Posted at Envision Access –
Hi, I’m Julie Clawson. I’m a writer and a mom. I’ve served as a pastor and currently help coordinate Adult and Children’s Education at my church in Austin Texas. I was also born missing my left arm below the elbow.
I’m very involved in the emerging Church movement, and many of us in this movement like to do church a little differently. That means our worship services are very experimental and artistic – making use of various sorts of media and hands on experiences. As much as I appreciate these diverse ways to connect with God, I’ve seen the awkwardness they can create for people with disabilities. Prayer stations with art or video’s with words shut of the blind in the congregation. Body prayer exercises and juggling prayer books is difficult for me as a person with just one arm. And the command to stand up for prayers or songs always makes my friends in wheelchairs flinch.
I recall one Good Friday service when part of the worship experience involved nailing a prayer to a wooden cross. It was a moving activity for many, but I had to sit it out because I am unable to use a hammer. In no way did I think the activity should not have been done simply because I could not participate, I just wished someone had been aware of my difficulty and offered to help me out.
Often what many of us with disabilities desire from the church is just an awareness of who we are. Making worship activities inclusive of our needs would be affirming while not condescending. Something as simple as instead of telling everyone to stand up to invite those who desire to stand up. Or encouraging people as they start a hand-on worship experience to be there for each other and lend a hand where it is needed. Reminders like that acknowledge that there are diverse needs in the congregation, but don’t single any one out as being too different.
Sometimes it is hard to feel like we are part of the body of Christ when those of us with disabilities are either always treated with condescending pity or alternatively have our needs ignored. Churches are striving these days to people with different learning styles and spiritual languages. I applaud those efforts, but also want to send a gentle reminder for churches to be aware of and include the people with disabilities in their congregation at the same time. We want to connect with God in diverse and hands-on ways as well, we just sometimes need to church to be proactive and creative in inviting us into that space.