BETHEL UNIVERSITY
BETHEL SEMINARY ST. PAUL
ENABLING THE DISABLED IN THE BODY OF CHRIST: CREATING AN INTENTIONAL
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY TO LIVE OUT SAWOBONA
A THESIS PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREE
PASTORAL CARE
BY
REVEREND THERESA C. TAYLOR
JANUARY 2011
SECTION ONE
The Problem and Its Context
Statement of the Problem
The problem this project will address is the lack of attendance and participation of the disabled in
local evangelical churches in North America. In response to this problem the researcher will (a)
review the literature to understand the disabled in the Christian Community, (b) create an
intentional virtual community that networks people with disabilities with one another, helping
them to explore the obstacles that potentially prevent their attendance and participation in
worship, (c) use the virtual community to teach biblical responsibilities from the Gospels that
enable people with disabilities to follow Jesus, (d) interview participants from the virtual
community to glean insight into their experience and understanding of how they may live out
these Christian responsibilities in their own particular circumstance. Upon completion of these
investigations (e) share the experiences of this journey in order to help others see the need of
inclusion of the disabled in the church.
Definition of Terms
Blogs: An internet platform to discuss topics to which multiple individuals can respond.
Cognitive disability: This describes people who are affected with delays in intellectual
activities. Mental retardation falls under this category.
Desert Fathers: These are hermits of the third and fourth centuries C.E who practiced
various forms of mysticism. Many new monastic followers review their work and discover
insight into the spiritual practices._
Disability: This represents a broad term for an impairment that hinders a person from
performing activities of daily living.
Emotional disabilities: This represents another term for mental illness. Mental illness
affects the behavior of an individual and is not necessarily a sign of mental retardation.
Evangelical: Those people who hold toward the historically orthodox view of the
Scriptures and profess to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ as the incarnate and
risen Son of God.
Jesus Radicals: This represents a forum of scholars who wish to live a simple life following
Jesus and tend to have a more anarchic theology._
Listserv: A platform to target multiple emails to help facilitate a discussion.
Local church: An assembly of believers who have gathered together under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of worship, fellowship, mutual discipleship and for the
carrying out of the great commission.
New Monasticism: This term represents a new wave of followers of Jesus who want to live
simply and live in community. There exist 12 marks to indicate a community is following this
template, which will be explained in further detail._
Online Religion: This involves people actually participating in religious practices. Some
examples may include: worship services, corporate prayer or confession._
Physical disability: This describes a person with a physical challenge that may inhibit
their mobility, vision, speech or hearing.
Podcast: Audio presentations which can be listened to by either a computer or audio
devices.
Religion online: As distinct from “online religion,” refers to the distribution of
information in respect to a religion. Examples of this type of format are church websites,
commercial websites selling supplies or blogs that just distribute information._
Sawobona: Zulu term that means “I accept all of you including your disabilities or family
members with disabilities.”_
Skype: Is a software application that allows users to make voice calls and chats over the
Internet. It accommodates video conferencing. www.skype.com
Social Networking: This represents online groups of people who stay in contact through
Internet-based “chatting”, pictures and other meaningful insights into their lives. Popular social
networking platforms include: Facebook, Faithbook, My Space, Twitter and Flicka just to name
a few.
Stream-streaming: Broadcasting in real time on the internet.
Virtual Community: This term refers to a group of people who interact on a consistent
basis on the internet. The interactions may take place via email, or other platforms designed to
sustain this community experience.
Delimitations of problem
The research will be limited to participants willing to voluntarily commit to belonging to
an online virtual community.
The research will be limited to disabilities represented in the virtual community.
The research will be limited to those who have proper computer equipment to fully
access all aspects of the virtual community, .
The research will be limited to people who speak English.
Assumptions
The first assumption is that the people with disabilities participating in this intentional
virtual community profess to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The second assumption is that people with disabilities understand the need to participate
in worship in a local church.
The third assumption is that the networking of people with disabilities will help
encourage conversation on the obstacles stopping their attendance to church.
The fourth assumption is that an intentional virtual community will provide a safe
platform to understand a Christian’s responsibility as a member of a church. This includes
expressing past hurts about discrimination, learning ways to educate others about their specific
needs, finding ways to overcome potential barriers to participation in Christian communities,
and discovering one’s gifts as a follower of Jesus.
The fifth assumption is that this virtual community will provide an avenue for people
with disabilities to explore what options are available in their local community to fully
participate as a member of the Body of Christ.
Sub-problems
The first sub-problem is to understand how the church has historically engaged and
interacted with people who have disabilities.
The second sub-problem is to teach people with disabilities to overcome historical
stereotypes and live as followers of Jesus Christ.
The third sub-problem is helping people with disabilities learn the language of the church
in order to communicate their needs as a member of the church.
The fourth sub-problem is to create an intentional virtual community and use email
listserv, blogs, podcasts, Skype, and other internet resources that enable network people with
disabilities to explore the strengths of being in community.
The fifth sub-problem is to create an environment of empowerment that enables the
disabled to find a local church that meet their specific circumstance.
The sixth sub-problem is to integrate these findings into a phenomenological account
which will discuss how intentional virtual communities facilitate reconciliation among the
disabled in the local church.
Setting of the Project
This project will be among people with disabilities in North America who profess to
know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Seek the Son Ministries Inc. currently
serves this population and will help in cooperation with other disability ministries to engage
participants in an intentional virtual community. The 2000 census indicated that over six hundred
million people with disabilities live around the world. Forty-nine Million of these people reside
in the United States._ This statistic neglects people who reside in an institution, are under the age
of five or over the age of sixty-two. It is alarming the number of people with disabilities living in
every neighborhood around the globe. Anyone at any time may become disabled and it affects all
people. Disabilities are not limited to a particular ethnicity, gender or class of persons. A Joni
and Friends survey indicates eighty-five percent of people with disabilities never attend a church
service._
The targeted population will include people with several types of physical and emotional
disabilities. These individuals daily express their desire for a voice. This virtual community will
provide a venue to network with others and understand one another’s challenges. This virtual
community will include an email listserv to help promote daily communication about specific
topics. These topics range from the hassles of being disabled, to living a radical life or Jesus, to
learning from the Gospels how God wants us to interact with others.
It will also provide an avenue for prayer and praise reports. This will involve the use of
Skype and chat rooms. People will be able to directly communicate with one another in this
spiritual community.
This virtual community will also use webcasts and podcasts to teach people with
disabilities their importance as children of God. It will also strive to encourage these participants
to determine their spiritual gifts. These gifts will be used in the virtual community. Church
services will be streamed in order for participants to utilize their gifts in corporate worship.
This experience of a virtual community will then carry over to help the person with
disabilities communicate to a local church about their particular needs and gifts. This project
aims to encourage the virtual community participants to engage in a local church. This church
setting may look different for each participant. This virtual community will have exposure to
components of new monasticism to help believers think outside the box in terms of what makes
up a church family. The local church may also take the form of a home church with participants
meeting in one another’s homes.
Importance of Project
The Importance of the Project to the Researcher
God has placed a huge burden on this researcher’s heart to reach others with disabilities.
This researcher is deaf blind and has other chronic illnesses.
Upon attending Oak Hill Baptist Church, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, this
researcher fell in love with Jesus Christ. This relationship provided hope and a sense of
perspective that one day all the hurts will be eliminated in heaven.
This researcher worked in several ministries and never previously understood how
discriminating church often is to a person with a disability. Her own experiences have reinforced
the conviction to obey Jesus’ command in Luke 14:16-24, in which God strongly directs
believers to go out into the street and bring in the disabled. But many churches exclude the
disabled. Here are some examples:
Tracy talks of her discouragement during greeting time. NO matter how much she tries;
people still refuse to touch her. She is unclear whether it has to do with her wheelchair or her
disfigured hands.
Lisa talks of exclusion from the church choir. Her choir director feels Lisa’s blindness
will potentially cause harm to other choir members because getting to the choir loft require that
several flights of stairs need to be traversed. Lisa competently takes stairs in many aspects of her
life. The director still insists she cannot participate.
Roger, a father of a three year old boy with autism, was asked to leave the worship service.
His son makes noises during the music. The elders felt it was degrading to the service. Roger’s
son was also excluded from Sunday school. Parents expressed concern his son might teach their
children these same vocalizations.
These illustrations represent a small sample of the conflicts arising in our local churches.
Many churches exclude the disabled. This exclusion stems from several causes. However, this
paper will not elaborate on these causes. Instead, this project centers on enabling the disabled in
the Body of Christ.
Upon discovery of this discrimination, this researcher followed the call from God to go to
Seminary and become an ordained pastor. On several occasions this researcher has heard from a
senior pastor or another leader in the church that a disabled person would bring about too much
chaos and burden. Through these encounters and a love for the Lord this researcher wants to help
the disabled realize their full potential in the Body of Christ. This researcher also wants to walk
beside local churches to help them welcome the disabled.
This researcher also desires to live in community with others. She feels this lifestyle will
honor God and help bring the abilities out in each member. She plans on combining this passion
for the disabled and living in an intentional community. Seek the Son Ministries will purchase
property to run a year round retreat center for the disabled and also provide a place or people to
live together.
The importance of this Project to Immediate Ministry Context
Seek the Son has the mission of reaching the disabled with the saving power of Jesus
Christ. This research will help produce an intentional virtual community available tomany people
to encourage them to understand their responsibilities as ambassadors of Christ.
Seek the Son is receiving emails and inquiries daily on how to combat discrimination. This
research will take the tone of reconciliation. This project will provide an avenue to express hurts
but then turn them around to bring the glory to God. This is a crucial need within the disabled
community. It also seems many leaders of churches want to include the disabled and need
language and resources to successfully assimilate them.
The Importance of This Project to the Church
Jesus Christ shows throughout the Gospels how important the disabled were to him.
Seventy Five percent of the people Jesus ministered to had a disability. This soundly illustrates
the need to reach out and welcome the disabled in the Body of Christ.
The Lausanne Committee Convened in Pattaya, Thailand from September 29 to October 5,
2004. The theme of this conference was “A New Vision, A New Heart, and A Renewed Call”.
This conference focused on hidden and forgotten people around the world. As a result of this
conference, the world evangelism committee declared the disabled the largest unreached people
group._ This action has led to huge strides in helping churches to understand the need to reach the
disabled. This acknowledgement of the disabled as a people group allows the disabled to have a
voice.
The disabled have begun to see their civil rights advance through the adoption of The
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This equal treatment needs to carry over to the church.
God loves all. Hebrews 12:1-3_ speaks of a great race. The awesome prize we strive for in this
race is Jesus. We may be carried, use a wheelchair, speak in another language, but we all will
reach Jesus. The church must embrace the disabled and tap into this outstanding wealth of gifts.
SECTION TWO
Biblical and Theological Basis
Scriptures and the inclusion of suffering
The Scriptures represents a love letter from our mighty Creator. This letter includes many
examples of suffering. From the Old to the New Testament people with abnormalities live within
the pages of Scriptures. It is clearly illustrated how God loves these people and promises one day
we will all leave our earthly hurts behind to live in complete freedom in heaven. Jesus Christ
came to this earth to set us free and this freedom includes people with disabilities. These same
people with disabilities need to take the words of the Bible seriously and live out the
responsibility of reconciliation.
Upon the researcher’s initial reflection and prayer for this endeavor Ephesians 2:10 and
Hebrews 12:1-3 kept running through her heart and mind. God clearly knows the plans He has
for every one of His Children. He understands the abilities and disabilities of each of His
children. He also shows us through the race motif the joys and challenges of calling ourselves
His child. Both these passages give comfort and courage to realize God is in control. He knows
the path we will follow and the assistance we may require along the way. God also exhorts all of
His children to worship and love Him. He also requires our obedience in several aspects
including service, evangelism, and stewardship.
II Corinthians 12:7-10 provides an excellent example of a person in the Bible struggling
with a special need. Paul talks of a thorn in his flesh and he asked God three times to eliminate
this hardship. God chose not to heal Paul from this difficulty. This passage instead gives comfort
and hope to others afflicted. It talks of how God’s power will be shown through our weakness.
Christians one day will stand in the presence of our loving Father and all the suffering will
disappear. Our earthly suffering simply reminds us we live in a fallen world and need Christ to
live as citizens of heaven.
Ephesians 2:1-10 talks of being alive through Christ. Three times the word grace is
mentioned. Grace denotes the exercises developed to engage in behavior that promotes spiritual
blessings. God freely gives His believers the gift of grace. As followers of Christ, we also need
to freely show grace. Conflicts provoke many responses and grace often is not at the top of the
list. This project helps to promote grace and understand the challenge of expressing it. God
strives to shower us with grace. Handling conflicts in a more Christ-like manner will further our
spiritual blessings.
As children of God we work together in the Body of Christ to carry out the mission of the
church and to bring glory to God. I Corinthians 12:15-31 teaches us how there are several parts
to the Body of Christ. God views these parts as interdependent and indispensible. God reminds
us the weaker parts receive help and the less honorable parts receive more honor. God expects
the church to work together as one for His glory.
As statistics reveal from the Lausanne Paper, only fifteen percent of disabled individuals
attend a church._ Many of these people suffer the sting of rejection or misunderstanding. This
project serves to help the disabled realize their God-given gift and the need to use it. It also helps
to brainstorm ideas regarding reconciliation and the disabled.
Romans 12 will be used to help teach participants the essential aspects of using individual
gifts to glorify God. It reminds us to seek transformation towards a spiritual likeness of Christ. It
reminds us to not conform to this world. As a disabled child of God, we are empowered us to use
our gifts in the Body of Christ. We need to remain faithful and listen to the will of God and
realize His will is good. This chapter also speaks of grace. The disabled need to look past their
hurts and show mercy and grace in a way similar to howour heavenly father pours out on us
daily.
Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us of God’s plan to prosper us and not to hurt us. The hurt we
feel comes from the enemy. We need to acknowledge this as the work of Satan. We claim the
victory of Jesus and through this victory possess the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. Often
this world seems cruel and unfair. We need to trust in God and not our own perceptions.
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us of God’s willingness to guide us.
Jesus and His Teachings
In the Sermon on the Mount there are many key principals to live a simple life following
Jesus Christ. This virtual community will also provide a platform to discuss the Sermon’s
practical application in specific circumstances. For example, let us say a person with disabilities
feels frustrated about his or hers lack of mobility to shovel the sidewalk. He or she can ask for
assistance from a neighbor in exchange for financial compensation or perhaps another service
such as daycare. This style of thinking intentionally about our interactions with our community
will help strengthen our interactions in the Body of Christ.
This virtual community will provide a safe place to learn, love and explore potential gifts
from the Spirit. It will also be an outlet to discuss the need for a local church and how best to
meet this need. For some people with disabilities; they may need to create a home church. For
others, they may call a church and ask a few questions. This virtual community will help keep
each other accountable in this quest to fulfill the mandate of God to worship Him in community.
In Matthew 28:19-20 all believers are charged to go out and tell the world about the
saving power of Jesus Christ. The disabled possess this directive as well. If the disabled
population feels disenchanted with the church, this will influence their follow-through of this
command. Or worse, a disabled person who is disillusioned with Christian community may even
spread bitterness and despair to others, proving to be even further counterproductive. This
project helps to refocus the participants on their responsibility and their attitudes towards the
church.
Many disabled persons face the challenge of dealing with believers who tell them to pray
for a miracle. These well intentioned people lose sight of how this hurts a disabled individual.
These well intentioned people lose sight of how this hurts rather than helps because it delays the
disabled person’s acceptance of his or her condition as being a part of God’s plan. They also face
believers telling them they lack faith. Instead of becoming frustrated or hurt by these allegations
the disabled person must use them as an opening to explain the plans God has for their life.
This researcher knows personally how it feels to deal with both of these arguments. They
lead to excellent opportunities to dialogue about the subject of disabilities. Since we live in a
fallen world, imperfection remains inevitable. Jesus Christ takes on all these imperfections by the
shedding of his blood. One day in heaven, the lame will walk; the blind will see; the deaf will
hear. Most importantly all believers will worship our Mighty Lord.
Romans 5:1-4 reminds us of how through Jesus Christ our faith is justified. It speaks of
rejoicing in our suffering. This suffering promotes perseverance and this leads to character.
Character brings about hope. This hope will not disappoint us. God loves us exactly how we are.
We may seem to not match up to the world’s standards. We will never disappoint God. In respect
to the amount of faith, it seems necessary to remind people we need only have the faith of a
mustard seed._ Every time this researcher is challenged by a fellow believer, she remembers the
times she challenges God. The researcher still loves God. Yet she questions, cries out or even
denies his requests. God still lovingly shows the researcher His ways. This same mercy and
grace needs to be shown towards those people who lack understanding about disabilities.
The church also needs to remember the mandate in Luke 14:16-24 of going out and
inviting all to the Great Banquet. Many times ignorance stops the evangelism process. This
ignorance may spring from the concern of how to meet the needs of the disabled individual.
Often churches try to deliberate over each scenario which may develop with a disable person.
This worry will lead to fruitless interactions. Matthew 6:25-33 reminds us of the harm of
worrying. Take a huge step of faith. Go out and invite a disabled person into the church. God
will assist every step of the way. We just need to take the first step.
The researcher is reminded of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14:29. Jesus could not
have helped him, if Peter refused to take the first step. The church must take this first step of
obedience. No matter what kind of mistakes are made along the way. The effort will be
rewarded.
The call to reconciliation of the disabled to the Body of Christ
In the love chapter, I Corinthians 13, we see over and over again the power of love. Love
means not keeping a scorecard. It means not being rude. It reminds us to treat others as we want
to be treated. Both the church and the disabled person need to remember this mind set. God is the
supreme being of love. We need to strive to show His love to others.
II Corinthians 5:18-20 discusses our roles as ambassadors of Christ with the job
description of reconciliation. God mandates reconciliation of the church and of sinners with
Christ. God freely provides believers a gift of salvation. Our mighty Father demonstrates
forgiveness. God desires a relationship with each one of us. He sacrificed His son to eliminate
the sin separating Himself from humanity. In this process believers need to reconcile oppressed
people groups to share God’s love. This means employing strategies of change and not
offensiveness. This requires adroit maneuvers to heal wounds. This compassion reaches the
disabled people group and their difficulty assimilating into the body of Christ. God requires
reconciliation on multiple levels and this includes reaching the disabled for the glory of God and
not just out of a sense of pity or compassion. Of course, all works of reconciliation require the
gift of compassion, but the disabled are most in need of hearing the message that they are equal
with the able-bodied believers. This equality is a necessary part of the process of reconciliation.
By promoting this message, this project will prove successful in moving this process forward.
Matthew 5:9 reminds us of the importance of peace making. In this world of unrest,
peace will bring about comfort, joy and most of all love. In a disabled person’s life peace may
look differently. Let us embrace this difference and foster peace.
Philippians emphasizes joy. Fourteen times this word appears in one form or another.
Many individuals suffering from a life-altering illness refuse to acknowledge joy. Paul clearly
shows us in this letter no matter what struggles occur Christ will strengthen those who believe in
Him. This message of hope, peace, joy and love needs to remain a central tenant of ministering
to the disabled. The church needs this reminder as well as the disabled person. God will bless all
the acts of obedience towards this reconciliation process.
SECTION THREE
Review of Related Literature
The researcher will review the related literature in (a) the history of the treatment of the
disabled in the church, (b) the role of intentional community and the disabled, (c) the
effectiveness of intentional virtual communities in respect to faith and (d) the reconciliation of
the disabled into the body of Christ
History of the treatment of the disabled in the church
First, the researcher will review the resources available to examine the inclusion of the
disabled in the Body of Christ. These resources are limited. Some informative books include: A
Disabled God by Nancy Eiesland,_ The Disabled Disciple by Elizabeth Brown,_ Deborah
Creamer’s work on the theology of disability,_ Brett Webb-Mitchell’s works Dancing with
Disabilities and Unexpected Guests at God’s Banquet._
Liberation theology is a prominent theme in the area of disability and church. Journal
articles which dialogue in this topic include: Liberation Theology of Disability and the Option
for the Poor by Scot Danforth_, Disabled Liberation is Her Ministry by Susan Pierce_, Embracing
Limits, Queering Embodiment: Creating/Creative Possibilities for Disability Theology by
Deborah Creamer_ and What is Disability by Nancy Eisland_ who also produced her thesis
Disabled God on this topic of liberation theology.
But there are many authors engaged in this topic whose work is not inspired by
liberation theology, such as: “Thinking Theologically about inclusion: Disability, Imago Dei and
the Body of Christ” by Reverend Barbara J. Hedges-Goettl._ Another excellent resource to help
describe the historical, biblical, and medical model of disabilities and the church is Same Lake
Different Boat by Stephanie Hubach._
The researcher tapped into a wide wealth of dissertations on disability and theology
including works that show how the culture of North America sees disabilities. These include:
“The Face of Mary: Flannery O’Connor, Disability and Theology” by Tim Basselin,_
“Dethroning Rationality: A Theological Anthropology of/for Individuals with Intellectual
Disabilities” by Molly Claire Haslam,_ “Transforming Attitudes in Theological Education about
Disability” by William Daniel Blair,_ “Pastoral Care in Faith and Light: A Qualitative Study of
Perpetual Parenthood from a Pastoral Care and Counseling Perspective” by Timothy William
Dobbin,_ ”Disabled Identities: Pastoral Work with People who are Mobility Impaired” by Alvean
Illinois Jacobs,_ “The Meaning and Message of Embodiment and Disability” by Tracy Allison
Demmons,_ “Spiritual Practices as Socially Transformative : Towards a Liberating Spirituality”
by Christine Valters Paintner,_ “The Withered Hand of God: Disability and Theological
Reflection (Sallie McFague)” by Deborah Beth Creamer,_ and “Towards A Theology of covenant
in Jean Vanier and l’Arche: The “imago Dei” and persons with Mental Disability” by Dana Ruth
Mellis_.
The researcher spent many hours interviewing experts who work on the frontlines in the
disability ministry, such as Joni Eareckson Tada, Charles Chivers and Jim Pearson. These
experts have produced many practical resources which have proven beneficial in this effort n_.
Role of intentional community and the Disabled
The researcher then discovered the writings of known as “Jesus Radicals” and these
writers naturally included the disabled into their intentional community format. It proved
exciting to see how people with disabilities tend to thrive in these communities. Shane
Clayborne_, John Wilson-Hartgrove_ and Jean Vanier’s several works_ increased the researcher’s
understanding of living simply in community. These Vanier’s works helped to expand the
understanding of living with brokenness in community.
The researcher then looked at the specific case of Adam by Henri J. Nouwen._ This book
provided outstanding day-to-day workings of an intentional community. It also illustrated the
principle of including the disabled as an integral part of the Body of Christ. This community felt
it an honor to love Adam.
The researcher then discovered several currently existing communities to examine. She
gathered a great deal of information specifically on their integration of the disabled into the
activities of the community. Some helpful communities include: Camphill, Anathoth Community
Farm, & Missio Dei..
The researcher looked broadly at the scholarly works on christian intentional community
and these include: “Alignment Around a Missional Vision: Reaching out in Relationships at
Grand View Christian church” by Aaron J. Wymer_, “ Time to Spare: Perceptions of
community Ministry” by Peter Stevenson_, “Control in a World of Change: Emotion and
Morality in a Northern Thai Town” by Julia Cassaniti_, and “Towards A Protestant Monasticism:
The covenant Life expressed in the Evangelical church Orders of 16th century Germany” by
Bradley Arthur Peterson._ The Researcher felt compelled to look at the roots of living
communally and studied the works of the early Desert Fathers._ Further research was begun on
the Catholic Workers Movement and more specifically the writings of Dorothy Day_ and Mother
Teresa._
Virtual Communities and Faith
This fueled the researcher to discover ways of using the internet to create an intentional
virtual community. Religion Online_, Church of Facebook,_ My Space to Sacred Space,_ The
Kingdom Connected_ and Virtual Community_ provide valuable insight and tools to use the
internet as a way to connect the disabled.
Reconciliation of the Disabled Into the Body of Christ
The last body of research explored relates to reconciliation. Some influential works in
this area include: works by Robert Enright,_ Neil Anderson_ and David Augsburger._ These books
give both a theological and practical perspective on the underlying themes of freedom and
forgiveness.
Some scholarly resources with the search terms disability and reconciliation include: “The
Whirlwinds of War: Conflict Disability and Theological Reflections” by Lorna Hallahan,_ “To
Live More Nearly as we Pray: Prayer Shaping Communities” by Daniel Prechtel,_
“Biblical Justice and Inclusive Education” by David W. Anderson,_ “Narrating Disability,
Narrating Religious Practice: Reconciliation and Fragile X Syndrome” by Marsha Michie and
Debra Skinner,_ “Constructing Disability in Online Worlds: conceptualizing Disability in Online
Research” by Dianne Carr,_ “Sacramental bodies” by Nancy Eiesland,_ and “Persons with
Disabilities, the Temporarily Able-bodied: Becoming the Body of Christ” by Kimberly Willis,_
and “Confession: A Journey Towards Reconciliation between the Church and People with
Disabilities” by Brett Webb-Mitchell._
SECTION FOUR
Data and Methodology
Nature of the Research
The nature of this research will be qualitative. The main models of phenomenology and
aspects of ethnography will be employed. The primary tools employed will include personal
interviews, surveys, personal journal entries, related documents and observational field notes
Data
Primary Data
Primary data will include: (a) personal interviews with participants of the intentional
virtual community, (b) evaluation of responses to discussions on topics presented in the listserv,
and (c) responses gathered from surveys.
Secondary Data
The secondary data will include (a) reviews of biblical, theological and secular literature
relevant to the issues targeted in this project, (b) interviews from experts in the project field, and
(c) reviews of demographic information relevant to the population of this project.
Project Overview
The first step of the project is to review the relevant literature to determine (a) the
treatment of persons with disabilities in the Christian church context, (b) the effectiveness of
intentional communities in helping to create a community of reconciliation, (c) important
technological tools and internet sources to help promote a virtual community and (d) the
effectiveness of Christian reconciliation models with other marginalized groups.
The second step is to recruit volunteers to participate in an intentional virtual community.
Upon inclusion into the virtual community (a) the participant will fill out a survey to establish
relevant data pertaining to their disability and church experience, (b) subscribe to an email
listserv to start networking with other participants, and (c) interact with weekly blogs, podcasts
and live interactive experiences.
The third step which will run concurrently with the second step is to use designated
educational materials to guide the discussion in the community. This step will promote: (a)
understanding of the barriers that stop people with disabilities from attending and participating in
a local church, (b) dialogue on ways to communicate the specific needs of a person with
disabilities to the church family and (c) understanding by disabled persons of their relationship
with Jesus and the responsibilities as ambassadors inherent in this relationship.
The forth step in this project is to interview participants to gain insight into: (a) their
previous experiences as disabled Christians, (b) the impact of the virtual community on their
current perception of their responsibilities as a Christian, (c) how the participants plan to become
involved in a local church in their home setting and (d) other feedback from the participants in
respect to their journey with this virtual community.
The fifth step of this project is to synthesize all the data from the (a) Biblical review, (b)
literature review, (c) interviews, (d) surveys and (e) field notes from the researcher who will
herself be a participant in the virtual community.
The sixth step of this project is to share this experience in a written form to promote
reconciliation and the inclusion of the disabled in the Body of Christ. Ultimately the researcher
wants to understand what Sawobona looks like lived out in the lives of people with disabilities.
Sub-problem Treatment
Sub-problem One
The first sub-problem is to understand the history of the treatment of the disabled in the
church.
Data needed. The data needed is observations and insights gathered from the Scriptures
and other relevant literature sources that relate to the project.
Criteria for acceptable data. Acceptable data is that which comes from acknowledged
scholars and the researcher’s own insights and ability to do acceptable exegesis of scripture.
Location of the data. The data are located in the Scriptures, commentaries, theological &
sociological works, journals, articles, dissertations, and the World Wide Web. These resources
may be obtained from the researcher’s personal library, Bethel University’s library, and affiliated
libraries, as well as the Internet.
Securing of the data. The data will be secured from the researcher’s personal library, on
loan from Bethel University’s library affiliated libraries, and through electronic downloads on
the Internet.
Use of the data. The data will be evaluated and systematically organized to inform the
researcher’s understanding of the history of the treatment of people with disabilities in the
Christian community.
Sub-problem Two
The second sub-problem is to teach people with disabilities to overcome historical
stereotypes and live as followers of Jesus Christ.
Data needed. The data needed is (a) insights from participants on their experiences of
stereotypes in the church and (b) insights of coping strategies to fulfill their duties as followers of
Jesus Christ. Permission will be needed to interview participants in respect to this data.
Criteria for acceptable data. Data will be acceptable when it can be clearly illustrated
through examples, insights and relevant documents.
Location of the data. The location of the data is through participants of the intentional
virtual community. These participants will all (a) know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, (b)
have a disability, (c) want to live as a follower of Jesus and (d) want to assimilate themselves in a
local church setting.
Securing of the data. The data will be secured through Seek the Son Ministries Inc., a
network of persons with disabilities and other evangelical disability ministries throughout North
America. The data will then be secured through participation in the virtual community in the
form of (a) an email listserv, (b) blogs, (c), podcasts, (d) chat rooms, and (e) other forms of live
interaction such as streaming webcasts and Skype.
Use of the data. The data will be used to help the researcher understand the stereotypes
perpetuated about the disabled in the church and practical ways to overcome these obstacles to
inclusion in the church. This data will be reviewed in conjunction with other data to help
promote the attendance and participation of the disabled in church and overcome previous
obstacles to such participation.
Sub-problem Three
The third sub-problem is helping people with disabilities learn the language of the church
in order to communicate their needs as a member of the church.
Data needed. Data needed is insight from the participants of the virtual community on
their understanding of spiritual gifts, the Great Commission, faith and other terms used in the
church. These participants will share their experiences in relation to the (a) language of the
church and (b) the difficulty in feeling included in the church. Permission will be needed to
interview participants in respect to this data.
Criteria for acceptable data. Data will be acceptable when it can be clearly illustrated
through examples, insights and relevant documents.
Location of the data. The location of the data is through participants of an intentional
virtual community. These participants will all (a) know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, (b)
have a disability, (c) want to live as a follower of Jesus and (d) want to assimilate themselves in a
local church setting.
Securing of the data. The data will be secured through Seek the Son Ministries Inc.
network of persons with disabilities and other evangelical disability ministries throughout North
America. The data will then be secured through participation in the virtual community in the
form of (a) email listserv, (b) blogs, (c), podcasts, (d) chat rooms, and (e) other forms of live
interaction such as streaming webcasts and Skype.
Use of the data. The data will be used to help the researcher understand the language
barriers experienced from the disabled in the church and practical ways to overcome these
obstacles to inclusion in the church. This data will be reviewed in conjunction with other data to
help promote the attendance and participation of the disabled in church and to overcome
previous obstacles to such participation.
Sub-problem Four
The fourth sub-problem is to create an intentional virtual community and use email
listserv, blogs, podcasts, Skype, and other internet resources to network people with disabilities
to explore the strengths of being in community.
Data needed. The data needed is (a) voluntary participants to create an intentional virtual
community, (b) internet tools to successfully facilitate this community and (c) the desire of the
participants to learn the strengths of living simply in community.
Permission will be needed to interview participants in respect to this data
Criteria for acceptable data. Data will be acceptable (a) after this virtual community will
be tested on a small group of people to insure all the technical aspects are working effectively to
promote the best online experience. Data will be acceptable (b) when it can be clearly illustrated
through examples, insights and relevant documents.
Location of the data. The location of the data is through participants of an intentional
virtual community. These participants will all (a) know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, (b)
have a disability, (c) want to live as a follower of Jesus and (d) want to assimilate themselves in a
local church setting.
Securing of the data. The data will be secured through Seek the Son Ministries Inc.
network of persons with disabilities and other evangelical disability ministries throughout North
America. The data will then be secured through participation in the virtual community in the
form of (a) email listserv, (b) blogs, (c), podcasts, (d) chat rooms, and (e) other forms of live
interaction such as streaming webcasts and Skype.
Use of the data. The data will be used to help the researcher understand the strengths of
living in community for the disabled in the church and practical ways to overcome these
obstacles to inclusion in the church. This data will be reviewed in conjunction with other data to
help promote the attendance and participation of the disabled in church and to overcome
previous obstacles.
Sub-problem Five
The fifth sub-problem is to create an environment of empowerment to enable the disabled
to find a local church to meet their specific circumstances.
Data needed. The data needed is(a) insights from participants on their experiences of
stereotypes in the church, (b)insights of coping strategies to fulfill their job descriptions as
followers of Jesus Christ, and (c) strategies’ to locate and attend a local church in the
participant’s neighborhood. Permission will be needed to interview participants in respect to
this data
Criteria for acceptable data. Data will be acceptable when it can be clearly illustrated
through examples, insights and relevant documents.
Location of the data. The location of the data is through participants of an intentional
virtual community. These participants will all (a) know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, (b)
have a disability, (c) want to live as a follower of Jesus and (d) want to assimilate themselves in a
local church setting.
Securing of the data. The data will be secured through Seek the Son Ministries Inc.
network of persons with disabilities and other evangelical disability ministries throughout North
America. The data will then be secured through participation in the virtual community in the
form of (a) email listserv, (b) blogs, (c), podcasts, (d) chat rooms, and (e) other forms of live
interaction such as streaming webcasts and Skype.
Use of the data. The data will be used to help the researcher understand the barriers that
stop people with disabilities from attending church, and practical ways to overcome these
obstacles to inclusion in the church. This data will be reviewed in conjunction with other data to
help promote the attendance and participation of the disabled in church and overcome previous
obstacles to such participation.
Sub-problem Six
The sixth sub-problem is to synthesize this information and to continue to use intentional
virtual communities to expand reconciliation among the disabled in the local church.
Data needed. Data needed is (a) notes from research in sub-problem one and (b) insights,
notes and observations collected from sub-problems two-five.
Criteria for acceptable data: Data will be deemed acceptable when the criteria have been
processed according to the acceptable methods outlined in sub-problems one-five.
Location of the data. The data will be located in the researcher’s field notes, computer
files, and recordings of interviews.
Securing of the data. This data will be secured by collecting and carefully creating a
document to outline the issues discussed in sub-problems one-five.
Use of the data. The data will be used to create a document to share the experience of
how an intentional community works to help people with disabilities attend and participate in a
local church.
SECTION FIVE
Proposed Thesis Outline
Preliminary Items
Title Page…
Acknowledgements….
Table of Contents….
Definition of Terms…..
Abstract…..
Dedication….
Introduction
Chapter One: The problem of the lack of attendance and participation of the disabled in
evangelical churches in North America
1.1 Statement of the Problem….
1.2 Delimitations….
1.3 Assumptions….
1.4 Setting of the project…..The importance of the project to the researcher….
1.5 The importance of the project to the ministry
1.6 The importance of the project to the church…..
1.7 The research methodology….
Chapter Two: A biblical and theological analysis for inclusion of the disabled in the body of
Christ
2.1 Scriptures and the inclusion of suffering
2.2 Jesus and His teachings
2.3 The call of reconciliation to the disabled to the body of Christ
Chapter Three: Review of related studies
3.1 Review of literature on the history of the treatment of the disabled in the church
3.2 Review of literature of intentional communities and the disabled
3.3 Review of literature of the effectiveness of intentional virtual communities in respect to faith
3.4 review of literature on reconciliation of the disabled into the body of Christ
Chapter Four: The scope of attendance and participation of the disabled in the local church.
4.1 Description of the intentional virtual community.
4.2 Surveys: development, content, distribution and response
4.3 Media resources used in virtual community: email listserv, blogs, podcasts, live interactive
forms
4.4 Interviews
4.5 Relationship of data to existing literature
Chapter Five: data treatment and analysis
5.1 Sub-problem One.
5.2 Sub-problem Two
5.3 Sub-problem Three
5.4 Sub-problem Four
5.5 Sub-problem Five
5.6 Sub-problem Six
Chapter Six: The evaluation of enabling the disabled into the body of Christ
6.1 Summary
6.2 Conclusions
6.3 Recommendations
6.4 Strengths and weaknesses
6.5 Modifications needed.
Chapter Seven: Personal reflections
7.1 Personal insights
7.2 Suggestions for further research
APPENDICES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
SECTION SIX
Schedule for Completion
Submit thesis proposal without instruments February 4, 2011
Receive formal approval of thesis project
Submit instruments March 11, 2011
Review biblical and related literature September, 2011
Submit chapters one, two and three October 1 2011
Submit chapters four and five December 1, 2011
Submit chapters six and seven January 1, 2012
Begin writing first full draft January, 2012
Submit first full draft of thesis project February 1, 2012
Receive returned thesis project report March, 2012
Final draft in library May 2012
Graduation June, 2012
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http://www.ic.org
http://www.anathothcommunityfarm.org
http://www.sawobonatothemasses.blogspot.com
Http://ministriestliquest.net/theology/apocryphas/nt/mystic.htm
http://www.newmonaticism.org
http://www.divinity.duke.edu/publications/2005.09/features/monaticism/01.htm
http://www.camphill.org
http://www.jesusradicals.org/theology
www.seektheson.org
http://ministries.tliquest.net/theology/apocrythas/nt/misticc.htm_
1 2
http//www.jesusradicals.org/theology_ http:w//ww.newmonasticism.org_ Lorne L. Dorson and Douglas E. Cowan
3 4
“Religion Online: Finding faith on the Internet” (Routledge Great Britan 2004) Page 7
_ Ibid _ http://sawobonatothemasses.blogspot.com/2008/07/anymore.html_ http://www.seektheson.org_
5 6 7 8
Ibid._ Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism. Hidden and forgotten people including people with disability:
9
Lausanne Occasional Paper #35_ Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture citations are from The Holy Bible, New
10
International Version, (Colorado Springs, CO: International Bible Society, 1984)._ Lausanne Committee for World
11
Evangelism. Hidden and forgotten people including people with disability: Lausanne Occasional Paper #35 p. 1_ 12
Matthew 17:20_ 13
Nancy Eiesland, A Disabled God: Towards a Liberating Theology of Disability (Nashville:
Abington Press, 1994)._ Elizabeth Brown, The Disabled Disciple: Ministering in a Church without Barriers (Liguori:
14
Liguori Publications, 1997)._ Deborah Creamer, Disability and Christian Theology: Embodied Limits and
15
Constructive Possibilities (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009)._ Brett Webb-Mitchell, Unexpected Guests at
16
God’s Banquet: Welcoming People with Disabilities into the
Church (New York: Crossroads Publishing Company, 1994). Dancing with Disabilities: Opening the Church to All
God’s Children (Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers , 2008)._ Scot Danforth, “Liberation Theology of Disability and
17
the Option for the Poor,” Disability Studies Quarterly (25) 3 (Summer 2005)._ Susan Pierce, “Disabled
18
Liberation is Her Ministry,” Witness (68)7 (July, 1985): 18-20_ 19
Deborah Creamer, “Embracing Limits,
Queering Embodiment: Creating/creative Possibilities for Disability Theology,” Journal of Feminist Study in Religion
(26) 2 (Fall, 2010): 123-127_ Nancy Eisland, “What is Disability,” Stimulus 6 (1998): 24-30_ Barbara J.
20 21
Hedges-Goettl, “Thinking Theologically About Inclusion: Disability, Imago Dei and the Body of Christ,” Journal of
Religion, Disability & Health (6)4 (2002): 7-30_ Stephanie O. Hubach, Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside
22
People with Disabilities (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing 2006)._ Tim Basselin, “The Face of Mary: Flannery O’connor,
23
Disability and Theology” (PhD diss., Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Theology, 2010)._ Molly Claire Haslem,
24
“Dethroning Rationality: a Theological Anthropology of/for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities” (PhD diss.,
Vanderbilt University, 2007)._ William Daniel Blaire, “Transforming Attitudes In Theological Education about
25
Disability”(PhD diss., The University of Alabama, 2006)._ Timothy William Dobbin, “Community Pastoral Care in
26
Faith and Light: A Qualitative Study of Perpetual Parenthood from a Pastoral Care and Counseling Perspective”
(PhD diss., Wilfrid Laurier University, 2005)._ Alvean Illinois Jacobs, “’Disabled Identities:’ Pastoral Work with
27
People who are Mobility Impaired,” (PhD diss., University of South Africa, 2004)._ Tracy Allison Demmons, “The
28
Meaning and Message of Embodiment and Disability” (thesis, Acadia University, 2004)_ Christine Valters Paintner,
29
“Spiritual Practices as Socially Transformative: Towards a Liberating Theology” (PhD diss., Graduate Theological
Union, 2004)._ Deborah Beth Creamer, “The Withered Hand of God: Disability and Theological Reflection (Sallie
30
McFague)” (PhD diss., The lliff School of Theology and University of Denver, 2004)._ Dana Ruth Mellis, “Towards a
31
Theology of Covenant in Jean Vanier and l’Arche: The ‘Imago Dei’ and Persons with Mental Disabilities” (PhD diss.,
St. Louis University, 2001)._ Joni Eareckson Tada. When God Weeps (Zondervan October 1, 2000); Charles Chivers.
32
Compel them to come in: Reaching People with Disabilities through the Local Church (AuthorHouse February 16,
2010); Jim Pearson. Exceptional Teaching: A Comprehensive Guide for including students with Disabilities (Standard
Publishing company January, 2002)_ Shane Clayborne, Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical,
33
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006)._ John Wilson Hartgrove. God’s Economy: Redefining the Health and Wealth
34
Gospel. Zondervan Grand Rapids, MI (2009). Living Faithfully in a Fragmented World: Lessons for the Church from
Macintyre’s After Virtue. (Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2008). New Monaticissm: An Insider’s Perspective;
What it Has to Say to Today’s Church (Grand Rapids:Brazos Press, 2008)._ Jean Vanier. Becoming Human. Paulist
35
Press. (June 30, 2008); Community and Growth (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1989); Encountering the Other (Mahwah:
Paulist Press, 2006); From Brokenness to Community (Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1992); Living Gently in a Violent
World: The Prophetic Witness of Weakness (Downers Grove, Intervarsity Press Books, 2008)._ Henri J. Nouwen,
36
Adam: God’s Beloved (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2000)._ Aaron J. Wymer, “Alignment Around a Missional Vision:
37
Reaching Out in Relationships at Grand View Christian Church,” (PhD diss., Asbury Theological Seminary, 2009)._ 38
Peter Stevenson, “Time to Spare: Perceptions of Community Ministry,” (PhD diss., Princeton Theological Seminary,
2009)._ Julia Cassaniti, “Control in a World of Change: Emotion and Morality in a Northern Thai Town,” (PhD.,
39
diss. The University of Chicago, 2009)._ Bradley Arthur Peterson, “Towards a Protestant Monasticism: The
40
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