Disability Ministries

The Disability Ministries Advisory team has been working on a resource for church leaders. We have been calling this resource an Individualized Faith Formation Plan (IFFP). 

 

Hey Anita, what is the IFFP? 

 

The IFFP is a guided process for our friends with disabilities and church leaders to journey together, ensuring that all the support needed for our friends with disabilities can thrive in church, and learn and grow in their faith. 

 

This document was based on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and we flipped it around. Instead of starting with a person’s diagnosis, the process starts with their giftedness. Participants in this process identify the gifts of the youth and ways that they can be leaders in their faith community. This process also lays a foundation for some tough conversations. We want the full body of Christ present in our churches. Sometimes, this means that we need to talk about personal things, like toileting procedures. At the end of the process, there are agreements about the supports needed in church and faith formation, and a plan for the youth to be a leader in their congregation. 

 

This document will be coming soon for distribution through ELCA Disability Ministries. We would love to hear how this process works in your settings, and ways to improve the process! Please watch for updates here on our blog, upcoming newsletters, and/or our updated website. We are excited to share this resource with you!