Cite
Payne, Johnny. “The American Church and the Americans With Disabilities Act.” Journal of Religion & Society 23 (2021). https://cdr.creighton.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/b23248c4-789a-452d-b69b-36638e79ec4f/content.
Jeremy
Synth
Contribution::
Related::
Md
FirstAuthor:: Payne, Johnny
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Title:: The American Church and the Americans With Disabilities Act
Year:: 2021
Citekey:: payneAmericanChurchAmericans2021
itemType:: journalArticle
Journal:: Journal of Religion & Society
Volume:: 23
LINK
Abstract
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Notes
# Annotations
(5/3/2024, 1:01:34 AM)
Go to annotation “Although changing somewhat rapidly, Christian churches continue to represent the majority of religious groups in America (71% in 2014, 78% in 2007 [Pew Research Center 2015, 3–7]). The American church holds tremendous tools and opportunities for access to the community for people with disabilities. However, while about 28% or 85 million Americans have a disability as of 2014 (Taylor 2018) disability leaders estimate only about 15% (9 million) of people with disabilities attend any kind of faith tradition (Hsu 2008).” (Payne, 2021, p. 1)
Go to annotation “Under Title III, businesses that own, lease, lease to, or operate public accommodations like hotels, restaurants, theaters, shopping centers, banks, museums, zoos, daycare centers, private schools, and health spas must provide “reasonable accommodation” for people with disabilities to access and participate with their services and spaces. However, all religious groups are completely exempt from this title and from the ADA entirely. All religious groups’ facilities, programs, and activities, whether they are religious or secular in nature, are completely exempt.” (Payne, 2021, p. 2) Not just the sanctuary areas, but anything considered a religious institituion (schools, shops, etc.)
Go to annotation “religious groups, particularly the American church, have aggressively resisted participation. Exemption of these groups has been upheld primarily on the basis that requiring religious entities to comply with the ADA amounts to impermissible government interference with religion.” (Payne, 2021, p. 3) Keeping rights is important, but it is often used as an excuse to exclude due to convenience (or inconvenience)
Go to annotation “The outcome of exempting Christian churches and schools from the ADA has been threefold. First, most Christian education programs like Bible studies and Sunday school groups statistically only serve people without disabilities. Second, few other religious groups made arguments similar to those Ball made on behalf of Christian groups lobbying against being included in the ADA. Christians stood nearly alone against access for disabled people as part of religious groups. Finally, many people with disabilities feel this outcome communicated that they did not belong in mainstream US Christianity as churches either actively opposed the ADA or passively did not abide by it because they were not required to do so legally.” (Payne, 2021, p. 3) Particularly the fact that we only serve able bodied people in our place of worship is particularly heartbreaking.
Go to annotation “Rights may get you physically into a place that was inaccessible before, but they won’t get you relationships. Beyond inclusion is belonging.” (Payne, 2021, p. 4) Bill Gaventa, past president of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
Go to annotation “as churches pursue inclusivity they should start by having hard conversations to know what people with disabilities experience.” (Payne, 2021, p. 4) How can you know where to start if you dont’t even consult those who it will affect?
Go to annotation “Rev. John Jay Frank provides a theological rationale for the concept of universal design. The universal design concept says that creators should take diverse abilities into consideration when designing programs, activities, materials, and spaces, Universal design can be applied in all areas of religious group activity, from leadership and design to membership and participation. Frank (2013) outlines concepts from the Bible that “tells us do not to dig a hole and leave it unattended, so as to avoid accidental injury or death, and to put up a railing around a porch, so people do not fall off or drop things on those below, and not to put a stone in the road where someone who is blind may trip on it, and not lead someone who is blind astray (Ex. 21:33–34; Lev. 19:14-15, Deut. 22:8, Deut. 27:18).” He notes (2013), “Christians should take care not to harm others with what we create and do, regardless of whether or not anyone falls into the holes we dig.”” (Payne, 2021, p. 4)
Go to annotation “As noted previously, about 20% of Americans have a disability. Therefore about 20% for each overall project may be directed towards including those individuals in church participation.” (Payne, 2021, p. 4)
Go to annotation “The leadership of a church might adopt (and make known) a disability policy that includes adhering to the ADA to mitigate discrimination towards and provide a welcome space for people with disabilities.” (Payne, 2021, p. 5)
Go to annotation “Individual members may also commit to providing an environment of universal design within their own area of responsibilities. A person who makes computer slides for a worship service might take the responsibility of making them accessible with high contrasting colors. A person who produces a church activity bulletin or newsletter might take responsibility for making their material accessible. A religious teacher might provide a sermon outline or study notes for people who experience difficulty managing attention for various reasons. Gluten-free wafers or sugar-free desserts at religious events are simple ways to welcome people.” (Payne, 2021, p. 5)
Go to annotation “With or without churches’ legal obligation to the ADA, there exists a moral responsibility and a set stage to facilitate the fulfillment of its principles.” (Payne, 2021, p. 5)
# Jeremy’s Review of The American Church and the Americans with Disabilities Act
Opinion Piece
A quick overview of how Churches can adhere to the ADA, and why it’s implementation is a moral imperative for churches as the church has already abdicating legal responsibility.
Annotations
Imported: 2024-05-09 1:49 pm
Quote
Although changing somewhat rapidly, Christian churches continue to represent the majority of religious groups in America (71% in 2014, 78% in 2007 [Pew Research Center 2015, 3–7]). The American church holds tremendous tools and opportunities for access to the community for people with disabilities. However, while about 28% or 85 million Americans have a disability as of 2014 (Taylor 2018) disability leaders estimate only about 15% (9 million) of people with disabilities attend any kind of faith tradition (Hsu 2008).
Pg.1
*
Quote
Under Title III, businesses that own, lease, lease to, or operate public accommodations like hotels, restaurants, theaters, shopping centers, banks, museums, zoos, daycare centers, private schools, and health spas must provide “reasonable accommodation” for people with disabilities to access and participate with their services and spaces. However, all religious groups are completely exempt from this title and from the ADA entirely. All religious groups’ facilities, programs, and activities, whether they are religious or secular in nature, are completely exempt.
Pg.2
- Not just the sanctuary areas, but anything considered a religious institituion (schools, shops, etc.)
Quote
religious groups, particularly the American church, have aggressively resisted participation. Exemption of these groups has been upheld primarily on the basis that requiring religious entities to comply with the ADA amounts to impermissible government interference with religion.
Pg.3
- Keeping rights is important, but it is often used as an excuse to exclude due to convenience (or inconvenience)
Quote
The outcome of exempting Christian churches and schools from the ADA has been threefold. First, most Christian education programs like Bible studies and Sunday school groups statistically only serve people without disabilities. Second, few other religious groups made arguments similar to those Ball made on behalf of Christian groups lobbying against being included in the ADA. Christians stood nearly alone against access for disabled people as part of religious groups. Finally, many people with disabilities feel this outcome communicated that they did not belong in mainstream US Christianity as churches either actively opposed the ADA or passively did not abide by it because they were not required to do so legally.
Pg.3
- Particularly the fact that we only serve able bodied people in our place of worship is particularly heartbreaking.
Quote
Rights may get you physically into a place that was inaccessible before, but they won’t get you relationships. Beyond inclusion is belonging.
Pg.4
- Bill Gaventa, past president of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
Quote
as churches pursue inclusivity they should start by having hard conversations to know what people with disabilities experience.
Pg.4
- How can you know where to start if you dont’t even consult those who it will affect?
Quote
Rev. John Jay Frank provides a theological rationale for the concept of universal design. The universal design concept says that creators should take diverse abilities into consideration when designing programs, activities, materials, and spaces, Universal design can be applied in all areas of religious group activity, from leadership and design to membership and participation. Frank (2013) outlines concepts from the Bible that “tells us do not to dig a hole and leave it unattended, so as to avoid accidental injury or death, and to put up a railing around a porch, so people do not fall off or drop things on those below, and not to put a stone in the road where someone who is blind may trip on it, and not lead someone who is blind astray (Ex. 21:33–34; Lev. 19:14-15, Deut. 22:8, Deut. 27:18).” He notes (2013), “Christians should take care not to harm others with what we create and do, regardless of whether or not anyone falls into the holes we dig.”
Pg.4
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Quote
As noted previously, about 20% of Americans have a disability. Therefore about 20% for each overall project may be directed towards including those individuals in church participation.
Pg.4
*
Quote
The leadership of a church might adopt (and make known) a disability policy that includes adhering to the ADA to mitigate discrimination towards and provide a welcome space for people with disabilities.
Pg.5
*
Quote
Individual members may also commit to providing an environment of universal design within their own area of responsibilities. A person who makes computer slides for a worship service might take the responsibility of making them accessible with high contrasting colors. A person who produces a church activity bulletin or newsletter might take responsibility for making their material accessible. A religious teacher might provide a sermon outline or study notes for people who experience difficulty managing attention for various reasons. Gluten-free wafers or sugar-free desserts at religious events are simple ways to welcome people.
Pg.5
*
Quote
With or without churches’ legal obligation to the ADA, there exists a moral responsibility and a set stage to facilitate the fulfillment of its principles.
Pg.5
*