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We believe that people all people are made in the image of God.
Full stop.
So, when we are talking about how to make our churches more inclusive, we aren’t talking about welcoming people even though they have disabilities (or even though they are children, as we talked about in last month’s episode).
The goal is making our programs better reflect our theology.
The goal is living out our beliefs about what it means to be human, and what it means to love and serve God in community with our siblings in Christ.
About Pr. Lisa Heffernan
Pastor Lisa Heffernan pastors in South Dakota in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American. She also serves on the ELCA Disabilities Ministry Team.
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Resources We Mentioned
- “Why Americans Go (and Don’t Go) to Religious Services,” from the Pew Research Forum
- Last month’s Music and the Church episode with Anita Smallin, which covers similar theological areas in relationship to welcoming children in church services
Favorite Quotes from the Conversation
“We were raised with the idea that it takes all kinds of people to make our world. We all have a place, we all are important, whatever our gifts and abilities may be. And not the perspective of, even though you have a disability, you’re important. No, you are important in the fullness that you are.” — Pastor Lisa Heffernan
“If we believe in a God that embraces all people, we then are called to embrace one another in the name of Christ, and to find ways to make our worshipping communities, all our communities, as ‘accessible’ as possible, so that all can fully participate, because all are beloved children of God.” — Pastor Lisa Heffernan
“The longer our churches stay inaccessible — whatever that looks like — the fewer people we are going to have hear the gospel. And what’s our mission here? We’re not a social club, we’re a church, and our call is to share the gospel. How do we best do that?” — Pastor Lisa Heffernan
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