Center for Disability and Ministry Books

People with disabilities are often excluded from full participation in church communities. Accessibility is a key component of the biblical ministry of reconciliation-but it's not enough. To truly work toward reconciliation, churches must both consider the theological implications of disability and also become places where people with disabilities lead. Disabling Leadership presents a practical theology of disability for thoughtful church leaders and congregants. Written by practitioners and a scholar-pastor who are engaged in ministry together, this book encompasses cutting-edge theological ethics as well as stories of how such commitments are embodied in a real church community. The authors equip readers to explore key themes such as: - what it means to be human - how to understand suffering and healing - how churches can be welcoming and accessible communities - how to face common challenges and issues in resisting ableism Disabling Leadership moves beyond paternalistic views of disability that seek to extract "inspiration" from another's story without engaging in the difficult work of just and dignifying relationships. When we foster genuinely inclusive leadership teams, the authors contend, our churches will be less likely to treat anyone as a "project" and will better reflect God's love as the body of Christ.

Including People with Disabilities Is Essential to Your Church's Witness God wants people of all abilities to be active participants in his kingdom. But churches have not always made it clear that people with disabilities are both part of God's story and fully welcome in their communities. If the church is to be a credible witness, it must reach and include people with disabilities within its evangelism, mission, and everyday life. In Disability and Evangelism, Rochelle Scheuermann casts a vision for including people with disabilities in all aspects of evangelism, from how we understand and tell the gospel story, to how we evangelize to and with people with disabilities. This groundbreaking book invites us to reshape our evangelism theology and practice so that people with disabilities are central in all we think, say, and do. Scheuermann uncovers how God's story in Scripture responds to the complexities of disability and provides both the means and message to share good news among people of all abilities. She then explores issues of evangelism practice, including how we understand conversion, an expanded understanding of accommodation, and pursuing interdependence in ministry. In Disability and Evangelism, you will - gain a biblical understanding of both disability and evangelism; - hear stories from people with a range of disabilities; - study evangelism practices that go beyond traditional approaches that are key for doing evangelism with and among people with disabilities; - understand why many people with disabilities feel excluded from and do not attend church; and - engage with discussion questions in each chapter. This book shows how the gospel really is good news for people of all abilities. Understanding and embracing disability is not only a matter of compassion and justice. People with disabilities will help the church to counteract faulty visions of power, autonomy, and self-promotion and to encounter the good news of Jesus more deeply. If you're looking for a resource that invites people with disabilities to be both recipients and active participants in God's mission, Disability and Evangelism is for you. About the Series Center for Disability and Ministry books explore the intersection of disability and practical theology in partnership with the Center for Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary. Co-edited by Benjamin T. Conner and John Swinton, this series explores key issues in disability theology through the framework of practical theology, aiming to increase knowledge as well as faithfully impact Christian practice.