New Resource Available for Disability Awareness Sunday
By
Rev. Leo Yates, Jr.
As
worship leaders and pastors begin planning their upcoming church year, a new
resource is now available from the Commission on Disability Concerns of the
Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC). This will assist congregations in
fulfilling The Book of Discipline’s requirement that each annual conference
designate a Sunday to observe Disability Awareness Sunday. In the BWC, the
first Sunday of February is designated as Disability Awareness Sunday, although
if another fits their calendar, that is permissible.
To
provide congregations with resources, the disability commission created new
liturgy. This was done not only to update existing resources, but to encourage
congregations to observe Disability Awareness Sunday. The liturgy and
references can be found as a Google Doc.
This link is also available with related resources from the Disability Ministries Committee worship services page.
The
liturgy can also be adapted for a Deaf Awareness Sunday, which is typically
held the last Sunday in September or on another Sunday near a deaf-related
observance. Although we always recommend including people with disabilities or who are Deaf, hard of
hearing, and/or Deafblind to participate in leading the worship, these events are an especially good time to do that. Along with the
inclusion of bulletin inserts
for a Deaf awareness service, planning can also include Deaf awareness activities.
Rev.
Nancy Webb, a retired elder of the BWC, coordinated the effort to create new
liturgy. Rev. Webb worked with both Rev. Mary Johnson (retired elder) and Rev.
Leo Yates (deacon in full connection) to draft new liturgy, as well as to
include resources such as hyperlinks to websites, alternative materials, and
additional recommendations for consideration. "We're so excited to be able
to share the new liturgy. It even includes litanies, suggested Scripture
readings, as well as a list of sermon ideas. I'm thankful to Rev. Mary and Rev.
Leo for putting this together," said Webb.
Yvonne
Caughman, a Certified Lay Minister and the chairperson for the disability
commission commended the new resource. Caughman shared, "I love the new
resource. We need to get this out there to pastors."
This
new liturgy gains more meaning and relevance as it was created by persons with
disabilities. It is a welcome addition to the disability commission's other resources and those from the Disability Ministries Committee.
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Rev. Leo Yates is deacon serving in the Baltimore-Washington Conference as the
Accessibility & Inclusion Coordinator. He can be reached at
lyates@bwcumc.org.
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