Newsletter

Sign Up Form

• Spring 2026 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/46U3blc) Maintaining mental health and nurturing hope and courage as followers of Christ in turbulent times. Articles, selected scripture verses, poems, and songs offer a variety of paths for soul care while pursuing justice.

• Giving Tuesday 2025 Follow-up (https://conta.cc/4pXHqYW) Types of grants awarded this year: Disability awareness and leadership in Africa; Accessibility modifications (with links to tip sheets on Automatic door openers and Lifts); Alternative worship that allows full participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Fall 2025 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/4mQfWmB) Living with dementia and ways that churches can support individuals and families impacted by dementia.

• August 2025 DMC (https://conta.cc/3URFEuV) Climate justice and disability - effects of disaster, intentional accessibility in disaster response, resources; tribute to Tim Vermande.

• Spring 2025 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/4jhiFTM) Recognizing and responding to a mental health crisis; resources and helpline contact information.

• April 2025 DMC (https://conta.cc/4iepRj1) Advocacy around threats to eliminating Section 504 disability civil rights and cutting Medicaid funding for health care and community support options. What can churches do?  Resources for advocacy.

• Winter 2025 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/4aybraY) Finding hope, Positive thinking?, Prudential grace, People of hope:

• Giving Tuesday 2024 (https://conta.cc/3ZkEN8K) Opening doors to ministry candidates with disabilities, Representing disability at General Conference, Equipping disability advocates, Collaborating on disability awareness and anti-ableism, Appreciating support from Council of Bishops

• Fall 2024 Mental Health(https://conta.cc/47V1zHe)Self-care and mental health: healing and wellness, meditation, back to nature, praying without words. 

• August 2024 DMC (Link to share) Chancel and pulpit accessibility, accommodations for pastors with hearing, vision, light sensitivity, autism, and mobility disabilities

• June 2024 Mental Health(Link to share) Mental health support for children and youth

• April 2024 DMC(Link to share) Introducing the new website, DMC at General Conference

• Winter 2024 Mental Health(Link to share) How to become a Caring Congregation, supporting mental health of pastors and members, congregational ministries

• Year End 2023 DMCGrant recipients, DMC collaboration with boards and agencies, updates to the Disability-friendly and Accessible Church badge program

• June 2023 Mental HealthAdvocacy for mental health treatment, supporting pastors and individuals with mental health concerns

• Spring 2023 DMC Resource UpdateGrant information, resources available for annual conferences, Badge program information, resources, volunteer needs

• Giving Tuesday 2022 DMCGrants awarded, creating sensory spaces, Badge program Gold church example

• August 2022 DMC Resource Update Badge program, working with annual conferences, grant cycle

• May 2022 DMCAutism and neurodiversity, meet an autistic pastor, creating safe sensory spaces, autism resources

• March 2022 Mental HealthHelping persons struggling with opioid abuse, Mental Health Ministries joins Pathways to Promise, UMC beliefs about mental illness, Petition about non-discrimination in disability compensation

• February 2022 DMC Resource Update  New and updated resources, grant cycle, volunteers needed

• December 2021 Mental Health: Long COVID, Wounded healer, Mental Health First Aid

• Fall 2021 DMC: DMC work/ Giving Tuesday: Grant funding in Uruguay, Resources launch a new career in W Ohio, Consultation supports Wisconsin church to achieve Gold badge status

• September 2021 Mental Health: About suicide, Teen suicide, Resources that address suicide, taking time to grieve

• Summer 2021 DMC: Introducing new and ongoing members of the DMC

• May 2021 Mental Health: Mental Health Awareness Month, a parable of hope, becoming God's hope.

• January 2021 Mental Health: Navigating mental health during the pandemic, Risking Connection training helps churches offer trauma-informed support, Suicide prevention

• Fall 2020 DMC: First Gold badge church in Alaska, Accessible voting, Meeting needs during COVID, ASL worship services offer global outreach, in memoriam Rev. Jim McIntire

• Summer 2020: Intersection of Racism and Disability, Reflecting on 30 years of the ADA, Introducing the Ableism Toolkit, The UMC and the ADA

• Spring 2020 DMC: COVID resources - accessible on-line worship, advocating for equal health care rights in a time of rationing, outreach with members with intellectual and developmental disabilities, praying without words.

• February 2018 DMC: Employment-related ministries, Putting Faith to Work program

• November 2017 DMC: Giving Tuesday, DMC work, need, funding

• Fall 2017 Mental Health: Giving Tuesday, Mental Health Ministries

• Note: All prior issues are from the DMC and are disability-focused

• Spring 2017: Disability ministries and outreach in Spanish-speaking areas

• Fall 2016: Housing ministries offered by churches; Friendship House at Duke

• Summer 2016: Sibling support, children of disabled parents, parent support groups &  needs

• March 2016: Annual Conference Accessibility; Ableism in conference planning; Using captioning; Role of event accessibility coordinator; Resource tool kit for planning accessible meetings and events

• Winter 2014/ 2015: Strategies to make your church safe for people with invisible disabilities including severe food allergies, chemical sensitivity, and asthma

• Fall 2014: Ministries inclusive of children with disabilities, hints for sensory overload and sensory processing needs

• Summer 2014: The Mission u disability study and resources, updates from the DisAbility Ministries Committee

• Winter 2013/ 2014: How the church can prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies in ways that include and anticipate people with disabilities

• Fall 2013: International Methodist disability ministries, EDAN women and violence conference, Kenya Deaf mission trip

• Summer 2013: Updates from the joint meetings of the UM Committee on DisAbility Ministries and the UM Association of Ministers with Disabilities

• May 2013: Camping ministries: accessible challenge courses, autism workshop, ADA pool regulations, job creation

• March 2013: National and regional interfaith disability coalitions address mental health, offer education and support

• January 2013: Building a comprehensive dementia ministry; Important Committee social media updates

• November 2012: Spiritual supports & programs for people with intellectual disabilities; Jo D'Archangelis

• September 2012: Intentional hospitality; Kenya mission trip; 2012 Task Force meeting highlights

• Summer 2012: Certification program; Institute on Theology and Disability; Disability Open Mic; NAMI; Deaf camps

• April 2012: Updates on General Conference legislation, website, and conference disability committees

• March 2012: Pastors who are hard of hearing called to Deaf Ministry; UM Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing meeting; Technology for communication access

• February 2012: Medical equipment loan programs; Occupational therapists' and Parish nurses' roles in disability ministry

• January 2012: Church accessibility; Working with trustees; Platform lifts

• December 2011: Models of adapted worship, multi-sensory worship, Rejoicing Spirits

• November 2011: Ministers who are blind; Web accessibility

• September 2011: Ministry with Homeless Persons

• July / August 2011: Ramp-building Ministries

• June 2011: Members and Work of the Task Force

• May 2011: Inclusive and Accessible Camping Ministries

• April 2011: Reaching out to Young Adults with Disabilities

• March 2011: Disability Awareness Sunday