Rest& & Respite pastor’s corner By Paul Hathcoat
If you are or know a family or individual living with disabilities, you may have seen and felt the vacuum of community that often accompanies that life experience. In terms of connectedness, social opportunities, and premium things–like date nights and birthday party invitations– those privileges are often few and far between. So, the question that I, as a pastor ask, is this: Is your access to the church and its community inadequate as well? I would guess that many of you would say yes. In my years in disability ministry, I have met many families who report that they don’t have access to a quality church environment that not only accepts them or their child with a disability, but that has intentionally sought them out and embraced them all as an integral part of the body. This all too common report is unacceptable in this day and age. In response to this condition of the church and that experience, let me say first, I apologize. I apologize for the church and apologize for us pastors around the country who have not yet seen clearly the people living in our communities that walk through life with a disability. I apologize that there are sons and daughters out there that have been asked to leave or who have been urged to be left at home because they make a bit too much noise or are unpredictable and need space to move around and be themselves. I apologize that some of us in the religious world have forgotten that all parts of the body are equally important and that those that seem weakened are actually the ones we cannot do without. And lastly, I apologize that you, those readers out there that are identifying with this letter, have missed opportunities to connect with the church, the church community, and maybe even your creator. But there is hope and progress! As a special-needs pastor at White River Christian Church in Noblesville, IN, I get to not only see a church embracing people of all abilities, but I also get to be a daily part of connecting EVERY
40 Special Needs Living • November 2021
life to Christ. The important word there is “every.” There is a network of dynamic and quality congregations in and around Central Indiana that understand the necessity to welcome and accommodate people living with disabilities into their church. There are communities where self-appointed advocates walk the halls of the church on Sunday, the aisles of the grocery store on Monday, and the halls of the schools on Tuesdays intentionally looking for people or families that need to know that God loves them and their local church sees them. As we approach a new year, that everyone like me is surely optimistically thankful for, we also continue to approach a new age in which the Sunday school classes and youth groups around us are actively seeking out kids with disabilities to join them. A new age where church staffs and church boards are prioritizing resources to serve the disability communities around them. A new age where supports and social assistance are recognized and then made available to families through the local churches in their areas. And even a new age where ex-bounty hunters turned special needs pastors, like me, can support their families and serve their God by welcoming people of all abilities into church life and faith life, vocationally. This is what the Pastor’s Corner will be bringing to you each month. There is Hope and there is Progress! Author’s Notes – If you want to read more about the sources used in this letter each month, or hear about the disability ministries around you, feel free to contact Paul Hathcoat at the information below. Scriptures referenced – 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Paul Hathcoat Email: phathcoat@wrcc.org Ph #: 317-840-5558 Do you have a thought, idea or information that you would like to see in this section in an upcoming issue? Email Paul Hathcoat – phathcoat@wrcc.org.
