The Value of Pastoral Renewal Leave
Rev. Matthew Smith recently returned from a renewal leave. He explains that it is more than a vacation; it is a time to deepen one's relationship with God.
Location: Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, 2200 Ridge Ave., Aurora
Disability Education Summit
Disability Education Summit
Hosted by the NIC Committee on Accessibility
Sat., Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, 2200 Ridge Ave., Aurora
Accessible Worship, Workshops, Lunch and Panel Discussion
Free event with optional $10 lunch
Participation Registration Volunteer Registration
Register by Sept. 13
Questions? Reach out to Rev. Alexander Dungan, co-chair NIC Commitee on Accessibility
Preliminary schedule:
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Check-in, Breakfast, and Fellowship
- 9:30-10 a.m.: Gathering Welcome and Worship
- 10:15-11 a.m.: Workshop session 1
- 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.: Workshop session 2
- 12-1 p.m.: Lunch and Panel Discussion
- 1:15-2 p.m.: Workshop session 3
- 2:15-3 p.m.: Workshop session 4
- 3:15-4 p.m.: Closing worship
Workshop Session 1 Options
- Disability 101: An introduction to terms and experiences within the diverse disabled community.
- Creating a Worship Space for All: Exploring how language, practices, and resources can be used to make the worship setting accessible to a wide range of congregants.
- Games of Our Lives: A book discussion on living life to the fullest after life-changing injuries with author, Mandy Kloepher.
- Neurodiversity Ethics: An analysis of power dynamics and social justice efforts regarding neurodivergent people existing in largely neurotypical spaces.
Workshop Session 2 Options
- Disability 101 (repeat): An introduction to terms and experiences within the diverse disabled community.
- Finding the Divine: An exploration of diverse and accessible spiritual practices to engage with a diverse set of learning and engagement styles.
- Advocacy on the Go: How to be an accessible church outside of the building, whether on service trips, retreats, or outreach opportunities when accessible infrastructure isn’t guaranteed.
- Intersectionality at Play: A discussion on how marginalized communities can experience disability and ableism in diverse ways, intersecting with racism, sexism, and classism and affecting the LGBTQIA+ community and immigrant communities in a multitude of ways.
Workshop Session 3 Options
- More Than Side Characters: Understanding the Bible from a disabled lens as we examine disability representation, themes of sin and healing, and how disability continues to be discussed in theology today.
- Accessibility on a Budget: Brainstorming ways to cultivate an accessible community using people and practices when you can’t afford new construction ventures or expensive equipment.
- Redefined Participation: Inclusion Even When Things Won’t “Get Better”. How to ensure that everyone is included and able to participate in their own way when members might be homebound, fully virtual, nonverbal, or simply require new forms of engagement and connection.
- Empowerment Beyond Spectatorship: Creating space for disability representation in leadership and learning how to value and promote disabled voices outside of the spectator role.
Workshop Session 4 Options
- Finding the Divine (repeat): An exploration of diverse and accessible spiritual practices to engage with a diverse set of learning and engagement styles.
- Accessibility on a Budget (repeat): Brainstorming ways to cultivate an accessible community using people and practices when you can’t afford new construction ventures or expensive equipment.
- Creating a Worship Space for All (repeat): Exploring how language, practices, and resources can be used to make the worship setting accessible to a wide range of congregants.
- Accessibility Not Found: Exploring technological advancements in accessibility and how we can use virtual spaces, hearing and reading devices, and online features to connect with our full church community.