Scrabble tiles spelling 'UPDATE' on wooden surface, symbolizing progress and change.

Accessibility Resolution Passes

ByADN WPAdmin

Mennonite Church USA unanimously votes to grow in accessibility for people with disabilities

ADN is pleased to announce that at a special Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) delegate session on May 30, 2022, the MC USA Accessibility Resolution passed unanimously, without votes against or abstentions. This resolution is almost seven years in the making, and we hope it will mark a shift in the Mennonite Church towards greater disability awareness and accessibility. We are so grateful for the support of the individuals and congregations (listed below) in drafting and endorsing this resolution.

The resolution states:

As members of MC USA, we commit to growing as communities of grace, joy and peace without barriers so that God’s healing and hope flow through all of us to the world regardless of ability.

Read the full resolution on MCUSA’s website. Read more about the delegate session on MCUSA’s website.

Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) will provide leadership to carry out the concepts and commitments in this resolution. We do this in collaboration with Mennonite Health Services and Mennonite Church USA agencies, and related organizations that serve those with differing abilities. Listed below are some resources to get started.

Work on this resolution began in 2014. ADN recognizes the contribution of the following to this resolution: Tim Burkholder, Christine Guth, Clare Krabill, Richard Aguirre, Sheila Stopher-Yoder, Jeanne Davies, Eldon Stoltzfus, Katherine Dickson, and Katie Smith. At the invitation of Anabaptist Disabilities Network, four congregations, Akron Mennonite Church, Hesston Mennonite Church, Waterford Mennonite Church, and Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship, endorsed this resolution and worked in collaboration with MHS to bring it to Mennonite Church USA in 2021.

Resources:

  • Congregational Accessibility Survey: a tool to help your congregation assess its level of accessibility to people with various disabilities and mental illness.
  • Barrier Free Grant: financial assistance to anabaptist congregations for projects facilitating barrier-free community life, mutual awareness, caring support, and accessibility education.
  • Disability Language Guide: know the commonly preferred language for referring to people with disabilities.
  • Introductory Tips for becoming more accessible to specific disabilities.


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