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Calling from the Edge by Ann Calling from the Edge by Ann

Calling from the Edge by Ann - PowerPoint Presentation

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Uploaded On 2018-12-29

Calling from the Edge by Ann - PPT Presentation

Memmott Autistic arthritis faceblind spinal scoliosis cancer survivor Follower of Christ Matthew 513 Salt and Light   You are the salt of the earth Something vital for life ID: 746622

people disabled faith light disabled people light faith salt edge shows called god power angry bring men behaviour charity

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Slide1

Calling from the Edge

by Ann MemmottAutistic, arthritis, faceblind, spinal scoliosis, cancer survivorFollower of ChristSlide2

Matthew 5:13

Salt and Light “You are the salt of the earth....”Something vital for life.Without it, food often tastes bland and pointless.Without it, we die.Slide3

 

“You are the salt of the earth....”Do disabled people keep faith fresh?Do disabled people prevent faith groups from ‘silting up’?Do disabled people help prevent others from slipping into glib ableist ideals, in our faith?

The picture shows a pile of white salt crystalsSlide4

Matthew 5: 14-16: Light

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven”Do some disabled people hide from the world out of fear?Is the light we bring to it hidden by others, and what it their motivation?

The picture shows lots of small candles, alightSlide5

Stuck in “Charity Mode”:

The Disabled Christian as Tragedy or Eternal ChildDisabled people are victims, to be pitied. Our situation is tragic, and we are suffering. Or we are eternal children who are a set of ‘behaviours’Example: A church charity College for disabled young adults 19+“A minority of students access sexuality and relationship education... too few progress into voluntary work or supported employment... Students learn to manage their behaviour well” Slide6

Anger

If Jesus is angry, that’s good.If non-disabled people are angry, that’s understandable.If I am angry, it is a behaviour to be analysed, managed, and prevented.Slide7

Prophecy and Religious Inspiration

Non-disabled? Prophet, or inspired by God.Disabled? “Poor dear is having delusions”Slide8

Disabled Christian Leaders, or Tokens?

Tokenism: Pick a very smiley, compliant photogenic person with a disability that isn’t too ‘scary’.Give them zero power and zero control.Announce that you now have ‘disabled representation’ in your church group.Make sure they’re not in the meetings that actually count.Put their smiley face on the front cover of your publication.Undermine disabled experts, and replace them with parents-of-disabled-children. Or people with a certificate in disability.Slide9

How it feels to be the ‘prophet’ – to speak truth to power

The cartoon shows 12 identical businessmen sitting round a boardroom table with one woman. She is looking dejected. The men are looking at her. One man says, “Well, you’re the only one who thinks we’re a sexist organisation”Slide10

How do we speak truth to power?

Disabled people are loved by God, just as we are.We are people, not tragedies, or burdens, or incompetentWe are vital to the list of ingredients in every settingWe bring light, not darknessWe need to be heard, not as tokenism, but as an authentic voice of our faith.

Our pain at how we are marginalised is not a ‘behaviour problem’ to be managed, pitied or ignored. Or a bad attitude that proves we’re not worth listening to.Slide11

Uncomfortable Truths from the Edge - Autism

1 in 30 people. Male and female.1 in 30 of our clergy team members already, arguably.1 in 3 are part of the LGBT community.The church is doing great damage by telling very literal autistic LGBT people that they are the destroyers of society...worse than murderers. Shameful and sinful.The suicide rate amongst autistic people is 9 times higher than for others, because of the multiple hatreds and difficulties piled onto us by society. We die on average 16 years sooner than others.Our churches too often assume we are non-empathetic ‘behaviours’ that will ‘disrupt’ everything.

We are not. No more likely than any other sort of person.Slide12

Are we seen as potential prophets? As leaders of faith that have very real things to bring to understanding of God?

Or ‘just charity advocates’?Question to audienceSlide13

A prayer

Loving God, we are called by you.We are called by name.We are called, as we are.We are called, through your grace, to be our authentic selves.Our calling is from the edge.Help it be a powerful call. For truth, for love, for friendship, for true enablement.For mutual sharing and learning.In the name of Jesus, our Lord

Amen

Photo by Twiga269 on

Flickr

. It shows a woman walking along the top edge of a sand dune, into sunlight.