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The Rev. Dr. John Dorhauer, Conference Minister, Southwest Conference (SWC) UCC and Holly Herman, responsible for organizing the SWC Annual Meeting, April 20-21, 2012 have offered an opportunity for us to witness to the human rights of people with disabilities. We have been invited to lead a workshop featuring a panel of people with disabilities and their pastors. The plan is to invite clergy to interview lay leaders responsible for coordinating disabilities ministries in their congregations. The purpose of this workshop is to discuss ways congregations can accommodate those with disabilities into the full life of the church.
I hope that you will consider attending the SWC Widening the Welcome: Inclusion for All Workshop during the SWC Annual Meeting, April 20-21, 2012, The Good Shepherd UCC, Sahuarita, Arizona. We invite you to contact members of the SWC Justice and Witness widening the welcome table to assist you with creating worship services and Christian education curriculum that help congregations to become more welcoming of people who are differently abled.
The First Congregational, Phoenix Called to Care Coordinating Council (CCCC)invites monthly speakers to address physical, emotional and cognitive challenges. See attached schedule of CCCC meetings.We heard an exceptional speaker during our Sunday, March 25, 2012 CCCC meeting. Rev. Lane Perdue and Rebecca Duke made a NAMI FaithNet power point presentation called, “Bridges of Hope.” Instruction for accessing this document is: google FaithNet Bridges of Hope download Bridges of Hope Powerpoint.
We have learned that one out of four family members have been affected by a disability/mental heath challenge. If you have a concern that we can address or if you want to participate in the SWC Inclusion Team ministry you can contact me by email at: RobertKoth1@cox.net or by telephone at: 602-284-4159. The inclusion in our local congregations of persons with a wide variety of disabilities/mental health challenges is a pastoral as well as a justice ministry.
Robert Koth carries the UCC banner
“We are all ministers of Jesus Christ, following His example in the world by loving one another, protecting the vulnerable and working for justice.
We are called by God to provide care to our at-risk children and adults as primary care givers, extended family, friends and/or advocates.
We plan to broaden the definition of disabilities to include all forms of physical and emotional impairments that children and adults face.
We will provide caregivers with an opportunity to share their experiences and learn from each other.