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Mark Stephenson
After receiving an M.Div. degree, I served as pastor of two Christian Reformed churches for a total of 17 years. From 2006 through 2021, I was the Director of Disability Concerns for the Christian Reformed Church, and relish the close working relationship CRC Disability Concerns has with the Reformed Church in America Disability Concerns ministry. I have served as interim Director of the CRC's Offices of Race Relations and Social Justice since Feb 2020. My wife Bev and I have five living children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren. Our oldest child, Nicole, was born extremely prematurely in the late 1980’s and lives joyfully with severe, multiple impairments. That label does not define her. She loves magazines, loves interacting with people, loves roller-coasters and wild amusement park rides, and she loves to worship and to pray with God’s people. In any group, she shares her own unique gifts.
Posted in: Should Sheltered Workshops be Eliminated?
John, a great suggestion for a major conversation. This gets even more complex as we consider that many of the Network readers are Canadian (including Caroline, whom I know). There is no federal disability law in Canada comparable to the Americans with Disabilities Act, though there is a federal health care system. Each province has its own set of laws pertaining to accessibility of built environment, work, etc. Whew!
Posted in: Mom's Dementia
B, thank you so much for your comment because it helps me and others get a deeper understanding not just about you, but about others too who are living with PTSD. For churches seeking to minister to people with PTSD, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has a fine collection of resources including some ideas for worship ministry and suggestions about use of the lament psalms. See http://cicw.cc/search/results.html?q=PTSD&btnG=+
Also, I just read an insightful blog entry by a Christian who has dealt with depression and is frustrated by the "happy gospel" presented in so many churches. See https://laurelville.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/lifelines-and-the-happy-gospel/
Mark
Posted in: Times Are Changing for Vets
Thanks Ron. I hope and pray that the respect you express continues to grow among all of us. Not every one agrees on whether our countries should enter into various conflicts around the world, but the men and women who actually fight those conflicts need our appreciation, encouragement, respect, and (sometimes) assistance.
Posted in: New Paradigms in Evangelism
Greg, Well said. Good example about the stigma that we heap on the heads of many people, such as your example of people living with mental illness who in turn believe the stigma and fill with shame. If we are going to present that wonder of the new life that comes through the work of Jesus Christ, we need to see Christ not only as Sacrifice for our sin, but also as Reconciler between us and the Father, Healer of broken lives, Cleanser of shame, Victor over the powers of evil, Restorer of shattered relationships, probably more. That gives a much deeper sense of what he meant when he said that he came to bring life to the full.
Posted in: How Much Would You Change You?
Willie, I fear that your "chilling" examples from the Hitler and Stalin eras remain alive today, though in more subtle forms. From abortions performed for various reasons (such as genetic anomalies and gender selection) to continued experiments on human cloning, we are entering a new frontier in humankind's attempt to create a master race. The voice of Christians (and people of other faiths) who can speak articulately about the sanctity of each human life will be critical.
Posted in: How Much Would You Change You?
Still, genetic manipulation has the potential for so much good too as this NY Times article illustrates. Lord, give us wisdom!
Posted in: How Much Would You Change You?
Steve, you hit the nail on the head. Too often in society and the church people with disabilities are treated as problems to be fixed rather than the works of art whom God has created every single one of us to be.
Posted in: The Blades Special Hockey Team…A Story of Miracles
Author Wendy Wassink told me that you can support the Blades by voting for them to win the Aviva Community Fund Contest. To do so, log onto the website and vote for The Blades. You can vote 15 times/once per day. The BLADES idea number is ACF17144.
Posted in: EveryBody: An Artifact History of Disability in America
Yes, the ugly laws are an example of institutionalizing oppression through unjust laws that allow the majority to force the minority to "get out of the way." One scholar wrote a whole book about them. According to Wikipedia, they were not repealed until the 1960's and 1970's!
That would be really great if the Smithsonian exhibit would travel.
Posted in: What Language are You Using?
Yeah, an author claiming that "redemption" has little meaning in pop culture hasn't looked at pop culture much. In the first 20 hits on Google, one can find Redemption High-Rye Bourbon (92 proof), Redemption Belgian Pale Ale, and Redemption, a movie about people who make their living in New York redeeming cans and bottles. More meaningfully, one finds "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," and a plenty of other books and movies claiming that they are stories of redemption. These latter examples come a lot closer to the biblical ideal, though most illustrate a redemption that takes place through human effort, canny skill, or luck. Still one could do much worse to learn what "redemption" is than watch the Shawshank Redemption. It's all about hope fulfilled, and isn't that at the heart of the Bible's idea of redemption too?
Posted in: Technology in Worship - Pros and Cons
Technology in church life must allow more people to participate in worship, not fewer people. As an example of technology that cut me out, I had to quit looking at the song lyrics at a church because I grew sick to my stomach from the rapidly moving background. Here are some ideas for increasing participation: John Frank has written many excellent pieces on using technology for usability and accessibility including these two: Optimum Readability of Computer Projected, Printed, or Internet Text and Using Computers For Inclusive Worship. Also, not only should church leaders think about sound amplification, as another comment says, but also they should consider hearing loop systems which dramatically improve involvement in worship by people with properly equipped hearing aids. See A Baker’s Dozen Frequently Asked Questions about Hearing Loops. I wrote an article about churches that have used technologo to enhance participation by people with visual impairments include bulletins and newsletters in Braille, and a ministry that offers free theological books and commentaries for people with visual impairments. That article is part of an entire issue of our newsletter, Breaking Barriers, that discusses various uses of technology to enhance involvement in church life.
Posted in: Let everything, even dogs, praise the Lord
Bill, I'm no lawyer, so I don't know whether the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) act trumps Washington law, but the ADA says, "Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls." In addition, "Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. . . . Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA."
So the national law says that any dog that's out of control, or one that someone just likes having as a companion but is not a service animal, does not have to be allowed into a public facility.