One Body, One Spirit: Disability & Community in the Church

By: Paul Pettit and B. Jason Epps

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Synopsis: According to the CDC, one in four people in the United States lives with a disability, yet many of our churches don't resemble this reality. Attempts to welcome those with a disability are often implemented by well-meaning but ill-informed people. The results can lead to those with disabilities feeling excluded and isolated from the family of God. One Body, One Spirit gives eyes to the able-bodied to see the challenges experienced by those with disabilities: - Physical barriers to places of worship, classrooms, and small group settings leave people outside the gathered family of God. - Emotional barriers, like fear and prejudice, preclude them from using their spiritual gifts. How can church communities, on both the congregational and individual level, address these issues? B. Jason Epps and Paul Pettit provide a road map by looking at a biblically informed solution. They survey disability in the Old and New Testaments, provide a vision for full integration, outline how to conduct a disability audit, and offer a five-step plan for how to change the culture of your church.