We all know that The Episcopal Church is the most welcoming denomination in Christianity. Okay, maybe that’s just my bias.
We might indeed be very welcoming, since we love and accept all people the way that God has created them to be, but does this automatically mean that we’re an inclusive church? Not always. For the most part, I’ve always felt included in any Episcopal church that I attended, but I have seen other people with disabilities be left alone. Congregations need to reach out to the family with an Autistic child or a wheelchair user who comes to church alone, as quickly as any other visitor.
We check in on our elderly in our congregations to see if they need anything, why wouldn’t we do the same for our fellow disabled parishioners? I will admit that even though I’m fiercely independent, I wouldn’t mind being asked if I need help with anything every once n a while. It’s knowing that we are thought of that matters.
From our physical spaces to our ministries, there are always ways to improve inclusion. I recall a few years ago when I first joined my current parish, Father Jos Tharakan, the Rector at the time, made it his mission to get me involved in some ministry with the church. He assigned me to do the Prayers of the People, even though I had a speech impediment. The purpose of this was to get people used to the way I talked. This effort not only helped people to get to understand me, it also improved my speech so I’m told!
If we truly want to make everyone feel welcomed in our churches then we should try reaching out and going beyond just saying “hello!”
David Britt is a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Springfield, Missouri. David, who has a love for books and music, is also proud to have his own home where he has lived independently for two years now. He has had Cerebral Palsy since birth, which effects his fine motor skills and, therefore, he is a wheelchair user.
