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Embodied Ecclesia - PowerPoint Presentation

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Embodied Ecclesia - PPT Presentation

A Fundamentally Inclusive Theology of the Church Topher Endress MDIV What We Know Participation Gap 40 8747 1 Lack of WelcomeInclusion Lack of Preemptive Preparation Some Obvious Examples ID: 475991

parish disability people church disability parish church people god theology community work theological space worship capacity access service plan parishioners inclusion choir

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Slide1

Embodied Ecclesia

A Fundamentally Inclusive Theology of the Church

Topher Endress, MDIVSlide2

What We Know

Participation Gap ~ 40% (87-47%)

1

Lack of Welcome/Inclusion

Lack of Preemptive PreparationSlide3

Some Obvious Examples

Our liturgies ask for standing, kneeling, sitting, genuflecting, etc. at various points in the service.

50% of religious buildings in St. Louis have inaccessible bathrooms.

2

The narthex of Vanderbilt’s chapel is not wide enough for a wheelchair, yet the narthex is the only accessible entrance from inside the building.Slide4

Potentially Less Obvious Examples

Not accommodating different needs for learning in Sunday School curriculum.

Harsh lighting in rooms/hallways.

Choir sings from inaccessible loft.

Children must be potty-trained to attend VBS.Slide5

True Accessibility

Barriers exist far beyond the scope of traditional checklists. Architecture is constructed for and used by individuals, and the truest test of accessibility is whether the form of a space allows for the intended function, regardless of embodiment.

3

No study can determine physical accessibility or barriers present because each are dependent on the manner in which they are inhabited by participants in that space. Space that would be functional, but is utilized in ways that perpetuate barriers, remains inaccessible.Slide6

The Real Problem

As Nancy Eiesland states, “disability has never been religiously neutral, but shot through with theological significance.”

4

The real question is not, “where are all the people with disabilities,” but rather, “

what does it mean that they aren’t in the Church

?Slide7

Framework

Church: the actual embodying of “God’s presence as Spirit, and its mission is to spread this faith consciousness into all of history.”

5

A dis/abled ecclesiology must allow for this to practically be expressed, and it must begin with the notion that theology is necessarily modeled in action.Slide8

Framework, Cont.

This is the meta-purpose of the Church - to imagine a love of life which can cope with suffering, a practice which will find beauty in real experience and model the transcendence which connects the sacred and profane. Every act, structure, and sacrament of the Church must flow from this method in order to escape the inherent flaws of past ecclesiologies.Slide9

Problem, Revisited

With this as our framework, what is the answer to our initial question?

What does it

mean

say about our belief in God that people with disabilities aren’t in the Church?Slide10

Check Your Theology

Does your theology account for the presence of people with disabilities?

What is your official position on theological anthropology? Is your worship service reflective of that?Slide11

An Example: My Ontology

Starting with the premise that God is Love, a definition which undergirds and frames all other descriptions of God, we are capable of loving others in thought and action only by exposing a truth about the nature of God. Slide12

Ontology to Missiology

Loving presence is a service and witness to others, which is a physical embodiment or

breaking into

of our lives.

We are called to serve others because we are called to make disciples through our work, our teaching, our love, and our witness (Acts 1, every Gospel)Slide13

Missiology to Ecclesiology

Service in community reflects the qahal/ ecclesia.

Community reflects mission - go out to make disciples with God’s power, turn back to worship God.

Community also prevents transactional interaction.Slide14

Ecclesiology Embodied

In order for the invisible assembly (ecclesia/qahal) to worship visibly and tangibly together, the space must be immersive, educational, and inclusive.

Must address needs of any potential worshipper.

Must address theology via every decision - from architecture to liturgy.Slide15

Theological Art

Pietro Belluschi (architect, St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco) claims the the mission of his blueprints was “...to create an environment where the average man may find spiritual shelter; a place where he may draw strength for his daily labors, and courage in his battle and temptations; a place where he may join others in worship and meditation.”

6 Slide16

Theological Space

The Church is called to bring into the world the Good News of Christ’s triumph over death, and the burden of Christ is light, whereas the weight of the world oppresses and condemns.

With this in mind, the physical church must embody the freedom that communing with Christ brings. In a very literal, yet highly symbolic way, resting in a pool releases us from the crushing weight of gravity.

While I had never thought about how gravity truly affects my body, a camper with cerebral palsy who used a walker and wheelchair when on dry ground loved pool time because the water made him free from the world which held him down. Slide17

Theological Dream

After these things I looked (or listened), and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing (and sitting in their wheelchairs) before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands (and being held by their attendants); and they cry out with a loud voice, saying (or signing), “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!

Rev. 7:9-10, NASB, ed. T. Endress 2014Slide18

References

Hendershot, G. (2006). A Statistical Note on the Religiosity of Persons with Disabilities. Disability Studies Quarterly, 26(4). Retrieved from

http://dsq-sds.org/article/view/813/988

.

“Accessible Worship: The Receptivity of Religious Buildings in St. Louis.” Katherine Vierkant. Disability Studies Quarterly Vol. 26, No. 3, 2006.

“Cross-Disability Experiences of Barriers to Health-Care Access Consumer Perspectives.” Mari-Lynn Drainoni. Journal of Disability Policy Studies Vol. 17, No. 2, 2006.

Eiesland, Nancy L.

The Disabled God: Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability

. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994. 69.

"Church." In

Constructive Theology: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Themes

, edited by Serene Jones, by Amy Platinga Pauw. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005. 216.

“The Anatomy of Transition: Cathedral-Building and Social Justice in San Francisco, 1962-1971” James P. Gaffey. The Catholic Historical Review, Vol. 70, No. 1 (Jan., 1984), pp. 45-73.Slide19

Creative Frameworks and Practical Strategies towards Inclusive Ministries

Mr Zachariah Duke

The Broken Bay Institute, AustraliaSlide20

Maria’s story

Group home

Not of her choice

No friends or family

Paid workers

Inability to speak clearly and intellectual disability

New parishSlide21

Paul’s story

Lives with his family

Employed

Many friends and family

Valued member of the local parish and choir memberSlide22

The question that will transform Maria's life...

Would you like to join the parish choir?

Can you think of

three

things a person with no voice could do to contribute to a parish choir?Slide23

Photocopy music

Set up and pack up microphones

Fill the music book folders

Hand out hymn books

Set out and pack up music stands

Other...Slide24

What transformation?Slide25

Transformation came about because Paul had the

confidence and

capacity

to make a difference.

Paul was able to recognise the

capacity

that already existed in the community.

Getting to know Maria meant that

some

in the parish developed their

confidence

and

capacity

to know and support people with disability.Slide26

WHAT TO DO?Slide27

Inclusion is a planned and intentional activity

Parishes don’t plan to exclude they fail to plan to include.

20% of the population has a disability.

Maybe they can’t get in?

Maybe they have experienced hurt and exclusion in the past.

Maybe they don’t know you want to include them.Slide28

Plan for access

Access is only one issue but a complete audit of accessibility for all areas is essential.

Inclusion is much, much more than ramps and toilets.

There is no access without planning.Slide29

Engage in advocacy

Meet with local disability groups

Learn from them

Find out about the issues and challenges faced.

Join with them as allies and advocates

Parish social justice groupSlide30

Invite and offer valued roles

Ministers of communion

Altar servers

Readers

Collectors

Greeters

Others...

Your turn to reflect...what roles?Slide31

Ask through the parish newsletter.

Ask through the school newsletter.

Ask parishioners directly: do you know of any one with a disability in the parish community?

Advertise that you want to include people living with a disability.

We don’t have anyone with a disability here!Slide32

Parish as a potential employer or work experience provider

Parishioners as potential employees and advocates

Who in your parish runs a small business who can provide paid work or work experience to an individual living with a disability?

Parish

What are some options for valued work in a parish context?Slide33

Principles to guide our work

Plan with, not for, people with disability.

Its not about disability its about Maria and Jose, and Miriam and Aaron...

Its not something we are doing for

them

(people with disability), but for us-the Catholic community.Slide34

Invite others and prepare

Invite parishioners to come to know people with disabilities

Prepare them - positive education and myth bustingSlide35

What kinds of things do you already have in place?

What resources exists in the local parish, community, internet?

How will you name and drive inclusion?

What ‘buy in’ angle can you find?

Your turn to think about planning…Slide36

How will you develop the confidence of parishioners?

What capacity already exists?

How will you develop capacity?