Feature story
“Disability theology is a driving force for changing attitudes and breaking barriers towards the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities.” said Dr Samuel Kabue, a member of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Committee of Experts.
As the global community shifts towards a human rights approach to disability inclusion, WCC-EDAN has been shaping a theological reflection on what it means to be the church, and on the church’s nature and mission in promoting disability inclusion.
Anjeline Okola, WCC-EDAN programme coordinator, said this work has seen disability studies introduced in various theological institutions as well as development of various disability and theology resource materials.
“However, we have realized that many institutions that used to offer the course on disability theology have been having fewer and fewer persons with disabilities joining, as most theological institutions need students to be recommended and, if possible, be paid for by their churches—and after their studies the churches are obligated to ordain them.
“A shorter course offered online and accredited by the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey would be ideal to bridge this gap and create a pool of persons with disabilities with knowledge on disability theology through theological training.”
New focus
Participants of the workshop agreed that the new focus by the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism on mission that fights marginalization gives the network an opportunity to come together individually and collectively with other marginalized groups to fight marginalization through the use of contextual Bible studies as well as urging interpretation and application of scriptures, spiritual beliefs, and practices and the quest for just and inclusive communities in churches as the only way to counter ableism.
Practical actions for disability inclusion into the heart of faith communities call the church to “participate in struggles for justice of persons with disabilities inside itself and in the society,” said Rev. Prof. Tabita Kartika Christiani, professor in Christian education and theology of disability at Duta Wacana Christian University in Indonesia. “This includes providing access for persons with any disabilities and including them in all church programs and activities to create a sense of belonging.”
Within the new focus, the commission has begun to seek to frame the new task of decolonizing mission as “counter-creating.”
“In this way we hope to see the de-colonial task set before us as positive and creative. It is focused fundamentally on resisting and transforming the systems WCC-EDAN is witnessing against by preparing the ways by which the Spirit’s power and presence creates and sustains counter visions, signs, systems, and communities,” said Peter Cruchley, director of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism.
In the workshop, a celebration of WCC-EDAN’s 25th anniversary was held through speeches by those who were there at its inception, as well as young persons who have joined the network in the recent past.
