Role of Churches towards
‘Inclusion’
P. Stephen, IRCDS
The Bible says:
• “Your attitude should be the same as that of
the Savior (Jesus Christ): . . . taking the very
nature of a servant . . .” (Phil. 2:5,7)
• “The blind and lame came to him at the
temple, and he healed them” (Math. 21:14).
Holistic Health:
Physical, Mental, Spiritual and emotional
PWD Act/ NTAct recognises the following
disabilities
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Blindness
Low vision
Leprosy cured
Hearing impairment
Locomotor/Physical disability
Mental illness
Mental retardation
Multiple Disabilities
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Role of Churches
• The church’s role is to embrace everyone
with love and full dignity.
• The church is a place where all are
accepted equally despite of their various
differences.
• A Place for All: Inclusion of People with
Disabilities ( PWDs)
Need for Inclusion
The church must consider the
barriers that prevent anyone,
especially
those
with
disabilities, from entering into
Jesus’ presence.
It is only when a child with a
disability is born into the
church or a church member is
diagnosed with a disability
that the church is forced to
think about its response.
Accessibility
1. Worship :
 How sensitive is your church during the
worship services to those who have visual or
hearing impaired?
Are large-print hymns and enlarged worship
orders available?
What about hearing aids or sign language
translation?
Contd…
How accessible is the platform, pulpit, or choir
loft to those with physical disabilities?
 What about baptism and the Lord’s Supper?
Are people with disabilities full participants in
these sacraments?
2.Church facility:
 Are ramps, elevators and lifts a part of the
church’s physical plant?
Contd…
Are bathrooms, toilets, halls and
classrooms easily accessible?
What about disabled friendly parking?
Are provisions made to transport people
from parking place to the church
Although accessibility seems to be a
practical issue, it is also a theological
one.
How do I get inside the church?
Do I have to pray from outside itself??
Theological questions?
These and other obstacles may prevent individuals
with disabilities and their families from seeking a
support system they so desperately need.
Families are often asking hard, sometimes
theological questions about their situation: Why did
this happen to us? Why did God allow this? As a
result, the church’s role is to help, make sense or
meaning of life.
Contd..
In many cases, the church is a place where
families and individuals can grieve a perceived
loss.
It is the church’s role to provide a safe place
where individuals with disabilities and their
families can receive acceptance and support.
 It is the place where they are looked at with
love and grace, instead of shame and
embarrassment.
Practical ways for Inclusion in
Churches
 Capacity building of Church workers / Clergies
 Reasonable accommodation in the buildings &
Infrastructures.
 Effective participation in the Liturgical services
 Inclusion in Church based activities
 Information to access resources from Govt. and
other organizations
 Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Capacity building of church
workers/pastors & clergies
Provide more opportunities for PWDs to become
clergies etc.
Include disability rights & sign language in the
curriculum of theological studies.
Link/Refer the clergies with NGOs working on
disability for intern ship/fieldwork/exposure etc
Include the disability component in the regular
trainings and review meetings.
Ensuring Reasonable accommodation in
the buildings
 Make seminaries/theological colleges/churches disabled
friendly
 Taking decisions to implement all the existing buildings could
be suitably modified- Eg. ramp, bath room, toilet, wash basin,
water taps
 Sign board in the church premises – male, female & disabled
friendly toilets etc.
 Church Notice board should be fixed at low levels with bold
letters
 Availability of wheel chairs in the churches for PWDs and
Senior Citizens
 Youth group volunteers can take responsibilities for taking
care of wheel chair users on rotation basis
Contd..
Sign board in the church premises – male,
female & disabled friendly toilets etc.
Church Notice board should be fixed at low
levels with bold letters
Availability of wheel chairs in the churches for
PWDs and Senior Citizens
Youth group volunteers can take
responsibilities for taking care of wheel chair
users on rotation basis
Effective participation in the
Liturgical services
Hymns and bible reading chapter and verses should
be displayed in the board ( digital board or white
/black board)
Sign language interpreter can be used during
festivals/ occasions/Mass prayer meetings
Confession, holy communion – follow disabled
friendly approaches
Pastor/Priest provide communion to the severe
PWDs by visiting their houses periodically
Contd…
 Inclusion of PWDs in Bible
reading, choir services
 Inclusion of CWDs as alter
boys/girls
 Observation of International
Day of PWDs ( 3rd Dec) in the
churches,
dedication
of
special services/prayers etc.
Inclusion in church based
activities
Inclusion of children with disabilities ( CWDs)
in Sunday school /Catechism class.
Inclusion of PWDs in groups/committees
functioning at church level.
Minimum reservation for PWDs in the
leadership position in Groups /Core
Committees
Priority to be given for the PWDs at the time
of offering , communion, receiving blessings
etc ( in the “Q”)
Contd…
When conducting cultural programmes, role
play at church level disability component
could be included ( positive attitude, causes of
disability, disability rights etc.)
Inclusion in cultural events and sports meets
Pastors / Priest visit the PWD families and
conduct prayers periodically .
Referral services – Health, Education,
Livelihood etc
Contd…
Church Associations and Church based
Institutions – can include “disability” in
their organizational policies and systems.
Few Sunday collections ( offerings
earmarked for the development of PWDs)
Include PWDs when any benefits extended
to vulnerable groups/families ( e.g.,
Widow, single women, destitute etc)
Reservation of funds for the development
of PWDs from the offerings/ church fund.
Information to access resources from
the Govt. and other Organizations
 Pastors/ Priests – collect data/ details about the PWDs
at Church or parish level through youth volunteers ,
collect the information on Govt schemes/ CSO
programmes and facilitate to access the same.
 Information of Govt. welfare schemes, application
formats - available in the presbytery /Youth groups
etc.
 Disability related forthcoming information/ Govt.
schemes could be announced in the Sunday masses
and to be displayed in the church notice boards
Promoting the Rights of PWDs
Get information under Right to information
Act to ensure the utilization of 3% in Govt
Poverty alleviation schemes, reservation in
Education, Employment and BFE
Disability related issues could be discussed in
the church group/committee meetings ( Eg.
Development committee)
Create awareness among partner churches
about the needs and rights of PWDs
Contd…
Dialogue with the Govt and PrivateInstitutions, companies, factories, Industries
to create accessible environment for PWDs.
 When submitting memorandums to the Govt.
could include the needs/issues of PWDs as
well.
Contd…
Church newsletters could have the
information on disability – prevention,
rehabilitation, barriers, rights etc
Provide counseling to people who are
approaching for marriage – blood relative,
early marriage
Project proposals to be inclusive
Together we
can do more

Thank you !
ircds1986@gmail.com
November 2012