Disability Ministry Planning

Because Disability Concerns ministry has been around for over 30 years, has a good reputation in the ecumenical world, and has extensive resources for churches on the Internet, we sometimes get contacted by people of other denominations. A few months ago I spent some time on the phone with representatives of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church in Skillman, New Jersey. They wanted to develop a plan for ministry with people with disabilities in their parish. I highlight the word "with" because their intention is not simply care or ministry to, but full engagement of people who have disabilities in the life of the parish.

I appreciate several things about this plan.

Comprehensive - It considers all aspects of church life, not just one such as pastoral care.

Inclusive - It does not set up a separate track for people with disabilities separate from the rest of the congregation.

Engaging - It was developed by a group of people including people who have disabilities, and it will be implemented by different people in the parish including people with disabilities.

Many church volunteers get stuck when considering ministry with people who have disabilities because they don't know where to start. With the permission of the people who developed this plan, I shared it, in slightly edited form, not because it can be adopted whole cloth, but because it may provide a starting point for your own church.

Take a look at the attached. Consider it as a starting point for your own church. What can you glean from this plan for your own church? What would you add, delete, or change so that your church can develop a health ministry with people in the church and in the community who have disabilities?