A Timeline History of the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries:
1977– Virginia Kreyer, an ordained American Baptist Minister, joined the United Church of Christ.
11th Genaral Synod – a resolution that passes. This resolution leads to the creation of the Advisory Committee on the Church and the Handicap.
1979 – Advisory Committee on the Church and the Handicap is renamed UCC National Committee on Persons with Handicaps.
1980 – Wilke publishes Creating the Caring Congregation. The book is a “penetrating look at what constitutes a truly caring congregation, it includes everything from the way a church building is designed to the spiritual nature of those specific persons who are handicapped, along with details on how all churches and synagogues can become caring congregations.”
1981 – UCC National Committee of Persons with Handicaps is renamed UCC National Committee on Persons with Disabilities/Handicaps.
1990 – Harold Wilke was present when President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.
1995 – UCC ADA resolution calls for the church at all levels of the church to be morally bound by the spirit of the ADA. In addition, “Accessible to All” is added to the vision statement of the United Church of Christ.
1997 – UCC Disabilities Ministries plays an active planning role in designing Amistad Chapel and a Courtyard which is accessible for service animals.
1997 – General Synod 21 adopts the Resolution “Affirming government’s role to protect the common good“.
1999 -UCC National Committee on Persons with Disabilities/Handicaps goes through one more evolution being known as UCC National Committee on Persons with Disabilities. In 1999 the name was changed to its present name United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries.
2001 – Virginia Kreyer is first recipient of the Virginia Kreyer Lifetime Achievement Award.
2003 – Harold Wilke passes on February 26, 2003.
2005 – General Synod 25 adopts the Resolution “Called to Wholeness in Christ: Becoming a Church Accessible to All”.
2007 – Virginia Kreyer named Antoinette Brown Woman.
2009 – On October 17, 2009 Margaret (Peg) V. Wilke (Harold Wilke’s Wife and Helpmate) passes.
2012 – Conference Inclusion Teams (CITs) begin to form.
2013 – Virginia Kreyer passes on December 3, 2013.
2015 – General Synod 30 adopts the Resolution “Developing Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged Congregations for Mental Health“.
2015 – Jeannie Tyler (Former Vice Chair) Awarded Virginia Kreyer Lifetime Achievement Award at General Synod 30.
2017 – General Synod 31 adopts the Resolution “Toward Disability Justice: A Call to the Church and Churches”.
2017 – Lynda Bigler (Former Chair) Awarded Virginia Kreyer Lifetime Achievement Award at General Synod 31.