DISABILITY MINISTRIES
Disability Network
The Massachusetts Council of Churches and Rhode Island State Council of Churches, together with MCC Adjunct Associate, Rev. Betsy Sowers, maintain this network. The group meets once per year for an informal dessert, fellowship, and networking time. Ideas emerging from the annual gathering have resulted in production of "The Accessible Church" document, and stronger ecumenical relations among those engaged in disability ministry.
Our Disability Ministries e-mail network is used to inform colleagues about issues and upcoming events that would be of interest, and to share, or to request information and resources. Network members may send announcements of events, notice of important legislative or budget matters affecting the disability community, make others aware of new resources, or ask other members for resources to meet a particular need. By making our network ecumenical, we create links for sharing resources and support across a broad spectrum of churches in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, multiplying the effectiveness of our ministries.
To be added to our e-mail or mailing list we may be reached at council@masscouncilofchurches.org By mail at: Mass. Council of Churches, 14 Beacon Street, Suite 416, Boston, MA 02108, Phone: 617-523-2771. Our list is not given to anyone outside the network, and all communications go first through our office, so we promise no spam!
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ALLEN GUNN DISABILITY MINISTRY RECOGNITION AWARD
The Disability Network will present an award to honor the memory of Allen Gunn, who cared deeply about, and worked tirelessly for, the full inclusion in churches of people. The award will be presented at the annual gathering of the Network November 2007.
2006 recipient of the award is Edmund Egan, Director of Development at the Trudeau Center, Warwick, RI
Nomination form and award criteria.
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"The Accessible Church:
Toward Becoming the Whole Family of God"
Opportunities and Responsibilities for Ministry with People with Disabilities
This is an 8 page statement issued on June 12, 2001 by the boards of directors of the Massachusetts and the Rhode Island state Councils of Churches calling on congregations to "re-examine our ideas about disability" and to make "worship, programs and physical structures full-accessible so that all can participate. Nearly 6,000 copies of this statement were mailed out in Massachusetts alone.
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ADDITIONAL LINKS:
World Council of Churches:
http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/jpc/disabil.html
World Council of Churches Interim Statement on Disabilities:
A church of All and For All
National Council of Churches:
http://www.ncccusa.org.nmu/mce/disabilities.html
Resources for making your church web site accessible to people with disabilities
Most pages on our web site comply with Priority I web accessibility guidelines. Learn how to create and test an accessible web page.