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.
