8 Things Pastors Can Do To Foster a Disability Effective Church

Here are eight things lead pastors can do to foster a disability effective church.

1. Teach from the pulpit about the theology of disability and suffering.
2. Support outreach and care coordinators.
3. Provide a budget that values inclusion.
4. Provide space in the building for inclusive activities, support groups and accessibility.
5. Pray and encourage prayer for and with those who have atypical lives.
6. Endorse and publicly affirm programs, services, missions and inclusive activities that fully engage children, youth and adults who experience atypical lives (e.g., disability, mental health, aging, caregiving, chronic illness).
7. Provide personal encouragement to struggling families and teams who are serving.
8. Model what it looks like to whole-heartedly engage with people who have atypical lives.