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VOL. 13, NO. 21

Sacred stories shared at disAbility event

BY MELISSA LAUBER UMCONNECTION STAFF

Born weighing one pound, seven ounces and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Veronica Chloe, now 16, was unable to dance at her prom. She did, however, recently dance in her wheelchair to an enthusiastic ovation at a United Methodist conference.

Thats the way it is with disabilities. Veronica may not be able to do one thing, but she is instrumental in doing others, Veronicas mother, Sandral Chloe, explained to participants at the Spiritual Treasures in Clay Pots conference.

The event, sponsored by the Baltimore-Washington Conference Committee on Persons with disAbilities, was held Oct. 19 at Glen Mar UMC in Ellicott City.

Finding ways to stir imaginations and provide resources for United Methodists to assist their churches in developing ministries with and for disabled people was the aim of the day-long conference, said the committees chairman, the Rev. John Nupp.

According to Nupp, the greatest challenges facing the areas United Methodist churches are attitudinal barriers that fail to recognize the full worth of disabled people, each of whom was created in the image of God.

A national survey recently released by the National Organization of Disability, found that people with disabilities are much less likely to attend religious services at least once a month when compared to people without disabilities (47 percent versus 65 percent respectively).

The survey findings noted that this is no indication of religious faith. Sixty-five percent say their faith is very important and report it is physical or attitudinal barriers that keep them away from church.

In the United States, there are 49 million people with disabilities; almost 29 million of these are children, said Patricia Jamison, director of special education in Prince Georges County and keynote speaker at the conference.

In Prince Georges and other area counties approximately 12 percent of school children have been diagnosed with disabilities. The figure is closer to 17 percent in Baltimore County, Jamison said. Where are all these children going to church? she asked. How are Sunday schools adjusting their curriculum to teach them?

To answer this question, Jackie Mills-Fernald of McLean Bible Church in Virginia spoke about her churchs ministries to disabled children.

Just a few years ago, Mills-Fernald said, the church had one disabled child who was mentally retarded and sat in a closet doing puzzles while her parents attended worship.

Eventually a few other children with special needs joined the congregation and church leaders sent out a survey asking about needs. The results, were staggering, Mills-Fernald said.

With intentional steps to emulate other successful programs around the nation, the church began to tailor its Sunday school program to meet some of the needs of disabled children, even offering several specialized classes throughout the week.

Responding to a perceived need, it also began respite care, providing parents with a time to get away for a few hours. Some families now drive two hours to participate. The need is enormous, Mills-Fernald said.

While the church contracts with nurses to assist some of its more severely disabled children, most of the program is run by volunteers. This is a ministry, said Mills-Fernald. Its blanketed in prayers and God orchestrated.

In the afternoon, the Rev. Elaine Emeth, pastor at Glenn Dale UMC participated in a panel discussion, explaining how she was over 50 and in the final stages of the ordination process when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The disease weakened her physically and left her struggling with God, asking, Why now?

God is working through this illness, she said. But I have it in my face every hour. For as long as I live now, it matters.

Emeth wrote about her illness in a poem published in the General Board of Discipleships Weavings magazine, which she read at the conference. How can I live my life not knowing if I can trust my body? she asked.

I hear Gods voice through Jesus Christ say to me, Here is why, why this disease, why now, and how you must go forward listen carefully and remember: that there may be room in your being for less of you and more of me. You are able only by grace, Emeth wrote. Christs warm breath falls on my neck, as silent music fills the cosmos and the Spirit moves ever so slowly to the music, drawing my whole being into the dance in the dark.