Church and Society
From our speaker for Disability Awareness Month, Rick Barr
Church and Society: A Table Open to All, Enabling All to Come
October is Maryland Disability History and Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We in Maryland are blessed with a vibrant economy, a wonderful education system and opportunities that only living near the nation’s capital can offer. We as United Methodists profess “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors” to all and, as energetically affirmed at Annual Conference, our table is open and there is room at the table for everyone.
But as I was contemplating how we can more fully reflect the spirit of Christ in our community, I realized that all may be welcome but, especially for people with disabilities, all are not enabled to come to the table. We have worked hard to provide access to those whose disabilities are visible and whose needs are clear through ramps for those who have difficulty walking, hearing aids and sign language interpreters for those who have trouble hearing as well as home visits for those who are housebound. Many disabilities are not visible and enabling participation in the Body of Christ is not easily accomplished. For persons with cognitive or emotional difficulties, challenges may remain hidden and unknown to all but those who know them most intimately.
So, during this month of disability awareness in Maryland, we have an opportunity to contemplate how we can enable everyone to become full, participating members of Christ’s community and provide to each the forms of grace appropriate to their need. To foster this awareness, the following prayer is provided. Please use this prayer as part of daily devotions, beginning of Sunday school class or other church gathering during the month of October.
Prayer for Enablement:
Dear God, we give thanks for our ability to be here today
to address you in prayer and participate in your church.
We recognize that many in our community struggle with disabilities
that make participation in the life of the church difficult.
Help us be aware of their struggles, to see their need
and to creatively respond in ways that will enable them to
more fully participate in the life of the church.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
- Rick Barr
For more information on disabilities in Maryland see http://www.disabled-world.com/news/america/maryland/
September 2011 Article: “Baltimore-Washington Conference Supports Science and Religion in the UMC"
WesleyNexus, Inc. was founded two years ago by five members of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. It emerged from dialogue among a core group of dedicated clergy, academics, and lay persons in greater Washington, D.C. This group seeks to support others who share the conviction that science, religion, and theology should not be mutually exclusive. Instead, each field should inform the other on a whole array of contemporary issues. Rick Barr, a member of our church, is one of the founding members.
In May, the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference passed a resolution affirming the importance of science and faith coming together in dialogue within the church. It also encouraged people to utilize the resources available on the http://www.wesnex.org website for discussion purposes. This affirmation represents the first statement of support by the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference for science and religion. WesleyNexus is a 501-C3 non-profit organization. For more information on WesleyNexus, see their website at www.wesnex.org, send an email to WesleyNexus@aol.com or talk to Rick Barr in person.