Summer Kinard: Of Such is the Kingdom of God

Summer Kinard,  an Orthodox Christian with Masters degrees in both Divinity and Theology, has developed another web page, focused on the life and development of persons with disabilities, which introduces and will accompany a book she is writing (same title):

Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability

To Access the link:

https://ofsuchisthekingdom.com/

There are four sections to this webpage: A Practical Theology of Disability summarizes what the book and the web page are about. It begins with a parable which involves a banquet – God’s banquet – a banquet of love. Summer Kinard unpacks several aspects of life with God – divine life – which this parable reveals. The Blog consists of practical posts involving various things one can do  in regard to life in God with people who have disabilities, as well as some informational and inspirational posts from an Orthodox Christian Perspective. of welcome into the Orthodox Church as a person or family member to a person living with a disability, neurodivergence, or impairment. You may use the online form linked at the top of this page or the Word Doc linked below. Tell Me Your Story (in Summer Kinard’s own words): 

Tell Me Your Story of welcome into the Orthodox Church as a person or family member to a person living with a disability, neurodivergence, or impairment. You may use the online form linked at the top of this page or the Word Doc linked below.

Also, Further Reading & Resources

Summer Kinard also has a You Tube Page. Here are a few of her videos:

Saving expenses on the items needed for a child with a disability- a site offering free resources and another offering budget-friendly

Raising children with disabilities is a big challenge, emotionally and economically. Two posts on the website DontPayFull lists sources of  help with the expenses:

 THE COMPLETE LIST OF FREE THINGS AND GRANTS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

TOP 6 BUDGET-FRIENDLY ONLINE STORES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

A Webinar which addresses the financial challenges of adults with disabilities:

 

 

Maura Oprisko: The Functions of Autistic Behaviors

Maura Oprisko: What is Autism?

Our Church and People with MH Issues

To access:  Is Your Church Healthy for People with Mental Illness? 3 ways your congregation can embrace those with mental disorders, by Michael R. Lyles

Even though people with mental health issues often give rise to fear in others, our Faith, the Orthodox Christian Faith, calls us to love them and seek to incorporate them in our parishes, the Body of Christ in our locales. This article is written by Dr. Michael R. Lyles, a psychiatrist. The suggestions in this article can be incorporated into Orthodox Christian Church life; there is nothing in our Liturgical Life, our Parish Life, that would prevent this. Of course, all of these things must be taken to our God-loving Bishops for their blessing. As St. Ignatius of Antioch has written on the way to his martyrdom in Rome, we must do nothing apart from our bishops. 

Two videos, featuring Dr. Stephen Grcevich, addressing these matters in more depth: