10.Role of Churches in Mainstreaming / Inclusion – PowerPoint
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Transcript 10.Role of Churches in Mainstreaming / Inclusion – PowerPoint
Role of Churches towards
‘Inclusion’
P. Stephen, IRCDS
The Bible says:
• “Your attitude should be the same as that of
the Savior (Jesus Christ): . . . taking the very
nature of a servant . . .” (Phil. 2:5,7)
• “The blind and lame came to him at the
temple, and he healed them” (Math. 21:14).
Holistic Health:
Physical, Mental, Spiritual and emotional
PWD Act/ NTAct recognises the following
disabilities
Blindness
Low vision
Leprosy cured
Hearing impairment
Locomotor/Physical disability
Mental illness
Mental retardation
Multiple Disabilities
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Role of Churches
• The church’s role is to embrace everyone
with love and full dignity.
• The church is a place where all are
accepted equally despite of their various
differences.
• A Place for All: Inclusion of People with
Disabilities ( PWDs)
Need for Inclusion
The church must consider the
barriers that prevent anyone,
especially
those
with
disabilities, from entering into
Jesus’ presence.
It is only when a child with a
disability is born into the
church or a church member is
diagnosed with a disability
that the church is forced to
think about its response.
Accessibility
1. Worship :
How sensitive is your church during the
worship services to those who have visual or
hearing impaired?
Are large-print hymns and enlarged worship
orders available?
What about hearing aids or sign language
translation?
Contd…
How accessible is the platform, pulpit, or choir
loft to those with physical disabilities?
What about baptism and the Lord’s Supper?
Are people with disabilities full participants in
these sacraments?
2.Church facility:
Are ramps, elevators and lifts a part of the
church’s physical plant?
Contd…
Are bathrooms, toilets, halls and
classrooms easily accessible?
What about disabled friendly parking?
Are provisions made to transport people
from parking place to the church
Although accessibility seems to be a
practical issue, it is also a theological
one.
How do I get inside the church?
Do I have to pray from outside itself??
Theological questions?
These and other obstacles may prevent individuals
with disabilities and their families from seeking a
support system they so desperately need.
Families are often asking hard, sometimes
theological questions about their situation: Why did
this happen to us? Why did God allow this? As a
result, the church’s role is to help, make sense or
meaning of life.
Contd..
In many cases, the church is a place where
families and individuals can grieve a perceived
loss.
It is the church’s role to provide a safe place
where individuals with disabilities and their
families can receive acceptance and support.
It is the place where they are looked at with
love and grace, instead of shame and
embarrassment.
Practical ways for Inclusion in
Churches
Capacity building of Church workers / Clergies
Reasonable accommodation in the buildings &
Infrastructures.
Effective participation in the Liturgical services
Inclusion in Church based activities
Information to access resources from Govt. and
other organizations
Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Capacity building of church
workers/pastors & clergies
Provide more opportunities for PWDs to become
clergies etc.
Include disability rights & sign language in the
curriculum of theological studies.
Link/Refer the clergies with NGOs working on
disability for intern ship/fieldwork/exposure etc
Include the disability component in the regular
trainings and review meetings.
Ensuring Reasonable accommodation in
the buildings
Make seminaries/theological colleges/churches disabled
friendly
Taking decisions to implement all the existing buildings could
be suitably modified- Eg. ramp, bath room, toilet, wash basin,
water taps
Sign board in the church premises – male, female & disabled
friendly toilets etc.
Church Notice board should be fixed at low levels with bold
letters
Availability of wheel chairs in the churches for PWDs and
Senior Citizens
Youth group volunteers can take responsibilities for taking
care of wheel chair users on rotation basis
Contd..
Sign board in the church premises – male,
female & disabled friendly toilets etc.
Church Notice board should be fixed at low
levels with bold letters
Availability of wheel chairs in the churches for
PWDs and Senior Citizens
Youth group volunteers can take
responsibilities for taking care of wheel chair
users on rotation basis
Effective participation in the
Liturgical services
Hymns and bible reading chapter and verses should
be displayed in the board ( digital board or white
/black board)
Sign language interpreter can be used during
festivals/ occasions/Mass prayer meetings
Confession, holy communion – follow disabled
friendly approaches
Pastor/Priest provide communion to the severe
PWDs by visiting their houses periodically
Contd…
Inclusion of PWDs in Bible
reading, choir services
Inclusion of CWDs as alter
boys/girls
Observation of International
Day of PWDs ( 3rd Dec) in the
churches,
dedication
of
special services/prayers etc.
Inclusion in church based
activities
Inclusion of children with disabilities ( CWDs)
in Sunday school /Catechism class.
Inclusion of PWDs in groups/committees
functioning at church level.
Minimum reservation for PWDs in the
leadership position in Groups /Core
Committees
Priority to be given for the PWDs at the time
of offering , communion, receiving blessings
etc ( in the “Q”)
Contd…
When conducting cultural programmes, role
play at church level disability component
could be included ( positive attitude, causes of
disability, disability rights etc.)
Inclusion in cultural events and sports meets
Pastors / Priest visit the PWD families and
conduct prayers periodically .
Referral services – Health, Education,
Livelihood etc
Contd…
Church Associations and Church based
Institutions – can include “disability” in
their organizational policies and systems.
Few Sunday collections ( offerings
earmarked for the development of PWDs)
Include PWDs when any benefits extended
to vulnerable groups/families ( e.g.,
Widow, single women, destitute etc)
Reservation of funds for the development
of PWDs from the offerings/ church fund.
Information to access resources from
the Govt. and other Organizations
Pastors/ Priests – collect data/ details about the PWDs
at Church or parish level through youth volunteers ,
collect the information on Govt schemes/ CSO
programmes and facilitate to access the same.
Information of Govt. welfare schemes, application
formats - available in the presbytery /Youth groups
etc.
Disability related forthcoming information/ Govt.
schemes could be announced in the Sunday masses
and to be displayed in the church notice boards
Promoting the Rights of PWDs
Get information under Right to information
Act to ensure the utilization of 3% in Govt
Poverty alleviation schemes, reservation in
Education, Employment and BFE
Disability related issues could be discussed in
the church group/committee meetings ( Eg.
Development committee)
Create awareness among partner churches
about the needs and rights of PWDs
Contd…
Dialogue with the Govt and PrivateInstitutions, companies, factories, Industries
to create accessible environment for PWDs.
When submitting memorandums to the Govt.
could include the needs/issues of PWDs as
well.
Contd…
Church newsletters could have the
information on disability – prevention,
rehabilitation, barriers, rights etc
Provide counseling to people who are
approaching for marriage – blood relative,
early marriage
Project proposals to be inclusive
Together we
can do more
Thank you !
[email protected]
November 2012