Position Statements from Denominations, Faith Groups, and Other Organizations

Religious denominations, faith groups, and other organizations have issued dozens of resolutions and position statements addressing why and how faith communities should be inclusive of people with disabilities or why service systems should attend more fully to the spiritual dimensions of the lives of people with disabilities whom they serve. These position statements will be archived here.

 

 

Search available positions and resolutions:

Living Fully 2016 Statement

Organization: Pontifical Council for Culture

Link: https://faithanddisability.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/LF-2016-Statement-and-Charter.pdf


A Christian Approach to Inclusion Education for People with Disabilities

Organization: Church of the Nazarene

Link: http://didache.nazarene.org/index.php/volume-14-1/1028-didache-v14n1-06-inclusion-education-disabilities-lee/file


Resolution on Mental Illness

Organization: American Baptist Churches, USA

Link: http://www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mentill.pdf


The Body of Christ and Mental Illness

Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church

Link: http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Messages/Mental-Illness


Disability in Handbook 2: Administrating the Church

Organization: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Link: https://www.lds.org/topics/disability/helps/disability-in-handbook-2?lang=eng


People Living with Disabilities

Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church

Link: http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Messages/People-Living-with-Disabilities


Personas Que Viven Con Discapacidades

Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church

Link: http://www.elca.org/Faith/Faith-and-Society/Social-Messages/People-Living-with-Disabilities


Disability and Communion

Organization: Orthodox Church in America

Link: http://oca.org/parish-ministry/parishdevelopment/disability-and-communion


Living Into the Body of Christ: Towards Full Inclusion of People with Disabilities

Organization: Presbyterian Church (USA)

Link: http://www.bahaistudies.net/neurelitism/library/presbyterian_disabilities.pdf


Ministering to Youth with Special Needs

Organization: Association of Unity Churches

Link: https://www.unityworldwideministries.org/ed-links-special-needs


Commitment of Accessibility and Inclusion

Organization: Church of the Brethren

Link: http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/2006adaresolution.html


Called to Wholeness in Christ: Becoming a Church Accessible to All

Organization: United Church of Christ

Link: http://www.ucc.org/education/polity/pdf-folder/gs-25-called-to-wholeness-in-christ.pdf


The Church’s Care for the Mentally Impaired

Organization: Free Reformed Churches of North America

Link: http://frcna.org/component/k2/item/7229-


Statement on Passage of S.1248, Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Organization: Orthodox Union

Link: http://advocacy.ou.org/2004/ou_welcomes_senate_passage_of_s1248/


United Methodist Implementation of Americans with Disabilities Act

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=4&mid=6558


Abusive Treatment Methods for Persons with Mental Disabilities

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/abusive-treatment-methods-for-persons-with-mental-disabilities


Annual Accessibility Audit

Organization: North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church

Link: http://www.northtexasumc.org/console/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/Annual-Accessibility-Audit-Form.pdf


Communication Access for People Who Have Hearing and Sight Impairment

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1000


The Church and People with Mental, Physical, and/or Psychological Disabilities

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=985


Commending the House Effort to Improve Special Education for America’s Children

Organization: Orthodox Union

Link: http://advocacy.ou.org/2003/ou_commends_house_effort_to_improve_special_education_for_americas_children/


A Church of All and For All

Organization: World Council of Churches

Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/central-committee/2003/a-church-of-all-and-for-all


Recommend that Meeting Locations Be Accessible to the Disabled

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2003-D051


Welcome Service Animals in the Church

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2003-D041


Make the Church’s Audio-Visual Material Accessible to All People

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2003-C027


Adopt NCC Statement on Disabilities

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2000-C030


Called to Inclusiveness

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1627


Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1752


Accessibility Grants for Churches

Organization: United Methodist Church

Link: http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/accessibility-grants-for-churches


Ministry to People with Disabilities: A Biblical Perspective

Organization: Assemblies of God

Link: http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_disabilities.pdf


A Framework of Access and Inclusion

Organization: Catholic Church

Link: http://www.catholicdisabilityteachings.com/1999%20Statement.htm


Conclusions of a Vatican Conference on the Family and Integration of the Disabled

Organization: Catholic Church

Link: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_20000304_integration-disabled_en.html


Transforming Congregations Into Inclusive and Caring Jewish Congregations

Organization: Union for Reform Judaism

Link: http://urj.org//about/union/governance/reso//?syspage=article&item_id=1994


The Calling of Clergy with Disabilities

Organization: United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries

Link: http://uccdm.org/48/clergy-with-disabilities-resolution/


Statement of Principles

Organization: World Pantheism Association

Link: http://www.pantheism.net/manifest.htm#statement


Resolution on the Church and Persons with Disabilities

Organization: American Baptist Churches, USA

Link: http://www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Disabilities-The-Church-and-Persons-with.pdf


Resolution on Employment of Persons with Disabilities

Organization: American Baptist Churches, USA

Link: http://www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Employment-of-Persons-with-Disabilities.pdf


Disabilities, the Body of Christ, and the Wholeness of Society

Organization: National Council of Churches

Link: http://www.nationalcouncilofchurches.us/common-witness/1998/disabilities.php


Re-establish a Resource Center on the Disabled

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1997-C046


Resolution on Concern for People with Disabilities

Organization: Evangelical Covenant Church

Link: http://www.covchurch.org/resolutions/1997-concern-for-people-with-disabilities/


Organization: National Council of Churches

Link: http://www.ncccusa.org/assembly/deaf.htm


Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

Organization: Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

Link: http://www.uua.org/accessibility/


Mezuzah Accessibility

Organization: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Link: http://www.uscj.org/Aboutus/Resolutions/ResolutionsbyYear/_1997/MezuzahAccessibility.aspx


Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities

Organization: Catholic Church

Link: http://www.catholicdisabilityteachings.com/Sacramental%20Guidelines.htm


Conference Resolution: Americans with Disabilities Act

Organization: Church of the Brethren

Link: http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/1994ADA.html


Commend Passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1994-D104


Toward Full Compliance with the Provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act in the Christian Reformed Church of North America

Organization: Christian Reformed Church

Link: http://www2.crcna.org/site_uploads/uploads/disabilityconcerns/towardfullcomp.pdf


Commend Passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-D089


Ministry with Persons with Disabilities

Organization: Ministry with Persons with Disabilities

Link: http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Ministry_Disabled_PersonsSPR91.pdf


Ministry to the Deaf Community

Organization: Evangelical Lutheran Church

Link: http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Ministry_%20Deaf_CommunitySPR91.pdf


Encourage Understanding of Mental Illness and Respond to the Needs of the Mentally Ill

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-D088


First Presidency Statement on Disabilities

Organization: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Link: https://www.lds.org/topics/disability/basics/first-presidency-statement?lang=eng


Ministry to Persons with Disabilities

Organization: National Association of Evangelicals

Link: http://www.nae.net/government-relations/policy-resolutions/406-ministry-to-persons-with-disabilities-1989


Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1988-D004


Recognize the Status and Ministry of the Episcopal Conference of theDeaf

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1988-D142


Human Rights and Disability

Organization: Baha’i

Link: https://www.bic.org/statements/human-rights-and-disability


The Handicapped and Orthodox Worship

Organization: Orthodox Church in America

Link: http://oca.org/parish-ministry/parishdevelopment/the-handicapped-and-orthodox-worship


Resolution on Disabilities, Acts of Synod

Organization: Christian Reformed Church

Link: http://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/position-statements/disabilities


Encourage Opportunities Within the Church for Persons with Disabilities

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1985-A087


People with Learning Difficulties

Organization: Church of England

Link: http://www.churchofengland.org/media/39672/gs1725.pdf


Resolution Adopted by CCAR On Persons with Disabilities

Organization: Central Conference of American Rabbis

Link: http://ccarnet.org/rabbis-speak/resolutions/1983/disabilities-people-with-1983/


Establish a Task Force on Disabled and Handicapped Persons

Organization: Episcopal Church

Link: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-D120


Resolution on the Mentally Handicapped

Organization: Southern Baptist Convention

Link: http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/705/resolution-on-the-mentally-handicapped


Disabled Persons

Organization: Union for Reform Judaism

Link: http://urj.org/about/union/governance/reso/?syspage=article&item_id=2123


Resolution on the Church and Ministry with Persons with Disabilities

Organization: American Baptist

Link: http://www.abc-usa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Disabilities-The-Church-and-Persons-with.pdf


Pastoral Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities

Organization: Catholic Church

Link: http://www.catholicdisabilityteachings.com/1978%20Statement.htm


Resolution on the Handicapped

Organization: Southern Baptist Convention

Link: http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/592


Resolution on Ministry to the Developmentally Disabled and Mentally Ill

Organization: Southern Baptist Convention

Link: http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/704/resolution-on-ministry-to-the-developmentally-disabled-and-mentally-ill


The Disabled

Organization: Union for Reform Judaism

Link: http://urj.org/life/community/disabilities/


Mental Health

Organization: Unitarian Universalist Association of Churches

Link: http://www.uua.org/statements/statements/13390.shtml


Divine Healing

Organization: Assemblies of God

Link: http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/position_papers/pp_downloads/PP_Divine_Healing.pdf


Resolution on the Church and Ministry with Persons with Disabilities

Organization: American Baptist Churches, USA

Link: http://abhms.org/disability_ministries/docs/Disabilities.pdf


Disability Resource Manual

Organization: Evangelical Covenant Church

Link: http://www.covchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2010/08/Disability-Manual-1.pdf


Disabilities

Organization: Christian Reformed Church

Link: http://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/position-statements/disabilities


Resolution on Disabilities: A Celebration of That All May Enter

Organization: Presbyterian Church (USA)

Link: https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/_resolutions/resolution-on-disabilities.pdf