Where Do Children Belong?
Belong, v. 1: to feel and be a part of. 2: to enjoy a sense of contribution, value,
self-worth. 3: to truly believe one is a natural and equal part of the whole. 4:
comfortable, safe, cared for, welcome. (Nth degree)
Through the ritual of Baptism we receive our sense of belonging in a church community. The gathered promise “love, support, and care . . . as they live and grow in Christ.”
What about the children we baptize with an illness or neurological disorder
leaving them with an impairment? Children with learning disabilities? Youths in accidents that change capacity for learning, speaking, or walking? We promised our love, support and care. Not where, but how these children belong to our church communities is the question.
As religious educators learn the philosophy and practicalities of inclusion in classrooms and curricula, some churches have a designated Inclusion Coach or committee who help adapt programming and provide awareness training. Local advocacy groups help churches support specific families to feel more like they belong. The UCC Disabilities Ministries has developied a study resource for becoming “accessible to all” because how we belong is just as important as where we belong.
From UCC DM Newsletter Archive
