Discussion:
Perceptions of Supportiveness in their Congregation between Clergy and Family
Caregivers of Supports for Children with Intellectual and Development
Disability (IDD)
My D.Min research on comparative perceptions of family
caregivers and clergy members has yielded a wealth of information. I will be going through the different data
sets for a while, but thought many might like a preliminary snapshot of one of
the sections. Full reports on
methodology and further discussion will be available later.
Following the research of Ault, Collins, and Carter on
congregational supportiveness,[1]
one section of the survey instrument was
developed to measure the caregiver’s perception of the supportiveness of the
congregation as compared to the pastor's perception.
This section of the survey was completed by 36 family
caregivers (national sample) and compared with responses of 84 clergy members of one denomination (Kansas sample).
The following six questions were asked to caregivers.
- 1. Have you found places of worship to be supportive of including your child with IDD in religious activities?
- 2. Have you ever changed your place of worship because your child with IDD was not included or welcomed?
- 3. Have you ever refrained from participating in religious activities because your child with IDD was not included?
- 4. Have you ever kept your child with IDD from participating in a religious activity because support was not provided?
- 5. Have you ever been asked or expected to stay with your child with IDD at a religious activity so he or she could participate.
- 6. Have you ever been asked by your clergy representative the best way to include your child in religious activities.
Similar questions were asked of
clergy representatives of congregations. The raw results are presented below:
Family
Caregiver Perception
|
Question
|
Clergy
Member Perception
|
63.9%
|
Places of worship are supportive.
|
96%
|
44.4%
|
Families changing place of worship due to lack of inclusion.
|
19%
|
69.4%
|
Parents refraining from participating because child with IDD not
included in activities.
|
14%
|
80.6%
|
Children not participating because support not provided.
|
21%
|
66.7%
|
Parents asked to stay with child so he or she could participate.
|
31%
|
44.4%
|
Parents asked by clergy member best way to include child in religious
activities.
|
45%
|
Brief Discussion:
Clergy members and parents of children with IDD are
disconnected. While it is notable that
45% of clergy members and family caregivers appear to be having conversations,
a full 55% are not yet.
Even where open dialogues occurrs, there exists a large discrepancy between what local pastors think they are doing and the message that families
with children with intellectual disabilities are actually receiving.
Pastors should be particularly concerned that a large amount
of congregants are slipping out the back door as their spiritual support needs
are not being addressed. Perhaps it’s
time to rethink small groups, worship services, and church events in order to
welcome all those that want to be there.
[1] Melinda Jones Ault, Belva C.
Collins, and Erik W. Carter, “Congregational Participation and Supports for
Children and Adults with Disabilities: Parent Perceptions,” Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities 51, no. 1 (February 1, 2013): 48–61.
