A massive gap exists between the number of pastors who want to lead churches that are inclusive of people with special needs and the number of churches that actually put this into action.
Almost all (99%) of pastors are confident someone with a disability would feel welcome at their church. Yet while many churches report offering financial support, serving family caregivers, or encouraging members to volunteer at events for people with special needs, less than one-third of churches actually have classes or events specifically for people with disabilities.
The need for real inclusion is growing fast.
The need for real inclusion is also growing, and it’s growing fast. One in 36 children are estimated to have autism today, and 1 in 6 children between 3-17 were diagnosed with some form of developmental disability in a recent study.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to close the gap between wanting to foster inclusivity for men, women, and children with special needs and, furthermore, actually doing it.
First, it’s important to define “inclusion.” It can and must be more than accommodation.
It’s one thing to put children or adults with special needs in a space where their needs are met, or where they are explicitly accommodated. But true inclusion, which should be the goal, means that they are part of everything that everyone else is doing. That’s why the first step for any inclusivity efforts should be establishing a biblical foundation for the work your congregation is undertaking.
Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
In Luke 14, Jesus tells a parable teaching his followers not to host their friends and family at their tables but to instead invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And in John 9, when Jesus heals a man born blind, he demonstrates that God’s plan, purposes and power extend to all people, regardless of ability.
When we take Jesus’ words and actions at face value, we see that he showed great interest in people with disabilities and the role they have in the Kingdom of God.
And so, inclusion isn’t just about programming. It isn’t just about accommodating unique physical, emotional or intellectual needs. It is about centering God’s word and demonstrating his love for all people in your church’s ministry.
Changing your church culture in this way can feel overwhelming, both spiritually and logistically. But this kind of change starts small—and it often starts at the top.
Leaders can cultivate a heart for inclusivity.
Many pastors may not have deep experience with people who have special needs in their congregation, let alone with the process of building out programming with them included. But change begins with gaining the motivation to include those with disabilities. Be encouraged that leaders can cultivate a heart for inclusivity.
I did not begin this work myself until the birth of my two sons who have special needs. My wife and I needed to figure out a way for our children to be included in church, which started our journey of developing an inclusive ministry at Bay Area Christian Church and community sports programs for children with special needs.
When church leadership develops a heart for the ministry and models it successfully they begin, incrementally, to transform their congregation. They can pursue education and offer programming to their congregants, build relationships between those in need of ministry and those with a heart for service.
Get to know what they need to both feel and be included.
Taking the first steps toward real inclusivity can start with meeting the felt needs of a single man, woman or child with special needs. Get to know them. Get to know what they need to both feel and be included fully in the life of the church—then make it happen.
This kind of real inclusivity, wherever it exists, brings every form and level of ability to bear in the Church—and in your church. People with disabilities don’t just have unique needs. It’s critical to remember and re-center the fact, always, that they each have gifts.
The key is finding out what their gifts are. Sometimes the gift is simple: warmth, empathy, compassion. Sometimes they have a skill or talent, like giftedness with music or an expansive memory. Maybe they are uniquely wonderful friends or confidants.
Find those gifts, and lift them up.
But find those gifts, and lift them up. Draw in the people around them so that their gifts might shine, as well. In our own church, we’ve developed a remarkable bench of therapists, special education teachers, therapists, engineers and even data specialists who all joyfully and enthusiastically help serve those with special needs.
What might seem at first blush like a disability is very often a deep, abiding ability to bring out the talents and gifts of those nearby.
So do what you can, today, to move toward inclusivity.
You won’t just better serve those with special needs in your congregation, you’ll draw the best out of everyone else in the congregation, growing the vibrancy of your church’s fellowship. As this happens, you’ll reflect Jesus’ heart for all people, until it spreads into the community and beyond.
Russ Ewell is executive minister of the Bay Area Christian Church. A minister for more than 40 years, Russ’s teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition, and infused with vision for building the transformative church for which the 21st century public hungers.
