Book Review: Disability and the Church by Dr. Lamar Hardwick

 BOOK REVIEW

The last decade has seen an abundance of serious academic scholarship focused on disability theology, coupled with an increase amount of first-person literature on disability experience within the church. Lamar Hardwick brings forth fresh nuanced perspective in this latter category in a very accessible read entitled Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion.    

In a genre replete with disability theologians and parent advocates, his voice as a pastor with a disability (diagnosed with Autism in 2014 at age 36), places him within the vanguard of a new wave of insight.  His latest work  is a direct message to reimagining what church can be, particularly in light of the dueling challenges of a global pandemic and racial inequality.  Make no mistake – this is not just a challenge to open up sacred space to those who experience disability – it is a prophetic cry, coupled with a pragmatic framework,  to allow those without power to become a voice from the pulpit.

SUMMARY

This work is divided into a tripart  structure: birth, barriers ,and the building the body.  Hardwick makes it abundantly clear that he writes from pastor’s perspective who believes firmly in the role of the local church in building true Christian community revealed in Revelation 7. He weaves stories, anecdotes, contemporary memes, and scriptural refences as a masterful narrator – the crescendoing wave powerfully landing his points.  To the experienced disability theologian, there is not much new exegetical insight, but the notes have been re-arranged, re-mastered, and re-sung in a stronger  key.  The first 3 chapters utilizes disability presentations on television, interpreted through his own personal experiences and artistically segues  into the birth narrative of the church (Acts 2) and its predictive precursor – the Lukan banquet where persons with disabilities are given preference.

In perhaps the most striking and pivotal chapter, Hardwick emphasizes a theme that is interwoven throughout the chapters.  Most disability literature unintentionally imagines the disabled body as white.  The chapter on Barriers to Inclusion bridges both disability and diversity and critiques this ideal in  stark vividity.  The reader is reminded that the body of people with disabilities and those of African Americans both bear the marks of a society and too often a church that rejects them in pursuit of a perfect body – instead of the body of Christ.

Having presented the problem, Hardwick draws upon the Parable of the Sower to paint the broad strokes of creating an inclusive church.  Drawing upon leadership literature, he recognizes the change can only be permanent of the culture itself is rebuilt.  He devotes three chapters to practical steps in creating an inclusive church, moving from programs to people, to developing leaders from the ranks of disabled self-advocates.

Hardwick concludes the book with a series of affirmations – primarily for people with disabilities who question their call to leadership within the church.  Strategies are presented to help existing churches mentor leaders into their roles.  Only when all are utilizing their gifts, will the church be complete.

COMMENTS & CRITIQUE

Disability and the Church is an excellent primer for the local church pastor who desires to be purposefully building a diverse and inclusive community.  It contains many practical and engaging ways for special needs lay leaders and others to change culture.  And most importantly, it illustrates a path forward for people who are identified with disabilities to serve in leadership roles in their local church.  It is rare for a book to cover as many aspects of pastoral care ministry as this one does; it should become a standard text not just in disability contexts, but in general pastoral leadership.

 

Disability and the Church: A vision for Diversity and Inclusion (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2021). 208 pp. Paperback, $18.00   ISBN: 978-0-8308-4160-8

Thoughts from the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability

This week, I am attending the 5th Annual Summer Institute on Theology and Disability hosted by the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.  Bethesda Institute and Rev. Bill Gaventa have been instrumental in developing this program over the past several years, bringing together the best scholarship and ministry models from around the world.  (For more background, information, and past presentations, click here)

I've decided to blog daily during this conference.  My goals are to give my friends, colleagues, pastors, and local disability ministers a chance to hear what is going on.  Some might ask, what does this conference have to do with my weekly Sunday School special needs program?  A lot!  Many of the speakers and presenters here "doing theology" have been in this field as a person with a disability, a family relative of a person with a disability, or been doing disability ministry in the trenches ever since Willowbrook was closed 42 years ago. The creation of theology is simultaneously done by the trained academy (professors, clergy) and the local church (people, laity).  On rare occasions the two intersect, sparking rich conversations and ground breaking initiatives. This is one of those places!

I've already met some of the new young faces that are the up and coming face of the movement who are breaking new ground in bioethics and in Spanish speaking communities.  I hope to be introducing them on this blog throughout the week.

This marks my 10th year involved in the theology and disability movement. During the course of that time, I have seen a major surge in the interest of churches, pastors, and theologians in disability issues.  The academic discipline really only appeared in 2004 with the Society of Biblical Literature 's creation of a subgroup of scholars.  Since that time, many of the initiatives I called for in 2005 (see the article here) have come into being in the last decade.  As 35 year disability ministry veteran AG pastor Charlie Chivers of Special Touch told me last month, the sovereign Spirit of God has been moving over his people and disability ministries is moving to the forefront in the US and around the world.

I am attending this year in several roles:  As the Executive Treasurer for Friendship Ministries, I am exhibiting some of the best curriculum developed for adults with intellectual disabilities, used on 4 continents, dozens of countries, and available in both Spanish and English.

I am also attending as a student completing my D.Min from AGTS at Evangel University.  I'm looking forward to hearing my project advisor, AG theologian and now Fuller Seminary missiologist Amos Yong kick off the morning plenary session. I'm scheduled to learn from the authors I've read extensively from over the past decade -- Hans Reinders, John Swinton, Stanley Haeurwas, Ben Conner, Tom Reynolds, Jeremy Schipper, and fellow NACSPED colleague and Friendship Ministries board member Erik Carter.

Finally, I'm attending as friend.  Looking through the list of attendees I see colleagues from past courses and even some 2006 Special Touch Summer Getaway (Minnesota) attendees.  I like how Wichita represents -- Myra Jacobs (my fellow Haysville USD 261 special educator) and Tom Racunas, former principal of HeartSpring and current Director of Ministry for Persons with Disability for the Wichita Catholic Diocese.

It's going to be a great week!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen!  (Eph. 3.20-21 ESV)