Fiona MacMillan reflects on the first diocesan disability theology day which happened in June.
The day was wonderfully led by Naomi Lawson Jacobs and Emily Richardson, authors of the At the Gates: Disability Justice and the Churches (DLT, 2022), which shares disabled people’s experience of church and faith. These include shocking stories of exclusion and discrimination, from feeling unwelcome to being rejected or literally locked out. The book calls for the church to see disability inclusion as an issue of Gospel justice rather than an act of compassion.
We began with Lectio Divina, a contemplative reflection on the story of the healing of a blind man (Luke 18:35-43). Responses included, ‘Jesus stopped’ – the need to pause and be present with people; and, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ – Jesus made no assumptions about a desire for healing.
Participants had a range of relationships to disability and reasons for attending: a diocesan role, wanting to increase inclusion in the parish, to build on previous learning; several had disabled family members, others had lived experience. One told the story of becoming friends with a young man with Down’s syndrome who had encouraged them to pray and been their evangelist; another wanted to know what access and inclusion looked like in the diocese. Most were ordained, some in lay leadership including a pioneer minister developing sensory-friendly church.
‘For many disabled people the church has been a city on a hill: physically inaccessible and socially inhospitable.’ – Nancy L Eiesland
The first session explored theologies of disability and justice, beginning with an invitation to remember our first experience of Jesus. Most had imagined perfection rather than woundedness. Naomi suggested that the church preaches a Gospel for non-disabled people, with Jesus’s perfect body demonstrating a powerful God. Naomi pointed to ableist values in the Bible, where disability is linked with demonic possession, sin, the fallen and faithlessness. These narratives lead to marginalisation and limit faith – ‘because if we think of ourselves as lesser we can’t praise God.’
Disabled people’s stories and experiences were woven through the day, largely drawn from Naomi’s PhD research. Each presentation was followed by group work reflecting on real life examples or considering case studies. We heard calls for justice, acceptance – people wanting to simply get into the building and join in with worship and community. Some who had been part of church left when deeply hurt by attitudes and assumptions, an expectation they were there to be looked after, their gifts unrecognised and needs not met.
A particular problem was understanding of healing and cure. We heard of people blamed for not having enough faith to be healed, or given prayers for healing without their consent.
‘I felt reduced to an object of pity, charity, and only worth something if I was physically healed… I believed the narratives of disability equalling having sinned. It made me feel, in all honesty, less than human’ – Fern, a storyteller in At the Gates: Disability, Justice and the Churches.
We read disabled people’s stories and asked how these theologies of disability would make us feel. Participants used words like: shame, blamed, wrong, angry, rejected. This is not Good News. Theology has contributed to marginalisation but lived experience changes the conversation. The church needs to listen to disabled people’s voices.
The second session explored how to create communities of access and participation. Who are churches built for? We heard about different types of accessibility, power and privilege. Barriers beyond buildings can be in practice, assumptions and anticipation – how things are done, who is expected among congregation and leadership. Groups considered case studies of disabled people trying to access church and imagined how we could work with them to make things better. The key is to anticipate and to consider access in every decision we make.
After lunch Emily talked about disabled people and post pandemic church. During 2020 the lockdown restrictions meant that non-disabled people suddenly experienced exclusion from church buildings too. Some struggled to access online church services but streaming also opened participation to others. Barriers of health or geography were no longer an issue, and some disabled people found their ministry flourishing. We reflected on provision and need in our own context and heard about the experience of disabled-led online church communities.
The final session outlined models of disability and barriers to access and participation which can be in buildings, environment, cultures and structures. Groups considered types of barriers disabled people may face and how to address barriers in our own context. And we were reminded that, ‘Tearing down barriers is the Gospel!’
I will lead the blind
by a road they do not know;
by paths they have not known
I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not forsake them (Isaiah 42: 16)