularly.  But if you meet me on a day when I’m under more stress than usual, or I have several deadlines coming up, or I am overtired, you may notice my inability to recall words or I may ask you to repeat what you’ve said until I can really understand.

I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 66 and in seminary. I nearly had to drop out because my performance was being affected by the ADHD. I was confused, worried, and afraid that I would be judged as incompetent.  Thank goodness for the young women who sat me down and told me firmly and lovingly I needed to get an appointment with a psychiatrist to get diagnosed.  The Lord God was definitely with me that day!  At nearly 70 years old I have been recently ordained as a minister in the UCC and I’m serving as a hospital chaplain. I’m giving thanks that, even with a disability, my gifts have been honored by others in the church, just as God has honored me with this Call to Ministry.

Prayer: Loving Creator, you are with me wherever I go—often in forms I haven’t anticipated.  I am so grateful for the loving encouragement of friends and the blessing of ever-improving medical support.  I give thanks that I have been able to answer my Call to Ministry, so that I may offer loving encouragement and spiritual care to those who live with challenges or who suffer trauma, serious illness, or loss.  My heart is filled with your Grace.  Hallelujah!  Amen!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rev. Dr. Nadyne Guzmán is an ordained minister in the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UCC.  She has served on the UCCDM Board of Directors and begins service on the UCC Board of Directors October 2017.  She is a chaplain at Sky Ridge Medical Center, Lone Tree, Colorado.

 Dismay, Diagnosis, and Delight is one of the devotionals written in honor of Disability Awareness Month 2017. 

A Rose is a Rose

A Rose is a Rose

As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.  – Psalm 103:15-16

Everybody loves flowers. Perhaps you have a specific flower you like more than others. But do you know what about the flower you love the most? And what stage of the flower’s life span pleases your senses the most? It could be just as the plant emerges from the earth. Perhaps your imagination is grabbed by the wonder of how this tiny speck of green will bring forth a blossom. Or do your senses get triggered most by the full, delicate blossom? It is nothing short of miraculous that the same force of holy energy could cause mountains to erupt from the earth could also give us flowers.

There are parts of flowers which, as a general rule, do not elicit such wonder and thanksgiving. Consider the thorn of a rose. Or the flower’s leaves chewed to bits by little insects.

I will add here that I have a soft spot in my heart for the left overs flower shops accumulate. All those branches, stems and marred blossoms. They make wonderful compost. Or they can become a part of a bird’s nest or another animal’s den. The flower has purpose at each stage of life. This is a good thing to remember when dealing with people.

Too often too many people with disabilities are cast aside or not appreciated or encouraged just because society has decided along the path they do not have enough value to be celebrated.

This month is set aside for being aware of those who are disabled. Or it could be they look disabled but really are as functional as anyone else. No matter where we are in our lives, we are important parts of God’s creation. Our task is to help each other live fully into that gift and promise.

Prayer: Help us, O God, be the means to help each other reach our full potential as we strive to reveal and share the beauty of God’s creation. Amen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rev. Ross W. B. Putnam was ordained forty years ago in his hometown of Lyme, New Hampshire.  He served churches in Indiana, Connecticut, Vermont, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and California.  He self-published a book of original poems and art called “An April Shower of Poems.”  He is now writing a second book of poetry — this time about Parkinson’s disease with which he has been dealing for about twelve years.

A Rose is a Rose is one of the devotionals written in honor of Disability Awareness Month 2017. 

UCCDM Annual Meeting 2017

The UCCDM Board of Directors Annual Meeting will be held October 1-October 3, 2017 at Church House/ Gateway Raddison in Cleveland, OH.

It is not yet known if video conferencing will be available.

Non Board Members may attend at their own expense. The call to the meeting is below and any Board members or guests wishing to participate must register below to do so.

Faith Leaders Oppose Senate Healthcare Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the unveiling of the Senate GOP healthcare plan, faith leaders from the Interfaith Healthcare Coalition released the following statements:

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice:

“The ‘plan’ unveiled by Senate Republicans today continues to be un-American. Their mission is clear: the GOP wants to push people off of healthcare coverage in order to give more tax breaks to the very wealthy. This bill is a crass political calculation carried out by 13 white, male Senators who are out of touch with the realities of millions of ordinary families in every state. They are about raw power – not working for the common good. Democracy works best when there are hearings, debate, and discussion to craft a bill that works for everyone, not just a few Senators.

“My faith challenges me to heal the sick and care for the widow and the orphan. This Republican bill does the opposite. This is not the faithful way forward. We urge a NO vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act.”

Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, Director of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness:

“The draconian cuts to heath care are an unacceptable threat to God’s people, particularly those who have the least access to resources in our society. Passing this bill means that people will die from lack of healthcare, a reality that we as Presbyterians cannot accept. We urge all Senators of good conscience to recognize their responsibility to vote NO on the Better Care Reconciliation Act.”

Barbara Weinstein, Director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism:

“We vehemently oppose the Senate health care proposal released today. The bill’s devastating cuts and restructuring of Medicaid will profoundly and negatively impact our nation’s most vulnerable—low-income Americans, the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. Jewish tradition’s emphasis on caring for the sick and uplifting those in need inspires us to demand that the Senate reject this harmful legislation and work to expand, not restrict, access to affordable health care.”

Rev. David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World:

“Ending the Medicaid expansion at a slower rate still means that millions of Americans will have their health care coverage taken away. Senators who support this bill will be voting to take away health insurance from the elderly, the disabled, and children. Medical bills often drive families, especially those who struggle to make ends meet, into hunger and poverty. Instead of making our health care system worse, Congress should strive to improve the system so that all Americans have the health care coverage they need.”

Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland Tune, Director, Ecumenical Poverty Initiative:

“We are deeply disappointed in the Senate version of the AHCA, which will negatively impact millions of Americans including the poorest in our nation, children and the elderly. The cuts to Medicaid are reprehensible and the planned phaseout will put people’s lives in jeopardy and make America sick again. It seems that the thirteen Senators who drafted this bill have had their moral compass demagnetized by political posturing, an unhealthy desire to dismantle, rather than fix, the Affordable Care Act, and to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest in our nation– all at the expense of the American people. This is both shameful and unjust. We call on U.S. Senators to put people first. Reject this bill by voting against it. Lives are at stake and so is the moral fabric of our nation.”

Rev. Jason Carson Wilson, Justice & Peace Policy Fellow, United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Ministries:

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were promised to us all. Deep Medicaid cuts are destined to bring death and sadness to many. Children, seniors and people living with disabilities’ lives hang in the balance. As a follower of Jesus, I’m called to comfort the afflicted. Drastic Medicaid cuts will only create more chaos and pain for those already facing challenges. What would Jesus do? He would champion healthcare for all.”

Diane Randall, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation:

“The Senate version of the AHCA is beyond irresponsible; it is immoral. The draconian cuts and restructuring of Medicaid do nothing to address instability in the marketplace or lower premiums. Instead, states will be forced to eliminate health services, leaving millions without access to needed care. These Medicaid cuts will fall particularly hard on low-income children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Never before have I seen legislation that would do so much harm to senators’ own constituents, especially for families struggling to make ends meet. Rather than cutting Medicaid in a rushed and secretive process, Congress should work in a bipartisan and responsible manner to truly address the real problems within America’s health care system.”

Larry Couch, Director, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd:

“Learning about the proposed deep cuts in Medicaid passed by the House of Representatives, the American people looked to the Senate.  Sadly, the Senate plan proposes even deeper cuts in Medicaid.  This wanton disregard for human life must be stopped.  Millions of children living in poverty, people with disabilities, and older people in nursing homes will be denied life-saving medicine and care.  Call your legislators today to stop this vicious attack on the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

 

Communities of faith are strongly opposed to Medicaid cuts and are taking action throughout the country. If you are interested in learning more about our efforts or scheduling interviews with any faith leaders, please contact Ashley Wilson at awilson@networklobby.org or 202-301-7856.

 

UCC Disabilities Ministries Seeks Nominations for Board of Directors

The UCC Disabilities Ministries Board’s Nominations Committee is seeking people who are passionate about disability ministry who would like to serve on our Board. Our Board is made up of people with disabilities, professionals who work in the disability field, and family members of people with disabilities. Our mission is to encourage our denomination to create worship and meeting places, programs and leadership that are accessible to all (A2A) and welcoming and inclusive of all persons with disabilities.  

Some of our short term goals include increasing the number of A2A congregations in the UCC; providing guidance to associations, conferences, camps, and other settings of the UCC about how they can live out the commitment to be Accessible to All; encouraging the formation of Conference Inclusion Teams; increasing disability awareness; and major fundraising to support the future of the ministry.

Someone interested in serving with UCCDM should be someone who is a member of a UCC congregation; regularly reads, responds to, and is comfortable with using email; and someone who can devote a minimum of ten (10) hours a month to this work, which includes a monthly conference call meeting of about 90 minutes to two hours. Being a Board Director includes a willingness to make a financial commitment to our disability ministry each year and serve on at least one Board subcommittee. At this time we are looking to fill two terms that will run October 2017-September 2023.

We encourage interested candidates to visit our website at http://www.uccdm.org to learn more about us. The UCCDM Board of Directors is currently most in need of members who are authorized ministers or have completed theological education, as well as men and persons of color and ethnic background,the nominating committee strongly encourages these persons to apply. The nominating form must be filled out online at UCCDM Nominations 2017. Nominations must be received by July 11, 2017.

Yours in Ministry,

Rev. Kelli Parrish Lucas, Chair UCC Disabilities Ministries Board

Call for Nominations for UCCDM Awards 2017

The United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries has a tradition of making awards at the UCC Synod. The UCCDM Awards recognize the contributions of congregations, other church settings, and individuals who have contributed to the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the church.

Nominations are now open for the UCCDM Awards which will be announced at the Health and Wholeness Luncheon at Synod 2017. Individuals, churches, and other settings of the church may nominate others or themselves. Awards may be given in the following categories:

  • churches & organizations that have demonstrated leadership in accessibility,
  • individuals who have shown exceptional leadership in disabilities ministries, and
  • the Virginia Kreyer Award, a lifetime achievement award given to an individual who has made significant contribution to disabilities ministries in the larger church. The Virginia Kreyer Award has only been given twice and is reserved as a high award given only on occasion.

Nominations can be submitted on-line at UCCDM Synod Award Nominations 2017  The Deadline for nominations is June 9, 2017.

UCCDM Updates Publication to Help Congregations, Associations, and Conferences Become Accessible to All (A2A)

The UCC Disabilities Ministries (UCCDM) has recently released an updated publication entitled “Any Body, Every Body, Christ’s Body: A Guide for Congregations, Associations, and Conferences for Becoming Accessible to All.” The subtitle is a response to the growing need for all settings of the UCC to become “Accessible to All” (A2A) persons with disabilities. The call for the UCC to become accessible in all aspects of church life including worship, fellowship, and leadership was made clear when the Twenty-Fifth General Synod adopted the resolution “Called to Wholeness in Christ: Becoming a Church Accessible to All” in 2005.

The updated “Any Body, Every Body, Christ’s Body” contains four concise sections. The first section introduces various forms, but not all forms, of disability and accessibility. The second section addresses how leadership can be accessible to all. Third section addresses attitudes that often discourages people with disabilities and their families from church participation. The fourth section addresses ways to create accessible communication for the church community. These sections will help UCC settings address specific needs called for by the Synod “Called to Wholeness in Christ”. These sections will help UCC settings learn how to establish an inclusion task force, how to explore your building and programs for accessibility, how to invite persons with disability to church and into leadership positions and how to seek out resources and mentors in the disability committee so that the civil rights “nothing about us without us” commitment to persons with disabilities is maintained.

This new publication provides information and resources that will guide congregations as they answer the call to become Accessible to All. The resource is available for free at uccdm.org. The UCCDM Board of Directors looks forward to being a resource to other setting of the church. How-to support for becoming A2A is available. Questions can be directed to chair@uccdm.org or secretary@uccdm.org.