Dr. Eric Carter: Creating a sense of belonging for Children and Adults with Disabilities

NOTE: Dr. Eric Carter is not affiliated with LDS or Brigham Young University; he first studied at Wheaton College and now is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. He has concentrated his efforts toward the inclusion of people with disability in Churches, and while not an Orthodox Christian, has a lot of good insights that could be put into practice in Orthodox Christian Parishes. The following resource is fairly short and simple, summarizing the major themes he has found to be most helpful:

Ten simple ways to create a sense of belonging for children and adults with disabilities

 

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Also, one of the many of Dr. Carter’s Presentations on You Tube. This one of the shorter ones:

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Here are some other resources he has placed online which go into the details of these themes:

Putting faith and job seekers with disabilities to work

(Gal 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.)

One of Dr. Eric Carter’s Books:

Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations

Bio: Dr. Eric Carter Also: His Faith Ability Page

Supporting The Expression of Spirituality For Persons with Intellectual Disabilities:

Click to access RESEARCH-REPORT-.pdf

From the Transfiguration Brotherhood: Church Life for People with Limited Capacities

There is a movement within the Russian Orthodox Church, the Transfiguration Brotherhood, initiated by Father Georgy  Kochetkov, who is

 The Transfiguration, from      Wikimedia Commons

also the Rector of St. Philaret’s Christian Orthodox Institute. The Brotherhood has members in Russia and also in other countries as well, both men and women. Local brotherhood communities are formed for, in their words, 

. . . . Bible studies and prayer meetings held at home, where they may also discuss pressing church and personal matters. Members of the Brotherhood share Eucharistic worship and agape meals (prayerful meals of love and thanksgiving). Members of the Brotherhood are involved in the life of many parishes and seek to build relationships with Christians in other cities and countries.

Their webpage-  The Transfiguration Brotherhood  (see their About Us page). and their Facebook page

This Brotherhood has also given consideration to persons with disabilities. See the post below for details; it is very good, and not long at all:

Gathered Together for One and the Same Purpose: It is important for members of the church community to regard those with limited capabilities as brothers, sisters and friends, rather than as ‘objects in need of assistance

John Swinton: Taking Seriously the Body of Jesus

Disability theology: Taking Seriously the Body of Jesus 

by John Swinton (a professor of Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland

I find two main themes in this article by Dr. Swinton to be very pertinent, very central to our life together with people who have disabilities:

1. A reminder that knowledge pertains to the body, and not only to the mind.
2. The harmonious working together of the Body of Christ- all members, including those with disabilities- is “the heart of the Gospel.” 

Books by John Swinton, the majority of which relate to persons with disabilities: Goodreads: John Swinton’s Books

Here’s one of them: Goodreads: Resurrecting the Person: Friendship and the Care of People with Mental Health Problems, by John Swinton

John Swinton: Understanding Our Own Bodies, God and Disabilities

Professor John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care and Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. He is an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland who for more than a decade worked as a registered nurse specializing in psychiatry and learning disabilities. He is also the founder of the Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability at the University of Aberdeen. 

A talk by John Swinton:

Understanding Our Own Bodies, God and Disabilities

Another Talk by John Swinton:

See also: The Kairos Forum (click on “Home”):

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