Providing pastoral care with and for people with disabilities
Access Sunday worship celebration packet is available
Access Sunday is June 22, but can be celebrated at any time in the life of a congregation. The 2008 theme is pastoral care with and for people with disabilities. If the term “pastoral care” suggests trying to “fix” people with disabilities, or a one-way helping relationship, or “doing for” people who have little to give to the church or community, you may be surprised at some of the articles and stories that have been included. Read more.
Look for resources for
Worship suggestions
Hearing personal stories
The Cares of My Heart
A young person with disabilities writes about how she was helped when asking questions about her life … from the theological to the practical.
Created in the Image of God
Breaking the silence about a mental illness leads to a trusting relationship between a person living with serious mental illness and also leads to leadership possibilities.
Inclusion: A Church’s Quest
A church and parents of a child with Down syndrome learn how to work in partnership to provide opportunities for one family to worship, fellowship, grow and serve.
Where Were the People of God?
The road to acceptance of a disability can be rough, but the journey provided venues to service and support.
Articles for thought, reflection and action
The Fix, Cure and Kill Syndrome of Life with a Disability
No one denies that living with a disability can be difficult, but please don’t tell me I’m not whole just the way I am!
Healing vs. Curing: Reflections for Pastoral Caregivers
In the Gospels, healing was never limited to a physical cure. Healing involved the whole person and the sense of being in community.
A Word for Professional Chaplains
Bill Gaventa, in accepting the prestigious COMISS Medal for his significant contribution to pastoral care over thirty years, addresses the issue of community building in his acceptance speech.
Living with Tough Questions
We may not be able to answer all the challenging questions that arise from a person who lives with a disability, but we can be present with them, as they are voiced.
A Ministry of Presence
A ministry of presence communicates a person’s infinite worth and value. It is rooted in “being” not “fixing.”
Circles of Friends
A Circle of Friends can bring a meaningful connection between a person with a disability and others in the congregation. It is a way to break down the barriers of isolation and loneliness often experienced by persons.
Practical Guidelines for Starting a Circle of Friends
A detailed map for creating a Circle of Friends in your congregation.
Helping Persons with Developmental Disabilities Deal with Death
Persons with developmental disabilities need to understand the reality of death or pending death. They need to talk, to tell stories, to be listened to and to memorialize.
Stephen Ministry and Deacons
Expand the ministries provided by Stephen Ministers and Deacons by including information about disabilities. The Access Packet can help.
Speak Out!
Read “snippets” from persons with disabilities or their family members about the pastoral care they receive.
Learn More About Presbyterians for Disability Concerns (PDC)
Read about PDC’s mission and activities and how you can become a member.
Download the full packet
If you would like to print and share the 2008 Access Sunday Worship Celebration Packet please download this zipped file. (Save this file and unzip it with your preferred zip application.)
Packets from previous years are also available for your reference. |
