LE3 .A278 2021

2021

Wooden, Glenn

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

Approximately 20% of Canadians have some sort of disability. However, those numbers are not reflected in most congregations. There is a need for congregations to welcome and include people with disabilities and their families. But how is that done? One option is to set up a formal Disability Ministry led by a staff person or a group of volunteers and which focuses on organized programs. There is a place for such ministries, however, they require resources in terms of finances and people that may not be available in smaller congregations. In addition, smaller congregations may have only one or two people with disabilities, making it a challenge to develop a separate ministry program. While this may suggest that smaller congregations are less equipped to provide quality Disability Ministry, that is not the case. Research into the needs and desires of people with disabilities and their families reveals that formal programming is not the highest priority. What is valued more than a separate Disability Ministry program is full inclusion into the life of the congregation. This goes beyond the ability to enter the church building through physical accessibility. What people with disabilities desire is the opportunity to fully participate in the worship and mission of the Church. Much of effective Disability Ministry is relationship-driven rather than program driven. This means that smaller congregations can be just as effective at Disability Ministry as larger congregations. While there is not sufficient data to demonstrate that smaller congregations are more effective, it is possible to demonstrate that smaller congregations are at no disadvantage when it comes to provide a welcoming and inclusive faith community for people with disabilities and their families.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3702