SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 • $8.95
Journal of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
MINISTRY OF
the
INCLUSION issue 1
DAvE SchErEr (AGAPE*), MAStEr of ArtS StuDEnt By embracing an attitude of “come as you are�, Dave Scherer, aka AGAPE*, shares the gospel with teens through his hip-hop outreach ministry. As a Luther Seminary student, Scherer has developed a deeper theological understanding which allows him to better equip young people with the message that God loves them and is active in their lives.
Innovate
the delIvery.
Innovate
the dIscovery.
www.luthersem.edu
Missional
engaging
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expansive
innovative
faithful
SPRING 2012
PUBLICATION INFORMATION Published by: ELCA Youth Ministry Network www.elcaymnet.org
CONTENTS Welcome! 4 Rev. Todd Buegler Changing Dreams and New Beginnings 5 Rev. Craig E. Johnson Burden or Gift? 7 Rev. Hal Weldin The Spectrum of Inclusion 8 Charles E. Werth
Swinging Doors: Transitions in Ministry 12 Rachel Arends A View From Somewhere Else 14 Rev. George Baum Thank You For Your Support! 16 Calendar of Events 17 Subscription Information: call 866-ELCANET (352-2638) or visit: www.elcaymnet.org connect@elcaymnet.org
Contributing Writers: George Baum, Craig Johnson, Hal Weldin, Charles Werth
Design and Layout: Michael Sladek Impression Media Group www.impressionmg.com
Contributing Editor: Debbie Sladek
FUTURE CONNECT THEMES: LIFT & Children, Youth & Family Ministry (Summer ‘12) Worship (Fall ‘12) Partnership (Winter ‘13)
ELCA YOUTH MINISTRY NETWORK BOARD Connect Editorial Board: Chris Bruesehoff, Todd Buegler, Sue Mendenhall, Jeremy Myers, Debbie Sladek, Michael Sladek
Julie Miller: Board Member
Erik Ullestad: Board Member
Rev. Ben Morris: Board Member
Rev. Larry Wagner: Board Chairperson
Yvonne Steindal, AIM: Board Member
Rev. Mike Ward: Board Member
Valerie Taylor Samuel: Board Memeber
Rev. Todd Buegler: Executive Director
Cover Photo ©2012 Michael Sladek
The ELCA Youth Ministry Network exists to strengthen and empower adult youth ministry leaders in service to Christ as a part of God’s mission. 3
WELCOME!
NEWS BITS
Dear friends,
The 2012 Salary Survey results have been released! Thanks to all of you who filled out your surveys! You can access the survey results by going to elcaymnet.org/salarysurvey.
The day is coming…I know it. Our congregation has a strong commitment to “Ministry of Inclusion.” We have been very intentional about crafting a philosophy that all are welcome, and that one’s level of cognitive or physical ability will not determine whether or not they can participate in our ministry. We’ve recruited “buddies” to accompany those who need them; we’ve worked to train our teachers and small group leaders; we’ve invested time, space and energy. And these efforts have begun to produce fruit. More folks with a variety of abilities are starting to come and participate. And the expectations of what the church can and should produce has been going up. This is all great! But the day is coming when I’m going to have someone with a significant disability who will sign up for one of our major summer trips. It might be a Boundary Waters wilderness trip, or perhaps the ELCA Youth Gathering. Or maybe one of our 12 day mission trips with Habitat for Humanity, where we drive our bus cross-country…sleep on church floors…work on the Habitat site… So what are we going to do then? It’s going to be a challenge. Our bus doesn’t have a wheelchair lift. I don’t know if the churches cross-country are accessible. And how do we make a Habitat site work if someone has mobility issues? The implications are huge: group dynamics…transportation…budget…
Workshop proposals are now being sought out for Extravaganza 2013! If you have a workshop proposal to make, please go to elcaymnet.org/workshops to submit your proposal.
The Practice Discipleship Webinars are complete! 8 great webinars have been recorded and are available for you to access and use in your congregations. For free! You can access these webinars by going to elcaymnet.org/elcatraining. And watch for information on Practice Discipleship Phase II, coming soon!
So what are we going to do then? We will welcome. We will welcome because it is consistent with our philosophy, and if we’re going to talk a good game, we’d better be willing to play one too. But even more importantly, we will welcome because we believe that God calls us to look at all through God’s eyes. And God sees all young people, regardless of ability, as beautiful, gifted people. We focus not on level of ability, but on baptismal identity. All are God’s children. And all are (to borrow a phrase) ministers of the Gospel. All are called to live and to serve. And so we’ll figure it out. To not do so isn’t an option. We’ll do the work required to make everyone welcome, and to strengthen our community by making sure that all have the opportunity to participate fully. That’s what we take on in this issue of “Connect.” We’re going after the tough question of how we integrate a ministry of inclusion in what we do, because sooner or later the question of how we welcome everyone is going to come to us. I pray that we are ready and equipped to give the right answer. Peace,
Rev. Todd Buegler Executive Director – ELCA Youth Ministry Network Pastor—Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN Todd@elcaymnet.org
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The Network Board at its April meeting set a big, hairy, audacious goal: By April 30, 2015, the Network will be made up of 1000 Network members. It’s a great goal towards growth in our organization. Watch for information coming out soon on how we will achieve that goal.
A special thank you to Jo Mueller, synod staff in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA. Jo recently resigned her position to move to Belgium with her husband, who was transferred there for his work. Jo has been a hard worker and a great partner on behalf of the Network for many years. Thank you Jo, for your great ministry!
SPRING 2012
CHANGING DREAMS AND NEW BEGINNINGS: A PARENT’S THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON DISABILITIES by Rev. Craig E. Johnson
BEGINNINGS Our journey with a child with disabilities began 28 years ago this month. For us it wasn’t a lightning bolt, an all of a sudden birth event; instead it was a nagging worry. A word from others here and there: A delivery nurse that said, “This baby wasn’t ready to come just yet.” From a doctor friend, “Her ears look like a syndrome of some sort.” A kindly great grandmother, “Something is wrong with that baby. What is wrong with that baby?” Choking and gagging over formula. Not holding her head up. No crawling; but pediatricians reassuring, “She’s just taking her time. Don’t worry.” Finally, we asked for a consultation with the senior pediatrician in the practice. He came in with white hair and a kindly face. He examined her at eight months, watched her, and tapped her extremities. Twenty minutes later he said, “I think your daughter has cerebral palsy.” I quickly launched myself into the land of denial. What a wonderful place. As a typical male I thought, “Well, now we know the problem, let’s fix it.” My wife wasn’t so lucky. She had worked with young people with disabilities. She got it; understood it right away. Internalized it. The tears streamed down her face in the examining room. The doctor faced me and questioned, “Mother has tears?” I thought, “Well of course she has tears, you dope!” There were some brief reassurances that this was mild. Everything would be fine. I was in a confused, lack of understanding place. We left the room together no longer having a supposed predictable future which I now know never actually happens anyway. Our dreams for our daughter began changing that day. But the old dreams died hard. There was a loss that day. The loss wasn’t of a perfect child. Lord knows when you have a hair
line and body like mine; perfection really isn’t in the cards. Of course it wasn’t a loss of love. If anything, the love grows for the child whom you worry about. The loss was a move from naïve optimism to a fear of the unknown future. The loss was of dreams of a typical life to unknown changing dreams. The loss was of sureness to confusion. The loss was a naiveté and grasp of life and reality that didn’t include people who had disabilities. Though, that has turned out to be a gain too, because who wants to remain naïve and have a flawed worldview?
WHAT IS GOD’S PURPOSE? Many times I have had conversations with parents of children with disabilities and the impression I am left with is that in their theological framework somehow God has a purpose in mind for the disabled child in their family and their situation. What is intimated is that this disability was predetermined and there was a Divine reason for it, which will unfold as time goes on. That, frankly, is not how I view the world and God’s activity in it. Instead life is full of surprises. We live in a world that is not perfect. Not everything that happens is good. God seems many times not to interfere in the natural progress of our lives and yet God is still present.
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It seems that God has chosen to limit God’s power in the world. This limiting has to do with the very nature of life. God had to retreat in power in order for the creation to be born. God had to limit control and make room for the universe in order that life, as we know it, can be lived and experienced. We do not have an allcontrolling God. Instead we have an all-loving God. A God who stands beside us through all of the hits the world and others may give us. God is with us in every surprise. God did not, as I understand divine activity, enter the genes of a son or daughter in the womb and adjust things so that a child would be disabled to teach humans and the world a lesson. Disabilities happen. Many of us have been caught up in a disabled person’s life. We have been called to care for this person as best we can. We have been called to help them to become as independent and autonomous as they are able. The question is not, “Why me? Or why my son or daughter?” There is no answer to that question except maybe “Why not me?” The only ‘why?’ to be answered is that something went wrong in the process of building this body. Instead, what the question should be is, “What will I do now? How will I live authentically with this child’s life? What should I be doing to encourage? How do my dreams change and remain dreams and not dreads? What should I not be doing? And how can I take care of myself too?”
AND WHERE IS GOD THEN? In the book of Genesis, something very bad happens to a son of Jacob. You know the story. Joseph is abducted by his brothers; he is sold for money to strangers, and is taken a thou-
sand miles away to a foreign land. He ends up in prison, but then things start to happen. God works subtly, simply and God is gently there with Joseph to move history forward. No matter how bad things got for Joseph: jail, jail mate executions, hopelessness, no matter how alone, how dark the day looked, God was there and refused to allow an abduction to frustrate what needed to happen. A nation (Israel) had to be built and saved. God did not create the abduction. God continued to work in spite of the abduction. The whole biblical story is one story after the other about God coming to people in trouble supporting them, bolstering them and pushing them forward. We don’t have an all-controlling God. That would take away our life. Instead we have an all-loving God that stands beside us in the good and the difficulties. Sometimes when we may be the least aware of it, God is there pushing us here or drawing us gently there. The biblical story is a story of a God who never deserts people, but gives them strength to carry on, to serve, to move beyond themselves, and to thrive. It may take more than one generation, but when God is present hope is alive.
WHAT GOOD CAN COME FROM OUR SITUATION? Persons with disabilities teach us how to live in the present. When my wife and I get into emotional trouble, it is usually because we venture too far into the unknown future. Living with a person with a disability forces us to focus on the joy or difficulty of the moment and not to worry about the unknown future which can’t be predicted, but rather to live in the present. To enjoy and celebrate every good day we have. What we have found is that at the end of most days, we can say today was a good day. Persons with disabilities teach us to love deeply. I have a pet theory that the more energy, effort, blood, sweat, and tears you share with a child the closer you are and the deeper your love. These people with disabilities capture our hearts and teach us the meaning of love. Many teach us the meaning of agape love
– love without expectation of return. They help us understand how God must love us broken as we are. It is obvious being around a child or an adult with a disability that they are much more interested in your heart than your head. ‘Do you love me?’ is their question. They want a relationship with you. Persons with disabilities teach us about a theology of the cross. The world is about power. The world is about honoring those who win, the smartest, not those who lose, or the slowest. The world loves the successful, not the unsuccessful. The world loves the clever; the not-so-clever are ignored. The world loves the strong and turns a back on the weak. No one in this world asks to be born with a disability. No one wants to be sick. And here lies the great power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said, “God has chosen the weak” and foolish in the world to confound the strong and the powerful. They teach us about faith. God is deeply concerned about the despised. When Jesus walked in our world his time was spent with the unloved, the outcast, the sick and the poor. In that deep weakness God created great strength. Jesus told an important story about who to invite to a party. Forget about inviting the rich and famous. Instead, invite the poor, the ragamuffins, the blind, the deaf, and you will receive a blessing. Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little ones, welcomes me and the one that sent me.” Our work as parents is to support the ones that God is most concerned about. Again the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians talked about the church being like a human body. With strong parts and weak parts, but all parts are necessary for the health of a body; the weakest are necessary to the body and should be a part of it. In the Gospel, God has shown immense power in weakness. This Gospel is present in everyday life. We can discover the presence of God in our sons and daughters particularly in their and our weakness.
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Persons with disabilities teach us to be advocates for those who cannot help themselves. They can help us to develop our own capacity to love and help the weak. That is being a human sign of the Gospel message. The disabled can bring people together and bring out what is deeply positive in us. They teach us and lead us on a journey to be more compassionate. They teach us every day that people need people in this world. The disabled will change your life, your mind and especially your values. They teach us how to accept ourselves and our own challenges. They teach us how to be tough and to advocate. The disabled teach us about faith. They teach us how to trust. We live in a world of an unseen and unpredictable future. As everyone does but just doesn’t know it. Do we trust the Gospel to give ourselves to God’s care? Oftentimes, the disabled can be our mentors of faithfulness and hope. Our hope must never die. Hope for cures and medical interventions. Hope for a good fulfilled life for our sons and daughters, hope for the world and its willingness to change. Hope for the life to come. The Bible ends with some great words of hope that speak of a new creation: Revelations 21: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…And I heard a loud voice saying, “See the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more… I will be their God and they shall be my children.” Rev. Craig E. Johnson, Pastor Craig Johnson is the interim Senior Pastor at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to becoming interim Senior Pastor, Johnson served as the bishop of the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod for ten years. Pastor Johnson and his wife, Cindy, reside in Minnesota and are parents of three children.
SPRING 2012
BURDEN OR GIFT? Mark 12:42-44 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Matthew 25:40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ “ We have been trained by our North American self-success culture to love our independence. We value not being a burden on anyone and we confess that we often obsess about what we individually have accomplished. We want to be individually successful, independently wealthy, and so self sufficient that we would be attractive to just about anyone. We raise our kids to be independent thinkers and we do our best as parents to emancipate our young adult children into the world with all they need to be, “on their own”. Independence is valued at every level and fiber of this culture. Need proof? Put a resume together lately? It’s all about my accomplishments, my educational degrees, my employment accomplishments, my gift to this world, my value that I have added through my volunteering, my…my…my…independence. My, my, my. What happens to those who can not be independent in this culture? We are talking about those who have no “boot-straps” to pull themselves up with, whose resume is a list of people and programs that have taken care of them, rather than what they have individually done. What could be their gift to us, when they literally have nothing to give? Burden or gift?
by Rev. Hal Weldin
So the poor widow who gave “all she owned, all she had to live on”, comes to mind. She gave away her independence, clear and simple. WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT? She would have to live her next day, week, month, year, life, depending on the kindness of others. The community would have to embrace her if she was going to live. For this woman now to survive she would be at the literal mercy of the community. Burden or Gift? Or the wonderful list that is a part of the story Jesus told in Matthew 25, you remember, the sheep and goats and the shocking list: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink, a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you or sick or in prison and visit you?” Burden or Gift? Or in my own version, “Lord when did we see you as a dependent, a total burden, someone who needed a world of people to take care of you, a person who can not even wipe their own face, or control their reaction to even the slightest fear, or Lord when did we see you as someone who makes us uncomfortable because I didn’t know how to act when I was feeling so weird, or when you were a person who didn’t know how to respect my personal space and wanted to hug me and I felt everything inside me want to pull away. Lord when did I see you when you were disrupting my program by making unusual sounds and making people feel annoyed?” Burden or Gift? Lord, when did I see you as my son Daniel? My answer is every day of the last 24 years. Full disclosure, my son Daniel is a person with developmental disabilities and needs constant care. He needs a world of parents who look after his every move. He doesn’t understand anything about being Lutheran or Christian, but you should hear him sing. He doesn’t have any insight as to why he feels what he feels, he
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just feels. He certainly has not been taught to be who he is and how to live, but he has taught me more about grace, pain, joy and the meaning of life than all the study and church in my life put together. He can not be independent on most everything, which means the people around him have to “step up”. We have to put our own self aside and give him the care that he can not provide for himself. Burden or Gift? I have been in full time ministry for over 31 years of my life, and I am quite sure of one thing; Daniel has changed more lives deeply and profoundly than I have with all my independence, study, training, and initiative. Daniel’s gift is his vulnerability which is real and profound, and in his life I am blessed and burdened every day. People of God, there are those around us who can not be independent in the manner our culture wants them to be, or even in a way that preserves our comfort. These are God’s gift to us, a gift that comes with a burden. Not burden or gift, but gift and burden. Want a chance to actually touch, care, love, provide for our Lord Jesus Christ? Lord when did we see you? Rev. Hal C. Weldin has 30 plus years of full time ministry in youth and family ministry, several parish settings, and some years working with Luther Seminary. Currently Hal is working as a Chaplain with palliative care in a hospital in downtown Minneapolis.
THE SPECTRUM OF INCLUSION: MINISTRY WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES1
by Charles E. Werth
ATTITUDE AND LANGUAGE Throughout history people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been hidden from sight, even within the family of the church. Worse still, historically, they and their families have been discouraged from active participation in congregations. The American Association on Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) estimates that 2% - 3% of the U.S. population has intellectual and developmental disabilities (about 9.4 million people). Eighty-five percent of them (about 8 million) and their families express a desire to exercise their spirituality in the context of a worshipping community. As many as 6.5 million people with intellectual disabilities, their families, and the people who provide supports for them indicate that they are not involved in a worshipping community because at some point they or their families were subtly or blatantly excluded from their chosen worship community. “We’re glad you’re here, but we’re not equipped to deal with your son.” “If you want to worship here you must keep your daughter quiet in worship.” “You are welcome here, but your child is distracting other worshippers. Maybe if you sat in the cry room it would be more comfortable for you.” “We are so glad you chose our congregation, but it must be embarrassing to have people staring at you during worship.” These are common responses received by people with disabilities, parents and care-givers when attending a worship service. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities remain among the most marginal-
ized and oppressed people in every nation of the world. Society historically has built barriers to segregate people with disabilities; devalued, dehumanized and institutionalized them. Even the most enlightened and inclusive church bodies, in their efforts to become truly all-encompassing—more often than not— overlook people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individual congregations, influenced by foundational resources like Erik W. Carter’s Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities2, recognize that people with disabilities want to be treated as equal, make real choices, lead independent lives, gain meaningful employment and be fully involved as equal partners in worship and faith formation activities. Those congregations struggle to find the resources and the expertise to make these things a reality.
ENTRY POINTS Congregations develop multiple entry points for people with disabilities, their families, and those who support them. Guided by the experience and expertise provided by ministry consultants from Bethesda Lutheran Communities3, and resources from the Bethesda Institute4, Friendship Ministries5, Rejoicing Spirits6, Chosen Families7 and others, congregations grow into places of belonging and becoming for people with disabilities. Inclusive congregations are equipped to enable people with disabilities to become all that God intends them to be, here and in the world to come. These resources of people and printed materials equip congregations for two equally important models of ministry with people who
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have intellectual and developmental disabilities. One model immediately and seamlessly involves people with disabilities in any and all congregational activities. The other creates entry points through dedicated ministries designed specifically for people with disabilities. The two models may be most effective when they exist in concert with each other to support the choices of people with disabilities and their families. Both emphasize ministry with (rather than to) people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ministries in both models are person-centered and rooted in the community. Faith-based service providers sustain individuals and their families through a vast array of supports that emphasize personal choice, independence, meaningful employment, quality of life, and most important for the church: spiritual support through local congregations and worshipping communities. A fundamental goal is to create environments within congregations that reflect mutual respect between people with and without disabilities, who learn from each other as equals in God’s creation. With encouraging frequency, non-faith-based service providers are recognizing that all people are born with a spiritual nature. Those “secular” agencies acknowledge that participation in a worshipping community is vital to social and spiritual growth for people with developmental disabilities. By fully embracing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities into their communion and ministry, congregations take a stand
Developmental disability is a broad term that includes a wide range of disabilities that occur during the developmental period. Intellectual disability is one of several types of developmental disabilities. 2 Copyright © 2007 by Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. 3 http://bethesdalutherancommunities.org – choose “Faith Supports” 4 http://bethesdainstitute.org/ 5 http://www.friendship.org/ 6 http://www.rejoicingspirits.org/ 7 http://chosenfamilies.org/
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SPRING 2012
INCORPORATION
for including the whole body of Christ in the church family.
THE INCLUSION SPECTRUM Our society views people with disabilities as inferior, broken, and with little to offer. Our language betrays this attitude. When the local traffic reporter announces that there is a “disabled” car in the left lane of the freeway, we envision a vehicle that must be towed away because it is powerless to act on its own. Unfortunately we have adopted the same language when referring to people: “he or she is disabled!” With that description we render the whole person as less than useful; however, when we adopt language like “she or he has a disability,” we are careful not to discard the whole person, but simply acknowledge that the individual is “differently abled.” Preparing to become an inclusive congregation requires language sensitivity. An indispensable primer for any congregation or group is to be found at www.disabilityisnatural.com. Kathie Snow has prepared a guide entitled “People First Language” to ensure inclusion, freedom, and respect for people with disabilities.8 Ask the question: “How inclusive is my congregation as it seeks to involve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities?” Answers will rest at various points along the
INTEGRATION
inclusion spectrum. The illustrations that follow are not fictional. They represent worstcase scenarios found within a few of the 400 BethesdaNetwork congregations that provide spiritual supports for 1,800 people who receive holistic supports from Bethesda Lutheran Communities.9 Incorporation is the beginning point on the spectrum. The notion of incorporating someone with a disability into the congregation’s sounds cold and impersonal. The word is chosen intentionally because incorporation simply means creating or reserving physical space for people with disabilities, especially those who use a wheelchair. The space is usually at the back of the church where they cannot even see what is happening let alone participate. Any “behavior” exhibited by a worshipper with a disability must be “handled” immediately by the accompanying support staff. No one from the congregation assists. Preferably, the offending worshipper is shuttled-off to the cry room or narthex. Incorporation usually means, “You are welcome, but please sit quietly in the back.” A congregation at this end of the spectrum requires enlightenment and the edification provided by one of the aforementioned resources. Some congregations move from incorporation to integration. As an example of integration I cite
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INVOLVEMENT
a congregation where people with disabilities are not relegated to the rear of the sanctuary. Accommodations have been made at random locations in the nave by the removal or shortening of pews so that people who use wheelchairs have the option of moving closer to the chancel. People with disabilities who do not use wheelchairs are able to sit wherever they wish. However, congregational supports for worshippers with disabilities are not offered. Support staff, paid by the service provider, or parents are solely responsible for support. No efforts are made to address what is going through the minds of some of the worshippers: “I have limited control of my hand and arm movements, and I am expected to open my hymnal; how do I accomplish that?” “Hymnals are open, but I don’t read.” “The congregation is asked to rise, while I am able to do so only in spirit.” “An atmosphere of quiet is expected, but I cannot control the sounds I make.” In this particular congregation when it is time for the sermon, the children of the congregation are dismissed to Sunday School, and people with disabilities are to be removed from the nave as expeditiously as possible—implying that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are in a “perpetual state of childhood.” The discomfort precipitated by integration can be even worse than incorporation. This is a congregation that will receive renewed
http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/images/PDF/pfl09.pdf BethesdaNetwork Member Organization: any Christian congregation that provides spiritual supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in partnership with Bethesda Lutheran Communities. 8
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attention from a ministry consultant using the workbook: “Building a Developmental Disability Ministry”—available free on-line from Bethesda. In neither of these examples are there provisions for involvement by people with disabilities in other Sunday morning activities like fellowship time, coffee hour, or Christian education hour. Worship, with stringent limitations, is the extent of their ministry to rather than with. In neither instance are people with disabilities encouraged or supported in smaller, age-appropriate group meetings like mission society, youth group, fellowship events, concerts, Bible classes, etc. Nor are people with disabilities given the opportunity to use their God-given talents, singing, playing hand bells, greeting, ushering, or assisting in a Sunday School class.
FULL INVOLVEMENT IS THE GOAL At the positive end of the spectrum is inclusion. People with disabilities are involved to the extent that they desire, and are embraced as full partners in congregational life. Inclusion respects the choices of people with disabilities. What does inclusion in the congregation look like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Sarah is a twenty-three-year old woman with Down syndrome. She attends Sunday morning worship and Adult Bible Class at her home congregation, is an usher, and is a member of the Altar Guild. In addition, she attends a monthly dedicated worship event sponsored by Rejoicing Spirits in another congregation. When
asked why she chooses to participate in both she replied, “I love church on Sunday, but sometimes I just want to be with people like me.” Alex has multiple developmental disabilities; he worships with his mother every Sunday in their home congregation. Music especially engages his attention; it is his gift. On Wednesday evenings he participates, along with several other young people who have disabilities, in an inclusive youth confirmation experience. Young people without disabilities have been equipped to support Alex and his friends, so that they can participate to the full extent of their gifts and abilities and have their personal choices honored. Marcia attends a dedicated Friendship Class on Tuesday evenings. It is a class where people with disabilities partner with people who have no significant disabilities. Marcia and her partner learn from each other and have become best friends. Joe lives in a non-faith-based group home that offers transportation to Joe’s church of choice. A nearby congregation established a disability ministry by researching all of the service providers in the area and discovered five group homes near the church. Members of the congregation connected with the service providers by hosting a holiday party at each of the group homes for Christmas and Easter. Relationships with program managers and direct support professionals were built. Before long some people in the group homes, including Joe, asked to attend worship.
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When Joe arrives at church his two worship companions, equipped through a training program in the congregation by a ministry consultant, meet him at the curb and support him in worship, fellowship time, and Bible class. His worship companions provide transportation so that Joe is able to attend other church events during the week. Phil worships regularly at his favorite local congregation and is supported by a direct support professional (DSP) from the group home. When Phil indicated that he desired to be baptized, the DSP approached the pastor who was familiar with Bethesda’s Building on the Rock curriculum. At the conclusion of the classes, the DSP asked if she too could be baptized. She and her entire family have joined the congregation and worship with Phil every Sunday. In order to be fully inclusive, congregations provide options and opportunities. With guidance from people and printed resources, they listen to and respond to people with disabilities seeking to support them as they would support any other group of people in the congregation. Charles E. Werth has served as vice president of religious life and church relations for Bethesda Lutheran Communities since 2009. His experience includes more than 20 years as a parish pastor in communities from Eugene, Oregon to Richmond, Virginia. He spent seven years as director of church relations at Valparaiso University.
SPRING 2012
3rd Tuesday Conversations are monthly gatherings of friends. They are great continuing education events. They are chances to hear from, and interact with experts in the field. 3TC conversations are free for Network members.
Our schedule: June 19 August 21 September 18
Our conversations: We use online webinars. You can log in to a special webinar site and listen to the conversation while watching images on your screen. Or, you can watch on the computer while calling in and listening on your phone. You will have opportunities to ask questions as well.
Times: All 3TC conversations begin at: 2:00 p.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m. Central 12:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific
Join the conversation! www.elcaymnet.org/3tc
Here’s our belief: There is an amazing amount of talent, expertise and skill within our community. And we
open source youth ministry
have all developed resources for use in our congregations. Many of us are willing to share those resources that we have created. MartinsList is a place to do that. Here, we can share our work with each other...and can create a community of mutual support in our ministry. It’s open source ministry. It’s MartinsList.
www.MartinsList.org 11
SWINGING DOORS: TRANSITIONS IN MINISTRY
by Rachel Arends
The closing of a door can bring blessed privacy and comfort- the opening, terror. Conversely, the closing of a door can be a sad and final thing- the opening a wonderfully joyous moment. –Andy Rooney My head is spinning. My stomach is in knots. I’m trying to listen, but God, are you speaking? Did You open this new door of opportunity for me? I’m nervous. I’m scared. Wait, I’m excited? Transition. The word carries so much weight. Recently, my life has been through the swinging doors of transition, I exited my job as a full time youth director, and began working with InterServe Ministries doing intentional interim youth ministry. Change is never easy and yet constant in our lives. I want to offer some insight into my transition with the hope to help others contemplating a change. We in the church world are always thinking about our “call,” a message from God on where we need to be or are supposed to be in our lives. The questioning of my call began when I hit some bumps in the road at a time when I felt things were going really well and I felt very secure in what I was doing. These challenges led me into a time of questioning, anxiety, and insecurity. I tried to ignore God’s nudging toward something new which came through friends, prayer, and sermons, but I heard God saying there was something more for me, something different. As I spent time listening, praying, and talking with friends, I questioned everything. I was confused and upset, not wanting to go through a transition out of a place that I called home and loved with all my heart. However, it became clear that my call was changing. As a friend said to me, “It is time.” I had made my decision, but then came the hard part, making it a reality. Since one of the pastors was going on sabbatical, I had set up a meeting with both pastors of the church on October 19th, before the sabbatical. This way I could say goodbye to the pastor who would be away when I left and we were all on the same page.
Journal Entry, Wednesday, October 19: “Well, here goes nothing,” I say to myself as I walk into my pastor’s office to resign. We sat down and I was so nervous and scared that I blurted out, “I will be resigning after Christmas and wanted to let you know.” Whew! I feel better. Hold on, I don’t hear anything except the sound of silence. This is not what I expected. After a few shocked comments, many questions followed, “Why? Do you really think you are called there? What can we do to get you to stay?” I left the meeting feeling disappointed and hurt. The good news is that the pastors knew. I am feeling relieved that they have a heads up, even if nothing happens in the meantime. This is what’s right, right God? The next month and a half were pretty normal. Things were going well and I put all of my energy into my last couple of months. Meanwhile, I was in conversation with the directors of my new job and busy with interviews there. On December 1st, I had my final interview and was offered the job on December 7th. I was filled with emotions: joy, excitement, fear, confusion, peace. The only thought in my head at this point was, “How am I going to tell the kids?!” I went home that evening and wrote an official resignation letter that was simple and professional, knowing that the resignation needed to happen soon…it had to happen now. The day, December 8, came and my emotions were at an all-time high. Even though I had resigned a couple months before this, it would be official today. There was no backing out after this. My head again was spinning. My stomach again was in knots. I thought, “Ok, God, one last chance to slam on the brakes…” Nothing. This was the correct decision, so I met with the senior pastor and the church council president. I handed over my resignation letter, we had a short conversation, and it was over. I felt relieved and yet the question was still in my head, “How am I going to tell the kids?!” The senior pastor and I met to plan the order of telling the staff, congregation, and most of all, the kids.
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We agreed on a plan and set it into motion. At this point, I felt good about the plan in place, but was having a hard time keeping the secret any longer. I texted a friend my thoughts from the day, as my overwhelming emotions got the best of me, “I feel like I am in an awful soap opera that only four people watch.” The first step was to write a letter to inform the congregation. I wrote one and the senior pastor wrote one which we mailed together. Mine was direct, informative, positive, encouraging, and honest. The senior pastor’s letter was more focused on the church organization in an attempt to help the congregation feel less worried and more hopeful for the future during the transition time. It was important to have both of these letters for the congregation.
Journal Entry, Wednesday, December 14: Today was interesting. I felt a peace today that I haven’t felt through most of this process. As soon as the students started coming for the night, I was filled with a calming energy. A brief meeting with the adult leaders brought more emotion from me and them than I expected. They were shocked and silent, then encouraging and supportive. The night continued about how I expected. I made the announcement. A shocked silence filled the room, followed by a very slight murmur. I explained where I was headed and gave them hope of those still around for them. I talked about every range of feeling being ok… from anger, to elation, to sadness. I told them I am feeling that also. I talked about God’s call not always being easy or what we want or what is comfortable, but I am trying to trust and be a faithful servant. I read Romans 8:28 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
Journal Entry, Sunday, December 18: I was making copies in the office at church for the morning and a man that I don’t know came to talk to me. “Hey Rachel, you ruined my whole weekend when I got that letter.” This comment caught me off guard.
SPRING 2012
It was nice after worship to feel open and able to communicate freely about my leaving. Most of my tension and anxiety was in keeping the secret as the various groups of people (staff, council, students, congregation) needed to find out in a specific order. Having people ask questions and genuinely want to know more was helpful in letting me feel supported. “We are sad for us but happy for you,” was a phrase I heard countless times.
Journal Entry, Thursday, December 22: Today it becomes a bit more real. I think I have been in denial of actually leaving and starting something new, but today it changed a bit. I met with my new supervisors to see what questions we had and how we are feeling about the transition. This meeting gave me a sense of hope and excitement for the future. The anxiety peeled back even more through the encouragement of their words…and the hot chocolate didn’t hurt either.
being taken to the trunk of my car. I walked into my office with nothing on the walls and an empty desk top and that is when…reality…struck. I only have a few days left at my church. I feel excited. I feel motivated. I feel sad knowing I am leaving the students.
Something very helpful for me in this process was learning more about the grief cycle, pictured below. Throughout my transition, I experienced all of these emotions. At times I felt like I cycled through the various points, some of them numerous times. In fact, I’m pretty sure I hit them all numerous times. I circled from anger to depression and back to anger for a long time until I could accept things and move on. Remembering that change and grief go hand in hand helped me to feel more normal in the process and realize I am not the first nor will I be the last to go through a challenging transition.
Passive
Journal Entry, Tuesday, January 3: I started my new job this morning, two weeks before I finish at my old job. I feel slightly overwhelmed. I feel welcomed, and yet, a new and empty office is sometimes a hard place to be. I don’t recommend overlapping jobs. My head was spinning and questioning everything. When I went from the new place of learning to the old place of comfort, my head questioned my decision and God. What a challenge! Of course, the decision was questioned, because I was doing only the vital pieces of the old job, the pieces I loved and thrived in.
Journal Entry, Tuesday, January 10: What an emotional day! Today I loaded boxes out of my office with almost everything that will be removed
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 Rachel Arends is an associate with InterServe Ministries in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She enjoys being with friends, playing volleyball, eating wings, and learning the rhythm of Jesus.
Anger
Active
Emotional Response
How do you respond to that? It is one of the few negative comments I have received. However, as the man continued in his thoughts, it turned positive very quickly. He explained why he was so upset and even got teary eyes while talking. He began to compliment me and my work in words I did not expect to hear from a man I have had little to no interaction with in my two years in this position. It goes to show that you never know who you will touch through your ministry.
Acceptance
Stability
Bargaining Denial
Teting Time
Immobilization
Today I still find myself excited about the door God has placed in front of me and yet terrified of the unknown locks, windows, and paths behind it. Some days I’m overjoyed and excited with the change and others I long for the comfort of what I had known for so long. My faith has grown through trust, hope, listening to God, and learning from the moments that make up these transitional days. I feel I have learned to listen for God’s voice in the joys and the sorrows, in the confusion and the comfort. Every day I know that God is speaking and moving in marvelous ways. I can’t think of a better reason to be hopeful and excited through the nerves and fear of transition.
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Depression
A VIEW FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE So, at my little postage stamp of a parish, we have about 20 children, 10 of whom have some sort of developmental challenge, ranging from ADD to Autism. One family has made something of a mission to adopt children who are born addicted to drugs or with fetal-alcohol syndrome. Since we rent another church’s fellowship hall for our worship space, we don’t really have the option of sending anyone out of the room when there’s a meltdown. We don’t have the option of making a “cry room” with soundproof glass. In fact, since we have no sound system, we don’t even have the option of turning up the volume in order to overpower an unruly child. And the funny thing is, after a couple years in this setting as my first call, I don’t know that I would want it any other way. I confess, we’ve lost a few members during my time, who claimed they couldn’t take the disruption of the kids during the Mass. But, honestly, that’s their problem, because they’re missing out on something, in my opinion, and what they’re missing is this . . . The Kingdom of God. My least favorite type of worship service is what I call “low-church stuffy.” This is where all the rules are carefully followed, but the Sacrament is secondary. An acolyte who drops
a book gets a scowl, but the extra wine gets poured down the bathroom sink. What we have in my little corner of the world is the exact opposite of that. There’s a pastoral attitude about everything that happens during worship, and the pinnacle of our gathering each Sunday is the celebration of the Eucharist. The Celebrant always wears a chasuble, but talks the acolytes through what needs to be done next. And lest you imagine I am patting myself on the back for creating this environment where developmentally challenged kids feel welcome to read the lessons, and help set the table, and play in the “bell choir,” I’ll explain why this has happened in a simple, theological, esoteric, profound statement: I didn’t have a choice. We’ve got a shoebox of a room, with a bunch of kids off their medication for the weekend, and each week I remind myself, “No matter what happens after that Entrance Procession, God will be praised.” In a real sense, I lead the congregation that God gave me. Our “Ministry of Inclusion” is not something I decided we should do in order to live out the Gospel. Rather, we welcome every-
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by Rev. George Baum
one who walks through the door; the ones who end up staying are the strays who can tolerate the messiness of it all. The stuffy people who want to use corporate worship time for private solemn prayer will just have to find somewhere else to go . . . And, sadly, they do. If we have any Ministry of Inclusion in my parish it is simply this: Everyone is welcome. I didn’t invent that phrase; I didn’t decide on that focus. This is who these people were when I arrived. All I’m doing is riding the wave, and sometimes encouraging them to push it a little farther by asking if the kid with Autism might read a longer lesson next time. ;-) Rev. George Baum plays in the band Lost And Found (www.speedwood.com) and also serves as Priest in Charge at St. Patrick Episcopal Church, Brunswick, OH.
Paraphrase Theatre Presents
SPRING 2012
One Actor / 8 Characters / A Fresh Look at Jesus
Witnesses is an innovative and deeply moving re-telling of the Gospel. Set in present-day culture, eight eye-witnesses (both Biblical and imagined, comedic and serious) share their life-transforming interactions with Jesus. Audience ReActions
“Can’t text right now. Have to watch this. It is REALLY good!” - Confirmation Student’s Tweet “You left us all wanting to know Jesus more deeply. A home-run event for our church!” “You made me laugh and cry and think and reflect. I loved every minute. Everyone needs to see this!” written by Curt Cloninger performed by Jonathan Swenson available for Worship, Confirmation or Youth/Family Nights, All-Church Special Events, Retreats, Conferences Find Paraphrase theatre on Facebook for video samples and more!
Rev. Jonathan Swenson is an ordained Lutheran pastor and professional actor, with an extensive background in Worship Arts.
For more information or to book an event, contact Jonathan at jpswen@yahoo.com or call 319-377-5253
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SPRING 2012
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Start Date
End Date
Name
Location
Contact Person
Web Site
Targeted to:
Jun 2, 2012 9:00 AM
Jun 2, 2012 2:00 PM
Spring Training/Small Group Leaders
Atonement, Rochester, NY
Pastor Justin Johnson
sttimpastor@yahoo.com
Jr High Youth, Sr High Youth, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams
Jun 3, 2012 1:00 PM
Jun 3, 2012 5:00 PM
Practice Discipleship
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fayetteville, AR
Jona Sweeten
www.aokelca.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, Parents, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams
Jun 10, 2012 12:00 PM
Jun 30, 2012 11:00 AM
Summer Seminary Sampler
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Laura Book
www.summersampler.com
Sr High Youth
Jun 16, 2012 12:00 PM
Jun 30, 2012 12:00 PM
Youth in Mission: Serving Christ Lutheran School of Theology in the World at Chicago
Kristin Johnson
yim.lstc.edu
Sr High Youth
Jun 17, 2012 4:00 PM
Jun 22, 2012 12:00 PM
Augsburg College Youth Theology Institute
Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Lonna Field
www.augsburg.edu
Sr High Youth
Jun 18, 2012 10:00 AM
Jun 18, 2012 12:00 PM
Spring Adult Leaders TrainingMetro NY Synod
Hope Lutheran Church, Seldon NY
Julie Hagen
julie@adventnyc.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/ Teams
Jun 20, 2012 5:00 PM
Jun 20, 2012 9:00 PM
Greater Milwaukee PreGathering Event & BBQ
Christ the King Lutheran Church. 1600 Genesee St Delafield, WI 53018
Elisabeth Pynn Himmelman
elisabeth@ascensiononline.org
Sr High Youth, Adult Volunteers, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams
Jul 4, 2012 12:00 PM
Aug 31, 2012 12:00 PM
Youth in Mission: Beyond Belief (summer dates)
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Kristin Johnson
youthinmission@lstc.edu
Sr High Youth, Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, Parents
Jul 8, 2012 12:00 PM
Jul 28, 2012 11:00 AM
Summer Seminary Sampler
Trinity Lutheran Seminary
Laura Book
www.summersampler.com
Sr High Youth
Jul 18, 2012 3:00 PM
Jul 22, 2012 12:00 PM
ELCA Youth Gathering
New Orleans, Louisiana
Gathering Staff
Gathering@elca.org
Sr High Youth
Nov 19, 2012 10:00 AM
Nov 19, 2012 1:00 PM
Northeastern Montana Fall Training
First Lutheran Church, Wolf Point, MT
Paul Goodman
Paul.Goodman@hopebozeman. com
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals, Parents, 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering Leaders/Teams
Jan 24, 2013 3:00 PM
Jan 25, 2013 5:00 PM
Extravaganza 2013 Intensive Care Courses
Hyatt - Anaheim, CA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 25, 2013 9:00 PM
Jan 28, 2013 2:00 PM
Extravaganza 2013
Hyatt - Anaheim, CA
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 30, 2014 1:00 PM
Jan 31, 2014 3:00 PM
Extravaganza 2014 Intensive Care Courses
Hyatt Regency; St. Louis, Missouri
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 31, 2014 7:00 PM
Feb 3, 2014 12:00 PM
Extravaganza 2014
Hyatt Regency; St. Louis, Missouri
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 29, 2015 12:00 PM
Jan 30, 2015 3:00 PM
Extravaganza 2015 Intensive Care Courses
Hyatt Regency; Dearborn, Michigan
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
Jan 30, 2015 6:00 PM
Feb 2, 2015 11:00 AM
Extravaganza 2015
Hyatt Regency; Dearborn, Michigan
Todd Buegler
www.elcaymnet.org
Adult Volunteers, Adult Professionals
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NETWORK CONNECTIONS There are so many ways to stay connected to the ELCA Youth Ministry Network! Twitter - www.twitter.com/elcaymnet All the Network news in 140 characters or less.
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Online Bookstore - astore.amazon.com/elyomineon-20 Fill your bookshelf with these great resources! 18
SPRING 2012
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M
s s i o i
Mission Jamaica Youth Mission Teams Summer 2013
Love like Jesus ~ Serve like Jesus 8 day trips, beginning June 8, 2013
Projects Include: Home construction Upkeep of existing mission sites Care of children Music ministry Tutoring Leading recreation with children
Work alongside youth from other ELCA congregations Immerse yourselves in Jamaican culture Serve at multiple locations in Montego Bay area
Programs for youth in 10th - 12th grades Worship with local Jamaican churches Trip Cost: $1,000 to $1,400 depending on your flights
Contact: Jeff Peterson Mission Jamaica Director 651.762.9112 saintandrews.org/missionjamaica 19 facebook.com/missionjamaica
MINISTRY OF
the
INCLUSION issue
ELCA Youth Ministry Network 11821 98th Pl. N., Maple Grove, Mn 55369
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