Enabling Church

Disability, Wholeness and Christian Theology

Nearly four hundred people gathered at Friends House, Euston, on October 7 for a day conference organised by Churches for All, an alliance of Christian organisations which work with people with disabilities. Their ecumenical vision is that ‘it takes the whole of the Church to proclaim the whole of the to the whole of the community’ and they insist that that includes people with disabilities.

The event was chaired by Revd John Naudé, Minister of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Waterlooville, Portsmouth, and worship was led by Rt Revd Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter, and singer Dave Bilbrough. In a video message Joni Eareckson Tada, whose work with people with disabilities inspired the founding of Through the Roof, one of the partner organisations, encouraged the conference to see the weaker members of the Body of Christ as of particular significance. Ethicist Roy McCloughry from St John’s College, Nottingham, explored different Christian viewpoints on disability and Jonathan Lamb gave a pastoral perspective. John Naudé addressed the sometimes fraught questions of disability, wholeness and healing and Revd Malcolm Duncan, Minister of Mortimer West End Chapel and founder of Church and Community, challenged us to think differently about disabled people in the church and community.

The day was supported by Premier Radio and recordings of the addresses are available on the Premier Radio website