Adult Education Presentations

Book cover with disability symbols and words The Church and People with Disabilities by Peggy A. Johnson
Study guide for UMW Mission u.

United Methodist Women Education Resources

In 2014, the United Methodist Women’s Mission u school explored church and people with disabilities. The UMW study introduction for Awareness, Accessibility and Advocacy reads:

Disability includes people of all genders, gender orientation, ethnicity, socio-economics, age, and culture. People with typical bodies can be considered temporarily able-bodied. Disabilities can happen at any time to anyone. These studies promote awareness, inclusion, accessibility and advocacy for people with disabilities — including adults, youth and children.

Bishop Peggy Johnson authored the Mission u study textbook, which may be used for UMW, church and conference level seminars.  The Church and People with Disabilities: Awareness, Accessibility and Advocacy is available for $5.  A study group leader’s guide (PDF) is available with background, preparation, and guidance resources. Also available is a 190-slide presentation, “Church and People with Disabilities” (PDF) for workshop leaders. More study resources are available at UMW Disability.

United Methodist Videos, Presentations and Essays

  • Set Up a Disability-friendly Church is a 24-slide presentation by consultant Lynn Swedberg. It is suitable for one-session adult Sunday School classes, trustees meetings and more.
  • Disability Ministries Concerns is a 6 minute You Tube video that demonstrates ways churches are inclusive.  It is produced by the Baltimore Washington Conference of the UMC.
  • Introduction to Disability Ministry, is a  7-minute video, produced by Howard Gutherman and the Desert Southwest Conference. It explains the role of a disability committee and provides a summary of a Disability Concerns Workshop in that process.
  • Theology is an essay coordinated by Tim Vermande that includes a reading list, policy statements in the Discipline, and ableism resources.