Let’s have action planning for disability inclusion!

In September 2023 the Synod approved the Disability Access and Inclusion Policy. The Disability Synod Task Group members have been working steadily on the 2024-2027 Disability Access and Inclusion (DAI) Action Plan to ensure that the Policy is put into action across the WA Synod.
Article by Cindy Gorton, Executive Officer, Culture of Safety, first published in the August 2024 edition of Revive magazine.

The Theology of Inclusion

We come to this space through a belief that people with disabilities have hopes, dreams and desires, the same as everyone else. “The relationship between spirituality and disability evokes deep reflection regarding our unique, diverse and authentic ways of being human” state the editors of the book Reflective Being, Being Reflective (Calder, A., Clapton, J., Parmenter, J). They go on to say that “as relational beings we do not travel alone…It is the spiritual and relational reflections evoked by contemplating spirituality and disability that also influence our actions with others.” They ask us to consider seriously “Who do we accept or reject; respect or oppress; embrace or exclude; celebrate or critique; engage or ignore…in our lives, communities and/or congregations.”

It is worth taking the time to reflect and recognise when we have responded with a negative attitude or prejudice towards people with disability that may have harmed them psychologically, emotionally or spiritually and next time to make a conscious decision to respond in a more open, accepting and welcoming way.

We are reminded that in 2018 the 15th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia affirmed that:
a. Christ is most fully present when all people in the Body are unconditionally accepted as people of worth. All people are created in the image of God, including people with disability;
b. along with all members, the faith, gifts, hopes and dreams of people with disability are to be valued and honoured; and,
c. God is a God of justice and peace, who seeks reconciliation amongst all people.
Uniting Church in Australia, Statement of Access and Welcome

Aims of the Action Plan

The Action Plan aims to put into practice the objectives set out in the Policy and hopefully informs how we responsively, respectfully and actively walk alongside people with a disability in the Uniting Church to achieve their hopes, dreams and desires.

Robbie Muir, who lives with disability, and is a member of the Maylands Mt Lawley Uniting Church, has stated many times that he enjoys getting involved and contributing to his congregation in whatever way he can, and hopes to be involved and help more with the Worship services.

“Just ask and listen to us to find out how to help us, involve us and allow us to contribute more fully in church life,” suggests Robbie.

Gill, Robbie’s Mum, agrees and says Robbie, like any other person, is very aware spiritually and experiences God’s love as deeply. He loves to share his Christian faith with others in the church and Gill encourages Robbie’s involvement in his congregation. She recommends one way to involve people with disability in the congregation is to invite them to nominate and (if possible*) join the Church Council. Or to be a disability advocate in their congregation or in other Councils and Committees of the Uniting Church. This involvement will ensure that the goals and outcomes of the WA Synod Disability Policy and the Action Plan are focused on, put into practice and followed up across the Uniting Church in WA.
*Noting that some people with disabilities are very dependent on other people getting them to and from meetings, particularly in the evenings.

Join the new Synod Disability Working Group!

To develop a relevant and fit for purpose Action Plan, the members of the Disability Synod Task Group would like to invite those of you who have a lived experience of disability and/or have an interest in supporting the development of this DA&I Plan as a member or participant in the Uniting Church, to join our new Working Group.

We hope to have a broad representation to ensure these resources are appropriate and will achieve the desired goals and
outcomes of the Plan. The Working Group will meet as required in person or via Zoom and when new information/resources are being developed we can circulate documents to be worked on via email and complete a lot of the work this way.

Please contact Cindy Gorton, cindy.gorton@wa.uca.org.au or Amanda Rigby, amanda.rigby@wa.uca.org.au or phone the Uniting Church Centre on 9260 9800 to speak to one of us directly.

The Disability Access and Inclusion Policy can be found on the Uniting Church WA website here.

Celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities with a disability inclusive worship service!

The International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held every year on 3 December. The day is to celebrate and raise awareness of people with disability and promotes the equitable inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of life.

The Disability Royal Commission Synod Task Group, as part of its mission to promote disability awareness, invites congregations, agencies and schools to actively celebrate and raise awareness of this annual International Day by holding an inclusive Disability
Awareness Day Worship Service on a Sunday close to 3 December.

Pinjarra Uniting Church organised a very successful inclusive Disability Worship service in January 2024 which was well received by everyone there and also inspired the Disability Synod Task Group to add this type of activity to the Disability Action Plan as
a very practical and visible demonstration of disability access and inclusion in our church.

The Pinjarra Worship team designed the Inclusive Service so that three people with disability, current and former members of Pinjarra Uniting Church, spoke from their perspective about their journey of faith, roles in the church and experience of belonging to the Pinjarra church community, in place of the usual sermon.

Trevor Thomas explained he was inspired to organise a Disability Inclusive Service after the last Synod meeting in which the Disability Access and Inclusion Policy was approved. He went back to Pinjarra to suggest it would be nice to organise a different type of service which included people with a disability. He said “it went down extremely well, opened people’s eyes and caused some to ask how are we really including people with disability in our church life”.

Congratulations are due to Trevor and the rest of the Pinjarra Worship team for leading the way in proactive disability accessible and inclusive practices in the Uniting Church.

IDPWD Disability Inclusive Worship Resources

The IDPwD 2024 theme is “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.”

Visit the IDPwD website www.idpwd.org.au for information, materials and promotional ideas. For example, the colour purple and its symbolism has been adopted by IDPwD. By using the colour purple during this day, individuals and organisations show their commitment to promoting inclusivity and equality for people with disabilities.

Called to be a Church for All

The ‘Interfaith Litany for Wholeness’ (below) is also an example of a prayer that could be included in your worship service.

The Uniting Church in Australia, Assembly Disability Access Guidelines remind us that “involving people with disability in the planning of the event will help you to have an event that is as accessible as possible.”

An Interfaith Litany for Wholeness
Leader: Let us pray for all God’s people. For people who are blind and cannot see, and for those who can see but are blind to people around them.
Response: God, in your mercy, help us touch each other.
Leader: For people who move slowly because of accident, illness or disability, and for those who move too fast to be aware of the world in which they live,
Response: God, in your mercy, help us work together.
Leader: For people who are deaf and cannot hear, and for those who can hear but who ignore the cries of others,
Response: God, in your mercy, help us respond to each other.
Leader: For people who learn slowly, for people who learn in different ways, and for people who learn quickly and easily but often choose ignorance,
Response: God, in your mercy, help us to grow in your wisdom.
Leader: For people who have a chronic illness for which there is no known cure or relief, and for people who live in unholy fear of developing a chronic illness,
Response: God, in your mercy help us and heal us.
Leader: For families, friends and caregivers who serve people with disabilities, and for those who feel awkward in their presence,
Response: God, in your mercy, help us see each other with your eyes.
Leader: For people who think they are worthless and beyond your love, and for people who think they don’t need your love,
Response: God in your mercy help us accept your love.
Leader: For people who feel isolated by their disability, and for people who contribute to that sense of isolation,
Response: God, in your mercy, change our lives.
Leader: For all the people in your creation, that we may learn to respect each other and learn how to live together in your peace,
Response: God, in your mercy, bind us together. All: Amen
Written by Rev. Kate Chipps and adapted by Ginny Thornburgh. Reproduced with permission from:
‘That All May Worship: An Interfaith Welcome to People with Disabilities’, National Organization on Disabilities.