General Media Release

New book challenges inhospitable churches

Concern over a lack of welcoming environments in churches for people living with disability has led a new book, “Creating Welcoming Churches a disability resource for faith communities. It will be launched in Wellington on Human Rights Day, Wednesday 10th December, at Saint Marks Church, 58 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt at 6.30 pm.

“The book has been produced by the Disability, Spirituality and Faith Network Aotearoa New Zealand, a group with strong links both in the church and the disability communities”, says network chairperson Rev Vicki Terrell, who is also an Anglican priest.

“Most people in the network have lived experience of disability and we’re all passionately committed to making churches places where all people are affirmed as having gifts to share.”

“There are many people in New Zealand who because of their eyesight, hearing, mental health, learning disabilities or mobility find it difficult to be part of the church family, and that’s frustrating. Too often, Christians only think of people with disability as needing healing, rather than needing access to be fully included as part of the family.”

“We’d like churches to see things differently. We’re all made in God’s image and deserve to be welcomed, whether we’re part of the regular congregation or an occasional visitor.”

As well as being a practical guide on how to make church environments more accessible to all people, it includes tips on creating welcoming attitudes and actions, and gives stories from 11 churches who have embraced the challenge of accessibility.

The book, which is aimed at all churches and faith communities, was made possible through funding from the Joint Special Project Fund of the Association of Presbyterian Women and Methodist Women’s Fellowship.

Rev Vicki Terrell