1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA

On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2024 91ÁÔÆæ
The gospels beautifully portray Jesus' leadership in building faith communities. He recruited a group of disciples and began taking them to populations of people outside of the church, their neighborhoods and even the city walls. These marginalized populations were diseased, racially separated and folks with a wide array of disabilities who left home or were sent out to honor societal law. But Jesus with his disciples declared it a new day! He physically took his disciples to the places where the marginalized were and modeled to his disciples how to talk, care and exclusively value these folks in a new way. Jesus even began preaching a new gospel of inclusion with the Sermon on the Mount in which he blesses people not out of virtue but vulnerability.
No less is expected of our faith communities 2,000 years later. We are inspired by individuals, families and church communities who lead us in the care of our friends with disability. And we recognize that scripture screams to us all a call to learn about our God through living an every day life of lament, vulnerability and celebration with these friends.
The purpose of this showcase is to help us as individuals, families and faith communities be bridges of holistic care to our friends and families with disability in order that we can step into life together and experience God and his attributes in new ways.
(Calvin College Press, 2019)
(JAM Ink, 2015) by Andrea Moriarty
(Orange, 2014) by Amy Lee Fenton
(Christian Learning Network, 2014) by Barbara Newman and Betty Grit
(Brazos Press, 2008)
by Thomas E. Reynolds
(Orbis Books, 1997)
by Henri JM Nouwen
(InterVarsity Press, 2008)
by Stanley Hauerwas and Jean Vanier
(Faith Alive, 2001)
by Barbara Newman
(Paul H Brooks Publishing, 2007)
by Erik Carter
(Bethany House, 2011)
by Amy Julia Becker
(Cruciform Press, 2010)
by Greg Lucas
(Crossway, 2012) by Michael S. Beates
(Christian Focus, 2012)
by Krista Horning
(Credo House Publishers, 2012)
by Linda Alderink
(Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2011)
by Barbara J. Newman
(Eerdmans, 2012)
by Benjamin T. Conner
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by Marc Tumeinski and Jeff McNair
by Linda Jean H. Larson
by Joan Cornelison
by Mark Stephenson
by Joan Huyser-Honig and Barbara J. Newman
by Courtney E. Taylor, Erik W. Carter, Naomi H. Annandale, Thomas L. Boehm, and Aimee K. Logeman
by Rev. Peter McKechnie
by Amy Fenton Lee
by Bill Gaventa
Rethinking Perfection
by Amy Julia Becker
by Erik Carter
by Barbara J. Newman
- Great resources and weekly free webinars on topics surrounding faith and disability.
Through the , several worshiping communities have received funds to explore the topic of worship and disabilities.
To explore ways to make worship accessible for children and adults with disabilities and to recognize and encourage the participation and leadership of those with special needs and gifts through a partnership with eight to ten congregations.
To study and evaluate past worship practices and create new liturgies that practice inclusivity, collaboration, creativity, and social justice and that encourage the gifts of musicians, artists, dancers, children, writers, and persons with disabilities.
To train worship leaders in opening worship to the leadership gifts of persons with disabilities through a conference and a year long process of learning with several congregations.
To develop a process that brings together clergy and people with disabilities to create a model of inclusive worship in six area congregations.
To prepare ten congregations from a wide range of Christian traditions to include persons with physical and mental disabilities through seminars, training and consultation with clergy and lay leaders, and to assist them in developing a congregational plan for the intentional inclusion of these persons in worship, fellowship, education, service and justice activities.
