The difference between inclusion and belonging.
22/09/23
A young family turns up to church for the first time. They have a young girl in year 6 who uses a mobility aid and is navigating herself through the main entrance. She loves to read and write.
A teenage boy comes to church with his dad. He has Autism, is non-verbal, and mainly looks off to the side. He uses a tablet to communicate.
A boy in year 4 with Downs Syndrome is in your kids’ church and he loves to sing and move to the music.
What would be your approach in these scenarios to welcome these people with disability and their families, and have them part of your ministry?
Churches are seeing an increase in young people with disability attending their ministries, ranging from physical, intellectual, sensory, psychosocial, or neurodiversity. More and more people with disability can access church because of greater awareness, interventions, and diagnostics as well as an increasing shift to integrated approaches to community and learning.
With thanks to modern technology, government grants, and the generosity of financial giving, church buildings and ministry centres have been able to undergo renovations and improvements for greater accessibility. In addition, where possible, accommodations in such things as sound, lighting, and even signage have been made it possible for people with sensory and neurodivergent needs to be included.
As we consider our ministries, what are the next steps to help someone with disability not only access the building but meaningfully belong? How can they be valued as contributors to the life and health of the church family through their presence, service, and worship?
This is the difference between inclusion and belonging. To illustrate with an analogy: to be included would look like being invited to a dance. You are invited and you can get there. So far, so good. But it’s even better if someone asks you to dance. This is participating and belonging. As John Swinton says, “To be included means that the door has been opened, to belong means that you are missed[1] [when you are not there]”.
A Biblical perspective in thinking through belonging can start in Genesis 1:27, where we read that God has made humans in His image, both male and female. God has created all people to have value and to be loved by Him. He has made all people to be in relation with Himself, and with each other.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the body of Christ and how every individual at church is a necessary member contributing to the diverse church gathering. Serving at church and in our ministries can look like up-front leadership and management, and it can also look like time spent with people, sharing their faith journey, or doing bits and pieces behind the scenes. Everyone can contribute in some way to the building up of the body of Christ.
The driving factor in fostering a culture of belonging is love for one another. In 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:7, Paul shares that we can be doing lots of things that are good and well meaning, but it is nothing without love. When we look at our ramps and accessible bathrooms, we have ticked the box for inclusion, but love motivates us to cultivate a place of belonging.
It is from love for the young person with Autism that we create structures and routine and be mindful of sudden and loud noises. It is from love that for the young person who uses a wheelchair that your group meets in the building they can independently access. It is from love for the young person with an intellectual disability that you consider additional or alternate activities that they can participate alongside others. It is from love that you sit patiently with someone who has cerebral palsy whilst they type out a conversation on their iPad. These acts of love are examples of helping those with disability belong in your church and ministries.
Here are some practical ways to cultivate a ministry of belonging, showing people that they are valued, loved, and will be missed if they are not present…
Take the time to get to know the person with disability and their family
This might involve sitting down with them at some point in your program or over morning tea/supper as well observing the ways you have seen them participate in the group. Taking the time to get to know a young person with disability will help you learn what things they love to engage with, where their special interests lie, and what skills they can contribute to the life of the church.
Learn how people with disability connect with God
Are they someone who loves to sing uninhibited and display joy in singing praises to God? Do they love to express their love for God through drawing or dancing or even touching the cross on display? Give space and opportunities for these moments, and even try new ideas to see if there are other ways they like to engage. Even if non-verbal, God knows what is on their hearts as they express their faith to Him.
Find ways for people with disability to serve
You might notice that they enjoy technological things or are task driven and can help with things like the tech desk or setting up supper or even with setup up/packing away. Perhaps they like to help with incidental tasks or be part of the welcoming team or marking the attendance roll.
People with disability and their families desire to access church and to belong – to know that they are welcome to come as they are. Showing and expressing to them that they are loved, valued, and necessary to the life of the church will enable the whole church to flourish and grow in the love of God. Some things may take time, and that’s ok! Love for those with disability will give opportunity for them to know that they are not only included, but that they belong.
[1] https://www.publicchristianity.org/disability-inclusion-belonging-and-faith/
