{"id":32760,"date":"2022-09-10T16:22:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/churches-believe-they-are-welcoming-to-those-with-disabilities\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:22:10","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:22:10","slug":"churches-believe-they-are-welcoming-to-those-with-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/churches-believe-they-are-welcoming-to-those-with-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Churches Believe They Are Welcoming to Those With Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Aaron Earls<\/em><\/p>\n

Virtually every Protestant pastor and churchgoer believes a person with a disability would feel at home at their church, but fewer are taking active steps to make sure this is the case.<\/p>\n

A new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research asked Protestant pastors and churchgoers about their church and those with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Nearly every pastor (99%) and churchgoer (97%) says someone with a disability would feel welcomed and included at their church.<\/p>\n

As a mother of a son with cerebral palsy, Jamie Sumner says every church has the possibility to be welcoming to those with disabilities, but it takes intentional actions to convince families impacted by special needs that a church wants to accommodate them.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil you have a plan in place that accommodates those with special needs all the way from nursery-age to senior citizen, then you can\u2019t accurately make this claim,\u201d said Sumner, the author of Eat, Sleep, Save the World<\/em>, an upcoming B&H Publishing book for parents of children with special needs.<\/p>\n

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When her son was born, Sumner said her church built a program for him when one didn\u2019t exist. \u201cThey hired a team, did research, brought in volunteers and changed the layout of their Easter egg hunts and all of our other get-togethers in order to accommodate those with extra needs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In the past seven years, Sumner\u2019s church has built a ministry from the ground up, which she said is the best-case scenario. \u201cThey asked us what we needed and started slowly. Now we serve many families with children with special needs,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work, but it has changed our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pastors seem to agree churches should make adjustments for those with special needs.<\/p>\n

Almost all pastors (99%) say local churches should make necessary facility modifications to become more accessible to people with physical disabilities even when it is not required by law.<\/p>\n

Three-quarters of Protestant pastors (76%) say local churches have a responsibility to provide financial resources and support to individuals with disabilities and their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus\u2019s parable of a shepherd leaving the 99 to pursue one lost sheep demonstrates the priority churches must place on providing access to everyone,\u201d said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may inconvenience the current flock by moving a teaching location or changing activities, but pastors and churchgoers say they see the need to do so. They believe creating access for everyone to hear the gospel and participate in the body of Christ matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

What churches are doing<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Almost every pastor (95%) says their church is involved in at least one of five different ways to care for those with disabilities and their families.<\/p>\n

Three in 4 pastors (75%) say their church encourages volunteering in community events, like the Special Olympics, for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Most say they provide financially for families with ongoing needs (70%) or provide respite for family caregivers to give them a break (60%).<\/p>\n

Half of churches (50%) provide an additional teacher to aid a person with special needs in a class.<\/p>\n

Fewer pastors (29%) say their church provides classes or events specifically for people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Larger churches are more likely than others to say they help in many of these specific ways. That gap is particularly pronounced when examining which churches provide an additional teacher for the individual with special needs.<\/p>\n

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See also  Most Open to Spiritual Conversations, Few Christians Speaking<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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While three quarters (75%) of churches with worship attendance topping 250 say they provide such assistants, 54% of churches with 100 to 249, 46% of churches with 50 to 99, and 35% of churches with less than 50 say they do the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany churches likely won\u2019t have the resources to provide classes or events specifically designed for only those with disabilities, but they will still have opportunities to help those individuals participate in the life of their church,\u201d said McConnell.<\/p>\n

What churches need to do<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While some churches may believe it is a matter of attitude or politeness, that isn\u2019t what matters most to those with disabilities and their families.<\/p>\n

Sumner says the churches that have been less welcoming to her family haven\u2019t necessarily been less friendly than others, but those churches simply didn\u2019t consider the needs of her son or their family. \u201cYou have to make an extra effort,\u201d she said. \u201cIf that isn\u2019t done, we don\u2019t go back.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Sumner this is a vital issue because \u201ceveryone deserves a church home. Jesus asks us to care for those in need, not only those in poverty, but those in need of fellowship, friends and support,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must show those who walk through the world differently from us that we have thought about them and have made room for them. It\u2019s not their job to pave the way. It\u2019s our job to make the way easier for them first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Churches seeking to provide a welcoming place for people with disabilities should begin by finding out from those with experience how they can improve.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider all the areas that must be met\u2014spiritual, physical, social and emotional\u2014and then ask special needs coordinators at other churches how they meet those needs at every age level,\u201d she said. \u201cBring in experts and be willing to listen to their feedback.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Aaron Earls<\/h2>\n

@Wardrobedoor <\/p>\n

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Aaron is the senior writer\/editor at LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n