The Episcopal Church Welcomes You, MAYBE
For years, this sign directed people to St. Paul’s with a message that we thought was one of welcoming of all God’s people to our church. Likewise, every Sunday, it was proclaimed from the communion rail, which was accessible by several steps, that “no matter who you are, you are welcome here.”
Unfortunately, our church building was sending an entirely different message of welcome to persons with mobility issues.
Around 15 per cent of the world’s population, or an estimated one billion people, live with disabilities. They are the world’s largest minority. To address the needs of more than 50 million Americans, the Americans with Disabilities Act was established in 1990 prohibiting discrimination against individuals on the basis of disabilities. However, churches are exempted from compliance with the provisions of the ADA based on the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Unfortunately, this exemption can result in less motivation to renovate churches. It was at this stage that our church embarked, somewhat reluctantly, on a journey towards accepting the need for greater accessibility to the church.
Three years ago, the Senior Warden approached the Vestry and was met with resistance: We don’t have the money. Ramps are ugly and will affect the aesthetic of our historical building. We don’t need ramps as no one who attends church uses a wheelchair or walker. After discussion, the issue was tabled, but a tiny seed was planted that slowly grew the following two years as the issue was raised and tabled several times.
The Vestry took no action during this time. Despite two parishioners falling, one going up the steps to the communion rail and another on the uneven stone pathway from the parish hall to the sanctuary, resulting in a broken nose. Despite complaints received from a member who no longer attended church because of being in a wheelchair. Despite stories of community folks who were not able to attend funerals or social events at the church because of the church’s limited accessibility.
This past year, our Rector, the Rev. Curt Norman, who is committed to inclusivity of all, introduced the issue to the full congregation in a sermon. He said:
“In my mind, if we claim to be a church that welcomes ALL…if we are going to be a church for an aging demographic…then this campus needs to be accessible to all. Right now, it is not. That needs to change right now…beginning with our mindset.”
A discussion soon followed at the annual meeting. A Saturday ‘work day’ was held, where church members surveyed the grounds and buildings and inventoried existing accessibility, or lack thereof. An accessibility plan began to take shape when members realized that the church offices were not accessible by anyone in a wheelchair! The Vestry quickly approved the construction of two ramps with handrails and elimination of the stone pathway. They also agreed that next steps should include the addition of automatic door openers into the sanctuary and parish hall and eventual renovation of the bathrooms.
More importantly, a change from a ‘can/cannot’ mindset to a ‘how’ mindset began to take place among church members and leaders. The tiny seed of accessibility ministry was finally taking root and growing!
Ironically, as members began to change their mindsets, they began to recognize that providing accommodation for people with disabilities can also be self-serving. Benjamin Franklin once stated, "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." For most of us, death is preceded by just getting older, and the older we get, the more limitations we incur. Thus, removing barriers and improving accessibility benefits everyone and can be valuable assets, especially for churches with aging populations such as ours.
Corinthians 12:22 states that “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” People with disabilities are essential to the body of Christ. Their unique perspectives, gifts, and experiences deepen our collective understanding of God’s grace and compassion. Making churches accessible can be an expression of the church’s mission to embody Christ’s love and inclusivity. By addressing barriers that limit attendance and involvement, churches can ensure that all worshippers can fully participate in the life of the church. This commitment to accessibility can strengthen the church community as a whole, reflecting the true spirit of the gospel.
As Curt preached in his sermon:
“Remember, this Church family does NOT exist only for ourselves… we exist for the people who are not yet members of St. Paul’s. People can’t become members if they can’t get around the campus.”
Churches play a vital role in fostering spirituality, community, and connection. Thus, it is essential that they are accessible to everyone. We hope that our church renovations will create an inclusive environment where all individuals will feel welcomed and can fully participate in worship and fellowship.
Our accessibility journey is not over at St. Paul’s; we have a long way to go. However, we have taken the first steps which are sometimes the hardest. As Curt challenged us in his sermon:
“Following Jesus is about taking calculated steps into God’s future and trusting God has already figured this out. Our current situation is no different than when God told Abram and Sarai… GO… start moving, and I’ll let you know when you get there. We must be willing to step out in faith, especially in the face of doubt and unknowing. The questions before us are pretty basic: Do we have faith to take action now so that God can transform lives here in the future? If we don’t believe God can perform miracles in our day, then why are we here in the first place?”
For more information:
- Accessibility Audit tool: network.crcna.org/disability-concerns/accessibilty-audit
- Church policy on disability template: network.crcna.org/church-admin-finance/church-policy-disability
- Everybody belongs, Serving together: An inclusion handbook for Christian churches: faithward.org/everybody-belongs-serving-together
- Indicators of Belonging: A checklist: a-ca.storyblok.com/f/2000096/x/c39ef062b5/indicators-of-belonging-an-assessment-2024.pdf
