Biblical Justice

The most recent issue of the Journal of Religion, Disability, and Health, focuses on the topic of Inclusive Christian Schooling. While leafing through the issue I found myself overwhelmed by the many levels/perceptions of what it means to be an inclusive community. For us at Derry, being inclusive in worship and Sunday school looks very different than being inclusive in our enrichment program - or does it? D.W Anderson (Emeritus Professor of Education, Bethel University) author of the article Biblical Justice, would suggest otherwise. In his article, Anderson suggests that 'Biblical justice establishes a situation in which shalom* is possible' (p. 351). For Anderson shalom comes when each member of a community is seen as a contributor rather than a recipient. To this note he quotes Black, saying, 'A theology of interdependence honors the value of all individuals, not by what they do, but by who they are, recognizing that each and every person contributes to the community by being, not by doing. Interdependence acknowledges not only our dependence on God and one another, but also God's dependence on us to be agents of God's healing compassion in the world.' (Black, 1996, p. 42)

So does being an inclusive community look different based on setting? Certainly the 'logistics' of inclusion would, for instance, circle time is unique to the enrichment program and the offering is unique to worship. However, when you stop to consider the heart of the matter, no matter the setting, inclusion looks the same. Whether working with those who are temporarily able-bodied or those who have a disability, inclusion means making God's justice 'visible and believable ' through our 'words, actions, lifestyles, and teaching.'

*Shalom, is a Hebrew word meaning 'universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight - a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, all under the arch of God's love...in other words...the way things are supposed to be.' (Plantinga, 2002, p. 15)

Rabbit trail.

There are many words in the english language used to describe the instances when one changes direction. Whether distraction, diversion, rabbit trail, or fork in the road - these changes are often what one makes of them. My walk with Derry Presbyterian Church (DPC) has changed. While it certainly has not meant the abandonment of one path and the choosing of another, it has meant following two roads simultaneously. The first road is one that I have been traveling since March of this year and has been the focal point of many of my previous posts. The second however has been less traveled and will be the subject of this post.

As a congregation, we have made it a part of who we are to be welcoming and hospitable to all. In the area of Special Needs Ministry this has meant a redefining of 'the norm', a new vocabulary, and an openness to change. This congregational ideal, through many different avenues, has become a part of Derry Discovery Days (DDD), an outreach and enrichment program at Derry for children 12 months to 5 years of age in the community. While the 'conversation starter' among the DDD board had a very different source than that of the congregation, DDD ultimately seeks to achieve the same goal. For DDD part of achieving this goal been to enter into a partnership of  support and knowledge sharing with the Capital Area Intermediate Unit.

Last evening I had the opportunity to sit in fellowship with members of the board, the director of the program, and representatives of the CAIU, discussing ways in which we as school and congregation can better support the community we serve. Though the conversation focused heavily on the in's and outs of Individualized Education Plans (IEP's) and various avenues of communication necessary to maintain the confidentiality of families and students, one thing was clear, those gathered have been called to support Individuals With Disabilities (IWD). It was this realization that reminded me that maybe this new road, with DDD, is not a distraction or more work, but the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit.