Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


'Making your church more accessible to disabled people does not make you inclusive' 

 

That's the opinion of the Revd Glen Graham who was born blind and is minister of Salisbury Road Baptist Church in Plymouth

Making your church more access

Speaking at the seminar organised by the BUGB Disability Justice Group entitled 'Overcoming Barriers to inclusion of Disabled People', Mr Graham said that improving accessibility for disabled people to attend services was welcoming, but just the first step of inclusion.

True inclusion would mean disabled people being equal at church and taking an active part in all aspects of church life from being church leaders to being part of the Baptist Union's structures.

Mr Graham went onto explain some barriers to inclusion. One of them was how the Bible can become a 'savage text' to misinterpret being disabled with sin and punishment. However the example of the way Jesus took the marginalised, like those with leprosy for instance, and brought them into the middle of society showed the Bible could be a 'narrative of hope and inclusivity'.

He recalled times when people have prayed for him to be healed of his blindness, something he feels suggests that 'God has made an error'. He doesn't agree with this - he believes God made him blind for a reason. 'I'm not broke,' he said.

The Revd Martin Hobgen, minister of Limbrick Wood Baptist Church in Coventry, then highlighted how the ways able bodied people speak about disabled people can label them as 'different', instilling a culture of 'them and us'. Quoting from the book The Disabled God he said, 'Disabled people do not live different lives. They live ordinary lives differently.'
 
    Post     Tweet
Support from the Baptist family for Spurgeon’s students
The whole Baptist family has responded magnificently to BUGB’s Spurgeon’s appeal - £90,000 has been donated by churches and individuals to support Baptist students who had been studying at Spurgeon’s College when it unexpectedly closed its doors in July
New appointment to support ministry to and among 18-35s
Matt Ceaser has been appointed by the Baptist Union of Great Britain to succeed Isabella Senior as 18-35s Coordinator
Empowered to multiply - next Everyone Everywhere conference
A two-day gathering for courage and multiplication - the Everyone Everywhere working group shares more information about its next national conference
‘It helped us take our witness onto the street’
Organisers of the Shine Your Light Christmas campaign say they have been 'overwhelmed' by an unprecedented response from churches
Pantry network milestone, research shows impact
One of Britain’s biggest community pantry networks - Your Local Pantry - has reached its millionth visit, as new findings show it is preventing people from falling into acute crisis. Two Baptist churches share their stories
The Boys' Brigade launches alumni network to connect generations
The Boys’ Brigade wants to get in touch with former members to celebrate more than 140 years of shaping young lives
     Latest News 
    Posted: 25/11/2025
    Posted: 29/07/2025
    Posted: 04/06/2025
    Posted: 21/05/2025
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast