Disability and the Church

[bensonbutnohedges]

Anyone interested in a one day conference on 7th October at Friends Meeting House, London NW1 about disability in the Church? www.premier.org.uk

oops. Should be www.premier.org.uk/enablingchurch

Thanks troublewithtalk. Will have a look.

So have I.

Brill, ta, will look up and hopefully if I can sort care, will go... will also pass link to church leaders here...

There was a really interesting discussion on Radio 4 about this earlier in the week beyond belief.

Listened to the programme.
What I have found is that in some areas of the Church, especially the Charismatic ones,is that there is a big emphasis on praying for healing. I think that puts a lot of pressure on the disabled person if they continue to be disabled. I have two children with disabilities, one with MS and one with ASD.

a few thoughts, I know what you mean. Dh has felt in the past he didn't want to be prayed for in case the people praying were disapointed if nothing happened...
We are now part of 'lively' church that does offer prayer for any issues, including healing, but also I think has quite positive attitude to disability stuff, (dh disabled and ds too)and we are not only ones there.

I think what's important is that prayer is offered for what the person themselves wants,not what others see as the issue. (we have a couple of Deaf guys who come (small group of us translate services). They feel God designed them Deaf, but have asked for prayer for healing for other health issues.

What results from prayer is not responsibility of the person prayed for. No stress or pressure on them. Just as accepted and part of the family with or without disabilties....

Hope that was ok to post... we are not perfect, but are working and learning..

I'm going to it.
(PS Churches that pray for disabled people without their consent are missing the point in the Bible - Jesus asked what the person wanted first, then offered it. I've no time for ones that pray for healing, then find it doesn't work, then try to blame the disabled person for 'not having enough faith' either. Most are fine and don't do this, I hasten to add.)