SITD - 2014 Dallas - Day 1

This week I am attending the Fifth Annual Summer Institute on Theology and Disability at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  I am posting my highlights, thoughts and pictures from this first day.

First, it’s always great to meet new people from around the world—Canada, Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, Scotland, and Iran.  The Texan hospitality is overwhelming – never had shrimp and grits before!

Dr. Yong is my D.Min Project advisor

Dr. Amos Yong (Professor of Missiology, Fuller Theological Seminary) began the morning by challenging us to develop a Redemptive Pastoral Praxis that begins to move beyond the perceptions of suffering and disability which Temporarily Able Bodied (TAB) – tend to assign persons with disability.  By changing the focus of the disability conversation from causality to eschatology, themes of theological hope emerge.  Yong also hinted at the possibility of looking beyond the crucified narrative towards Pentecost to see the fullness of God’s redemptive story.  Of course, these theological paradigms must be grounded in pastoral practice. The lingering narrative of Pentecost empowers all people to become ministers with – not just ministers to.  People with disabilities are not passive recipients of ministry, but agents empowered to minister to others.

Dr. Jeremy Schipper (Hebrew Bible Scholar, Temple University) and Dr. Jaime Clark Soles (Professor of NT, Perkins) presented an excellent Biblical study of Leviticus 15 as it relates to the Mark and Matthew passage of the woman with the issue of blood.  Their reframed narrative moves the story from an isolated episode of faith healing into the redemptive story of Christ emptying himself and becoming weak, even unto the cross.

Not all the sessions focus on theology or Biblical study, other sessions I missed today included innovative ways to empower the special needs community through worship, and learning to practice presence during pastoral care – and this is only the first day of five!

TX Chaplains Paul & Jim

Of course, often the best parts of conferences are the conversations during lunch and in between sessions. Russell, a minister from St Louis; Peggy, a speech pathologist from Grand Rapids,  Jenna, a social worker from Chicago, Sunil, a medical doctor from Texas, Keith – a Canadian who found me on Twitter.  I met 3 of the 11 chaplains (there’s a 4th one here!) in the Texas state supported living system.  All of them talked of regularly working with 300+ persons with disabilities as being the highlight of their pastoral career.  During the course of the week, I will be chatting with more people and featuring them here.  The collective wisdom they hold will benefit us all.

In the next couple days I hope to introduce a few more people -- Devan, currently working on the bioethics of the human genome project; Lorna, who has created a great parent support model; Sam, reaching into the Hispanic community; and Ben, part of the Joni and Friends Christian Institute of Disability.

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)

#SITD #TheologyDisability

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)

Take The Survey

Dear fellow AGK leaders:

If you have not received a personalized email in your box with an invitation to take the survey on disability ministry, you can take it by clicking on this link here. 

For more information, you may visit this page:

http://www.abilitychurch.org/p/takethesurvey.html

Blessings,

Pastor Marvin

survey@abilityed.com

Welcoming People with Disabilities in Faith Communities

Central Baptist Seminary is pairing up again with the University Center of Missouri-KC for another great disability ministry/theology course on June 9-14.  Designed for pastors, educators, and other human service professionals, this unique one week course explores Christian disability theology, successful disability ministry, and strategic partnerships with other disability organizations. The class is only $360 for the week.

For more information about the class, please download the flier or contact me directly.

I got accepted!

Good Friday, 2014

I got accepted!

I can read the emotion on their faces.

It begins with apprehension, a moment of quiet joy, and then finally a settled confidence.  When new students enter the classroom midyear, a young couple begins a courtship, a stranger walks into the church for the first time, or a man on a cross looks to the Christ next to him --- their question is the same -- will I be accepted or rejected?

On this Good Friday, I rejoice that I have been accepted by the grace of our Savior.  Yet I am also indicted.  How many times have I walked past those that need to be accepted?  How many times have I not allowed God's grace to flow through me towards others?  

As I watched a recent viral video of a young man reading his acceptance into college, I am reminded of the joyous celebration that grace brings.  By our "standards" he should never been allowed into an environment of higher education.  Our world typically does not allow those with intellectual or developmental disabilities to be included in much of anything  Yet one college, informed by their Christian faith tradition, has made it an intentional mission to practice the grace of acceptance.

On this Good Friday, I long for the day when the local church models Christ and offers grace to all those looking for acceptance.

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http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/17/wisconsin-college-offers-opportunities-for-students-with-intellectual/

http://www.edgewood.edu/Prospective-Students/Cutting-Edge

Take the Survey - AGK Clergy Edition

Dear fellow AGK leaders:

As a pastor, you have probably encountered persons with disabilities and their families in your congregation.  Those that ever walk in the door are just a fraction of the largest unchurched people group within the United States.

As our Kansas ministry network meets this week, I would like to invite all leaders to participate in a short online survey of what is happening in your congregation. I want to celebrate the wins with you as well as come along side to strategically support you. This survey will help Christian disability ministries develop resources and partnerships to allow you to do the work of the gospel more effectively in our local communities in Kansas.

Every credentialed minister will receive a link to the AGK Edition.  A different ACMR Supplemental survey is being sent to our churches.  If you receive both, please complete both.

TECHNICAL NOTE – If you have not received the survey, please check your spam folder.

For more information about the survey, or to request a paper copy – feel free to contact me at survey@abilityed.com or stop by the Special Touch Disability Ministries Booth.  Thanks again to Pastor Terry Yancey for allowing me to serve the AGK network this way.

Blessings,

Pastor Marvin J Miller

www.abilitychurch.org

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION FROM PASTOR TERRY YANCEY

Dear AGK Leaders,

Our son and his wife have three wonderful boys. The middle boy is severely autistic. Our grandson is almost 11 years old, basically non-verbal, lives with no grasp of social appropriateness, and no comprehension of the difference in a safe or dangerous environment.

I told you about him today in hopes it would make this request feel more personal, closer to home.

Our fellow AGK minister, Marvin Miller, is currently completing his Doctor of Ministry project. His work focuses on how the church interfaces with individuals with special needs and with the families that deal with family members with special needs.

Part of the task entails soliciting information through a survey. I’ve worked through his Beta test surveys and know from experience that it won’t take but a few minutes to complete each survey. So, I’m asking (as a personal favor AND with hopes for an eventual enhancement to our effectiveness as a Network) that you please take a few minutes and help Marvin complete a project that holds real potential to bless multiple families and individuals. His research will help discover and create tools to better reach all local people and families with all of the Gospel.

Many thanks!

Pastor Terry Yancey

AGK Superintendent

“To strengthen and establish effective Pentecostal leaders and churches”

Take the Survey!

As part of my doctoral program, I am comparing and contrasting the perceptions between Christian clergy representatives (pastors) and their parishioners (church attenders) who are primary family caregivers of persons with intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) in the state of Kansas.

For more information and to take the survey, please go to 

www.abilitysurvey.org

Mark your calendar for the 

2014 Summer Institute on Theology and Disability

June 16-20, 2014

Dallas, Texas

http://bethesdainstitute.org/Summer-Institute-Theology-Disability

Journal of the Christian Institute on Disability

One of the newest additions in the field of scholarly research and integration between special education, theology, and ministry is the Journal of the Christian Institute of Disability.  I received  my copy of the Fall/Winter 2013 edition in the mail yesterday. It is the first time I've seen my words in print, as I was humbly asked to write an expanded review of Saul Olyan's work Disability in the Hebrew Bible.

To subscribe to the journal or to download select articles, visit JCID 

http://www.joniandfriends.org/jcid/

Friendship Ministries - Executive Director Needed

I have been involved with Friendship Ministries for nearly a decade now and currently serve on the executive board.  With a reach onto four continents and several languages, it is one of the world's largest Christian disability resourcing ministries.

_______________________________________________

Friendship Ministries and Friendship Ministries-Canada seek applicants for the position of Executive Director to lead the ministries in sharing God’s love with people who have intellectual disability and enabling them to become an active part of God’s family.

Qualified applicants will have:

• A bachelor degree (special education or ministry-related preferred)
• Four years management experience (special education or ministry-related preferred)
• Passion for including people with intellectual disabilities in the life of the Church
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and speaking
• Ability to manage a staff and volunteers
• Ability to raise funds to support the work of the ministry
• A commitment to Jesus Christ demonstrated in word and in deed

Other desirable qualities include:

• Experience with curriculum development and publishing
• Understanding of diversity and cultural complexity
• Direct experience in a Friendship Class/Club

Pay Range:  $62,000-$82,000

Applicants should submit the following items for the consideration of the search committee:

1. A resumé

2. Essays responding to the following questions:

• Why are you interested in serving in this position?
• What prior experience do you have with people who have intellectual disability?
• What is your theology of disability?

All materials should be sent to Rev. Barry Chance at barrywchance@gmail.com.

_____________________________

If you would like to know more about applying for this position, please find out more at www.friendship.org