About The Course

People with disabilities make up 18 to 20% of the population in the U.S. They find representation in every gender and ethnicity, but it’s a group that is often overlooked or not acknowledged in our churches. How can our churches come alongside and minister to and with people with disabilities?

In this course, Dr. Ben Conner along with Dr. Carlos Thompson explore some ways that the lived experience of disability can help us to reimagine and enrich the ways we read the Bible, the ways we engage in theological reflection, and the ways in which we gather to worship and practice our faith together. You will come away with a better appreciation of how to speak about disability, how to center the insights of people with disabilities, and how to imagine a more inclusive and faithful church.

Presented with Western Theological Seminary.

Lesson Plan

Disability and the Church (Trailer)

Disability and the Church (Trailer)
2 - Developing a Grammar, Part 2

2 - Developing a Grammar, Part 2
3 - Disability in the Bible

3 - Disability in the Bible
4 - Disability and Theology

4 - Disability and Theology
5 - Disability and Ministry

5 - Disability and Ministry
6 - Disability and Mission: The Ways We Witness

6 - Disability and Mission: The Ways We Witness
7 - Vocation and Disability

7 - Vocation and Disability
8 - Universal Design in Learning and the Church

8 - Universal Design in Learning and the Church
9 - Epilogue (Disability and the Church)

9 - Epilogue (Disability and the Church)

Teaching This Course

Benjamin T. Conner

Benjamin T. Conner is Professor of Practical Theology at Western Theological Seminary. Watch his Seminary Now videos here.

Bio
Benjamin T. Conner is a professor of practical theology and director of the Center for Disability and Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. Dr. Conner is the author of Disabling Mission, Enabling Witness: Exploring Missiology Through the Lens of Disability Studies, Amplifying Our Witness: Giving Voice to Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities, and Practicing Witness: A Missional Vision of Christian Practices.

L.S. Carlos A. Thompson

Bio
L.S. Carlos A. Thompson is an assistant professor of Christian ministry and disability theology and director of the Friendship House at Western Theological Seminary. 

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Tailored for Your Spiritual Journey

From students to seasoned pastors and lifelong learners, Seminary Now offers the tools and insights to deepen your faith or enhance your ministry.

Seminary Now is a great resource to have in your church or organizational toolkit. The courses are thoughtfully designed in short, easy-to-digest videos for a well-paced learning experience. Imagine the rich conversations that your team can have when you are learning together from some of the most qualified and engaging Christian voices today!

Carmen Joy Imes
Author; Associate Professor of Old Testament, Biola University

Pastors have very busy lives and Seminary Now is perfect for building theological and biblical knowledge and sharpening ministry and cultural engagement skills in a manageable and affordable way. And the fact that Seminary Now is constantly adding new courses means that there is a ready-made context for becoming a lifelong learner. What a gift!

Dr. Nijay K. Gupta
Author; Professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary

Seminary Now provides a unique combination of deeply researched insights from leading authors presented in a highly approachable format. If you are looking for discipleship, leadership development, or training, it is hard to find video material that more perfectly fills the bill.

Tod Bolsinger
Pastor and author; Senior Congregational Strategist and Associate Professor of Leadership Formation, Fuller Theological Seminary