Reading Assignment 6: Worship As One: Varied Abilities in the Body of Christ, pp. 76-78 excerpt

If creating personalized plans take more time and energy than simply applying universal design alone, why bother? Here are some reasons I think are important.

Scripture. Our congregations are built on the blueprint of what Scripture says about communities. Therefore, the most compelling reason to develop a responsive design plan for specific individuals is clearly found in Scripture. A Scripture-based view of an individual and a God-designed community will be the place you can plant your feet as you make an action plan for your congregation. You will find Scripture-based tools in the “Practical Tools for Bringing Responsive Design to Your Congregation” section.

Personalized plans express commitment to full-puzzle community. This starts with leaders. Because leadership in congregations change, it’s important to keep this vision continuously at the forefront. Do all of your pastors and your governing board embrace the vision of building community with people who may need specialized supports to fully participate in your congregation? I have found it can be easy to engage leadership in the principles of universal design for worship due to the big “bang for your buck” and the support it offers to nearly all who are part of the community. But responsive design tests the leaders’ vision of the inestimable worth of each person. When they are willing to say to everybody, “Yes, you belong here; we’ll figure out a way to make that work,” they do what is needed for that individual, which is the definition of the responsive design vision. Those congregations are excited about the puzzle piece community and are willing to put time, energy, and resources into making sure no one is missing from the puzzle.

Responsive design equips people to minister who may otherwise be overlooked. Individuals who have complex areas of challenge often benefit from a personalized plan for their learning, worship, fellowship, and service in the congregation. John Swinton, in his book Becoming Friends of Time, notes the importance of each puzzle piece and the gift each one brings to a community. Where many may struggle to see a person’s green areas due to their significant developmental delays, he writes, “It is a vital and most beautiful fact that some members of Jesus’ body may simply be called to bear witness to the powerful truth of being. In a world that has been seduced by the idolatrous power of speed, clocks, and busyness, bearing witness to the divine significance of simply being is indeed a noble vocation. Being, properly conceived, is a deep and powerful vocation.”^[1] In what ways can your congregation receive ministry from someone whose calling is to the “ministry of being”? This section will show you a process for putting together plans for individuals (and their families) for situations like these and many others.

Personalized plans can create confidence among all members of the congregation. The person in the center of this plan can be assured that they are well-known, and that equipment and procedures will be in place to promote their safety, communication, and participation. Members of the congregation will be confident in interacting with that individual, having a specific plan to follow whenever necessary. Planning and confidence can be a great antidote for fear and uncertainty—emotions that can get in the way of people worshiping and learning together with people of all abilities.

Some people may need a personalized plan for reasons of safety. The community will need to know how to respond if an individual with a seizure disorder has a seizure while at church. Drinking and eating may be a safety issue when a person needs thickener for any liquid to be consumed safely. The plans do not help everyone in the congregation, because not everyone needs thickener or seizure precautions. However, don’t be surprised that what you put in place for one individual may show you something that can help many others!

Whatever the situation, it’s important to get to know the individual and then respond by putting together a specific plan. In some cases, it will be important to know how an individual communicates needs and wants, with a goal of creating safe ways for an individual to express love for God, make a prayer request, or select a snack from the table. While many of us can use spoken words, others rely on pointing to a picture, using a sign, making a body movement, giving a gesture, or communicating through a digital device.

A person’s set of unique areas of gifting and challenge gives the congregation a chance to think deeply and creatively. This is one reason I’ve seen ministry with persons with varied abilities draw people together across lines that typically divide denominations and faith traditions. Coming together to figure out ways for a beloved individual to best connect with the activities of the church or ways the church can alter a setting to make a better fit for that person unites people.