Today’s article comes from ELCA Disability Ministries advisory team member, Anita Smallin. 

June 11, ELCA Churchwide Organization (CWO) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Learning Day!

The ELCA churchwide organization will host a learning day for CWO staff highlighting ministries that reach historically underrepresented groups in church and society.

The day will feature 55-minute workshops, presented by churchwide staff and ELCA affiliated organization. Colleagues will select topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accountability.  The goal is to:

• Highlight diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)
• Strengthen how we live these commitments within the churchwide organization
• Deepen our relationship with underrepresented communities in church and society

Rev. Lisa Heffernan will be presenting on behalf of ELCA Disability Ministries from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Read below for details, and we hope to see many of our CWO friends and colleagues on June 11th!

ELCA Disability Ministries: Community Building Across the CWO Through Inclusion and Belonging 

Come and learn more about ELCA Disabilities, and the ways this ministry impacts, informs, and helps shape our faith and work communities. At this workshop, you will also learn a bit about models of disability, appropriate use of inclusive language, and how disabled and non-disabled CWO colleagues can more equitably serve together to build fruitful relationships across our ministries.

Hello friends!

In just about a month, members of our ELCA Disability Ministries team will be headed off to the Rostered Ministers Gathering in Indianapolis. While we’re there, we’ve got the opportunity to facilitate a new workshop that we are calling “Creating the Tapestry of the ‘New Kingdom’ Through the Lens of Disability Theology”, and share information about this ministry in the Interaction Center.

During the workshop we will explore how “people with disabilities are the fabric of the ‘new kingdom’ that Jesus envisions in his Sermon on the Mount. Grounded in theopraxis — the intersection of faith and action — this workshop invites you to reflect on how the gifts, leadership and lived experiences of people with disabilities are central to the body of Christ. You will leave with a renewed imagination and concrete ways to more fully embody God’s inclusive, life-giving mission in your ministry.” (Creating the Tapestry of the “New Kingdom” Through the Lens of Disability Theology | Rostered Ministers Gathering | ELCA)

As coordinator for ELCA Disability Ministries, I am continually blown away by the passion, knowledge, and experience these awesome leaders bring to the church and this ministry. Opportunities like the Rostered Ministers Gathering are just one way we get to share what we do, and we are excited to see many of you there!  We’d love to have you join us at 1:45 p.m. on July 7th during the first workshop session. Blessings on your summer!

Peace,

Rev. Lisa Heffernan

ELCA Disability Ministries, coordinator

Today’s post comes from ELCA Disability Ministries advisory team member, Anita Smallin. 

I have had the honor of attending the Extravaganza as a participant and as a workshop leader over the course of my career. The E (as it gets called) feels like a family reunion of sorts. Whenever I go to the E, I know I’m in a room of people who understand what life in ministry is like.

The Disability Ministries team was present at the event in two ways. We had a display table where we were available to have conversations with youth leaders. We heard about the needs of congregations, the frustrations of attitudes and cultures of congregations, and the joys and successes of congregations and ministries back home.

We also led a workshop: Breaking Down Accessibility: Moving from Inclusion to Belonging. We asked some big questions, including: What does it mean to be not just present, but included? “That seems to be a primary thing religious communities can do: create spaces where people can learn to care for one another, even if people are quite different, in some respects, from yourself. And it’s not just for people with disabilities…. It’s for all of us; we need to be missed.” (Theologian John Swinton)

We had conversations around physical environment and inclusive programming. We talked about travel to the youth gathering, service-learning trips, and camps for our friends with disabilities. Lastly, we provided resources for workshop attendees. These resources included physical things to have on hand, everything from accessible crayons and sports balls to articles and helpful guidelines for further research and empowerment.

The most important things that happened at the Extravaganza were the connections made and conversations had. We met so many leaders around the country who are doing great work. We got to hear the joys and successes, and we heard the frustrations too. We also heard about things that would make ministry easier back home. We as a team take that information and use that as a guide to figure out what resources would be helpful and what we need to develop.

I always come back from the E feeling revitalized for the important work of disability ministry. I love meeting all our partners in ministry and hearing about the great work that we are all doing.  Thank you for being a part of our cloud of witnesses!

Hello and a blessed Advent to everyone!

On behalf of ELCA Disability Ministries’ advisory and our groups of grant reviewers I would like to say a huge “thank you!” to the nearly sixty congregations and ministries that applied for grants this year. It is wonderful to witness such a response, and all of the creative ways so many are working to make their ministries into places of belonging for people with disabilities. This year we will be funding the following ministries/projects. More info and details will come in a later post. 🙂

• Storyline Community, Milwaukie ,OR: “Re-embody the Body: Sustaining Expansive Community”
• Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church – White Lake Campus, Clarkston ,MI: “Inclusion Ministry Sensory Supports Project”
• Iglesia Luterana De La Trinidad, Chicago,IL: “Trinidad Abierta: Zona de Paz, Signos de Fe y Acompañamiento Accesible” (“Open Trinity: Zone of Peace, Signs of Faith and Accessible Accompaniment”)
• Amy Kelly, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Aliquippa, PA: Spark Inclusion: Growing Accessible Churches, One Congregation at a Time
• Lutherdale Bible Camp, Elkhorn, WI: “Adventure for All”
• Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Livonia, MI: “The Pallet Project”

We are excited for these ministries and cannot wait to witness how their projects unfold! More to come!

Hi everyone! Lisa Heffernan, coordinator, here on the blog today. I wanted to share a short note with all of you on last month’s webinar, and offer a link to the recording.

On November 17, members of the ELCA Disability Ministries team hosted  “ Creating Accessible Spaces On A Budget”, for lay and rostered leaders seeking budget friendly ideas and tips regarding accessibility in and for their faith communities. Myself, Anita Smallin, and Rev. Mary Ann Harrison were joined by 168 people for this event, and were glad to have Rev. Ed Kay, Senior Director, Discipleship & Inclusive Communities, there to moderate and two ASL interpreters present as well.

We invited the participants to put some “holy creativity” into their spaces by considering what they may already have that could be repurposed or reimagined –so that all may participate and lead in all parts of congregational life. We offered tips and tools for planning accessible outdoor worship and fellowship activities, gave resources for Blind and Deaf community members, and offered insight on making the life of the congregation more open for people with invisible disabilities, neurodivergence, and cognitive disabilities.

In all, the webinar was about what it means to belong in the body of Christ, and how we can make that happen with resource that are at hand in what are tight financial times for many. Our team is excited to offer more webinars and opportunities in the future, so please check this space and upcoming newsletters for information. This was just a beginning, and we’re excited to share more and collaborate with others along the way.

If you would like to, you can access a recording of the webinar here: https://vimeo.com/1139086719 . Perhaps it will spark some holy creativity in your ministries, too!