International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2011
TOGETHER FOR A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL
Holy Disruptions
The preamble of UN Convention on Disabilities (June 2011) states:
‘Disability is an evolving concept’ and that ‘disability results from the interaction
between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that
hinder full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others’.
For our purpose here, we simply need to replace “society” with “church community”. The
2008 Stat’s Canada Report stated that in 2006, there were 4.4 million Canadians living
in households that reported having an activity limitation thereby yielding a disability rate
of 14.3%. This is an increase from the 2001 disability rate of 12.4% when 3.6 million
Canadians reported limitations in their everyday activities due to a physical or
psychological condition or to a health condition. The increase is due to a number of
factors including aging of the population and changing reporting behaviours. Some
report that the actual rate of some form of limiting disability is closer to 20%.
1
Research conducted by the National Organization on Disability found 84% of people
without disabilities stated that faith is an important part of their lives. 65% of those were
involved in some capacity with a faith community. By point of comparison,, 87% of
persons with disabilities reported that faith is an important part of their lives, while only
44% of them were involved in some capacity with a faith community2. There is no
single reason for the wide difference of those with disabilities accessing faith
communities, but there are obvious ones. They include but are not confined to:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
Access to timely transportation
Access to needed supports and aids when in the community
Access to funds to purchase needed transportation and supports
Attitudinal and environment barriers
Some recent statistics suggest that 50% of families who switch from one church to
another do so because of the available supports in the next church. The reality for
many of these families is that they have searched and tried many churches before
finding, if they indeed have, one to call home. Even so, families report to me they
continue to ‘live on the fringes of community’ because of the challenges that come with
their child’s disability. Attitudes, beliefs and comments become insurmountable
1
2
Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/disability-statistics-canada.php#ixzz1TDfnf6ov
Source www.NOD.org
barriers. Recently I witnessed the struggle of a single mom whose son has Asperger’s
syndrome. This tall, bright and articulate young man has great difficulty sitting still and
being quiet during services. When the thought strikes him that he needs to do
something - he quickly stands and plows unintentionally and unseeingly through rows of
seated and worshipping parishioners, speaking loudly to his siblings, who may be
seated at opposite ends of the sanctuary, about these necessary intentions,. Sadly, I
overheard a conversation between 2 parishioners, questioning the mother’s parenting
skills – even more sadly, unthinkingly within ear shot of mom. Too often, it is simply not
understood what mom has managed, lovingly and willingly all week, with this active
young man - alone. She has come to church to find a moment of sanctuary, of hope, of
strength, in order to re-enter the journey with all its attending realities at 12 pm at the
conclusion of the church service. Unfortunately, too many moms and dads wearily
decide that the battle of trying to fit in at church is greater than the battle with the
disability. They either move on, solving the church’s problem, with the faint hope they
might find ‘their’ place, or they finally decide – no more, we’re done!
The number of churches that report “we don’t really have anyone here with a disability”
is significant and telling. If up to 20% of persons in Canada have a disability, we must
question “Why”? It actually might suggest that there is a significant unreached group
right under our noses – those with disabilities and their families.
The reality is that the label “disability” is not a one size fits all category any more than
the label “human” is. That is one of the challenges that churches face when they seek
to reach out to persons with disabilities. Although the disabilities vary widely, the
underlying need remains the same: effective participation in our church communities.
That is true whether the challenges come with increased age, a disabling accident or
illness, mental health or intellectual disability.
Families and persons with disabilities know the perfect church, for the most part, is not
out there. They will continue to look for a place of hospitality, friendship and a
willingness to try.
The call of Luke 4:18 must be strong in our ears – it is our first mission, it is the gospel.
The truth is that the broken, the captive and the disabled create disruptive spaces in our
neat and tidy routines. Yet, without the willingness to embrace the disruption, there is
no “Favourable Year of the Lord”. The disruptions to our ‘quiet sanctuary’ can become
opportunities for the Holy.
It has recently been discovered that the young man previously mentioned, loves music
and has an impeccable sense of timing. With some encouragement he will take up a
tambourine and join with the worship team. When he is engaged, he is there in the
moment, and it is a wondrous thing to behold. It doesn’t work all the time, but the
important thing is it works some of the time, and when it does, disruption becomes Holy.
Fortunately, he is part of a church community where most of the participants in the
congregation are trying. Sometimes it takes someone else to come along side and walk
him the long way, instead of through the chairs, when he decides he has to go
somewhere. Mom now has support of people who also overhearing the negative
comments become, as they say in football, her defensive tackle line. Perfect? No - far
from it – but people are definitely trying. Can this little community of ours accommodate
all disabilities? Certainly not; and to try would collapse us. That is not our Call.
However, what is our Call is to seek to be that place of hospitality, friendship and
willingness to those whom God brings through our doors. The Call is also to seek out
those on the highways and bi-ways and hiding among the hedges in our community.
We do not only have to have a sign that says ‘all welcome’; we are mandated to go, find
the disabled and bring them in to experience the richness of God’s banquet.