Overcoming Ableism and Audism Resolution
Petition Number: 20845-CB-R9999; Arroyo, Giovanni - Washington, DC, USA for General Commission on Religion and Race. Petition adopted 4/27/24 as amended. See below for vote details.
Overcoming ableism and Audism
We live for a day in which those who are nondisabled will not oppress those who are disabled, and those who hear with their ears will not oppress those who do. We hope for the day when all, regardless of disability or deafness, will experience inclusion and belonging in the Body of Christ. Ableism and audism are barriers to the coming of that day; they are an injustice that undermines the witness of the Church in the world.
∙ Ableism is the negative bias and discrimination towards persons with disabilities that limits full participation through attitudinal barriers (e.g., lack of disability awareness and hospitality), architectural barriers (e.g., stairs, narrow doorways) and programmatic barriers within faith communities. Ableism is prejudice against disabled bodies in preference of normal bodies.
∙ Audism is the negative bias and discrimination towards persons who are d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing that limits their discipleship and leadership potential due to communication barriers (e.g., not having captions or sign language interpreters), the lack of cultural awareness (hindering diversity and inclusion), and the impediment of hospitality by faith communities.
The Theological Imperative
Our faith presents us with three imperatives in combatting ableism and audism.
Invitation: In Jesus’ parable of the Great Banquet, the king commands, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame” (Luke 14:21) “so my house may be full” (Luke 4:23). This is a proclamation to value disabled and d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons an to include them in the life of the Church.
Preparation: When an invitation is issued, preparations must be made. When Isaiah prepared the people to return from exile, he urged them, “Clear a path in the desert! Make a straight road for the Lord our God. Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and mountain. Level the rough and rugged ground. Then the glory of the Lord will appear to all to see” (Isa. 40:3-5). For disabled and d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, returning from exile means freedom from discriminatory attitudes and barriers. Making the path smooth is not for God’s benefit, but for those who have difficulty navigating rough ground. The coming of the Messiah includes the divine call to work for full accessibility so that persons of all embodiments may return from exile.
Formation: The resurrected body of Jesus Christ still bears the signs of wounds that are the marks of disability. Therefore, what many commonly understand as disability or differences in embodiment are incorporated into God’s very nature in Christ’s Ascension (Luke 24:36-53). Our formation as Christ’s disciples includes recognizing and lifting up the gifts of all embodiments and working against all forms of prejudice that deny access to human flourishing for all persons.
The Call to Thought, Action, and Service
These imperatives are a call to United Methodists to free ourselves from ableism and audism.
We call upon each United Methodist General Agencies, and all who create church publications, policies, and programs, to:
Utilize the resources for promoting awareness and inclusion such as those developed by the Disability Ministry Committee and the Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries along with the caucuses: The Association of Ministers with Disabilities of The United Methodist Church and The United Methodist Congress of the Deaf.
Each agency or entity should assign a group or individual the responsibility of reviewing church documents to eliminate ableism and audism in teaching, policy, worship resources, and official statements.
Integrate ableism and audism awareness into diversity and inclusion resources and training for ordained clergy, candidates for ordination, local licensed pastors, deaconesses and home missioners, and laity.
Faithfully engage in and support anti-ableism and anti-audism advocacy by all United Methodists.
We call on local churches, annual conferences, and episcopal leaders to:
Implement an Annual Conference staff or volunteer accessibility coordinator position to support local church and annual conference commitments to accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities and who are d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing through awareness, accessibility, and inclusion training.
Intentionally promote and engage in Disability Awareness Sunday (¶265) and Deaf Awareness Sunday services and/or activities to educate congregations about ableism and audism. These events should utilize persons from the disability and d/Deaf communities along with resources from the Disability Ministries Committee, the Committee of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries along with the caucuses: The Association of Ministers with Disabilities of The United Methodist Church and The United Methodist Congress of the Deaf to tell of contributions of disabled and d/Deaf persons of the Body of Christ.
Include anti-ableism and anti-audism concepts in diversity and inclusion training including confirmation, Bible studies, and youth group activities. This may include the use of special bulletins, multimedia promotion, sign language classes, guest speakers, and observances of national disability or d/Deaf awareness-related commemoration dates.
Live into the Social Principles (¶162) by including persons with disabilities and person who are d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing in worship, discipleship growth, mission work, leadership roles, pursuit of ordained ministry, and outreach ministries so all may utilize their gifts.
General Conference action: 510 -CB101-R9999-A Subject: Overcoming Ableism and Audism Petition: 20845-CB-R9999
Membership: 67; Present: 52; For: 51; Against: 1; Not Voting: 0; Date: 4/27
The Petition is amended as follows: In Section II of the "Call to thought, action, and service" strike "will" and replace with "should' to read: 2. Each agency or entity will should assign a group or individual the responsibility of Committee Moves to Adopt the above (this change has been made above)