“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 4.8-11
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 designated 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 accessâ€. 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 wheelchair 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!
