Overcoming Ableism and Audism

Petition Number: 20845-CB-R9999
Petitioner: Giovanni Arroyo – Washington, DC, USA, for the General Commission on Religion and Race
Adopted: April 27, 2024 (as amended)Overcoming Ableism and Audism R…

Preamble

We live for a day when nondisabled people will not oppress those who are disabled, and when those who hear will not oppress those who do not.

We hope for a Church where all, regardless of disability or deafness, experience inclusion and belonging in the Body of Christ.

Ableism and audism are injustices that undermine the witness of the Church.

  • Ableism is negative bias and discrimination toward persons with disabilities, creating attitudinal, architectural, and programmatic barriers in faith communities.

  • Audism is negative bias and discrimination toward persons who are d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing, limiting discipleship and leadership potential through communication barriers, lack of cultural awareness, and inhospitable practices.

Theological Imperatives

  • Invitation – In Luke 14:21–23, the banquet parable shows God’s call to include disabled and d/Deaf persons fully in the Church.

  • Preparation – Isaiah 40:3–5 calls us to remove barriers (“make straight paths”) so that all can return from exile and experience accessibility.

  • Formation – The resurrected body of Christ still bears wounds. Disability is incorporated into God’s nature; discipleship includes lifting up the gifts of all embodiments and rejecting prejudice.

Call to Thought, Action, and Service

For General Agencies and Church Entities:

  1. Use resources from the Disability Ministries Committee (DMC), the Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries (DHM), and caucuses like the Association of Ministers with Disabilities and the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf.

  2. Assign a group or individual to review documents to eliminate ableism and audism.

  3. Integrate ableism/audism awareness into diversity and inclusion training for clergy, candidates, licensed pastors, deaconesses, home missioners, and laity.

  4. Engage in and support anti-ableism and anti-audism advocacy.

For Local Churches, Annual Conferences, and Episcopal Leaders:

  1. Implement an Accessibility Coordinator position at the Annual Conference level to train and support accessibility and inclusion.

  2. Promote Disability Awareness Sunday (¶265) and Deaf Awareness Sunday, ensuring leadership and storytelling by disabled and d/Deaf persons.

  3. Include anti-ableism and anti-audism teaching in confirmation, Bible study, youth ministry, and diversity training (e.g., special bulletins, sign language classes, guest speakers).

  4. Live into Social Principles (¶162) by including persons with disabilities and d/Deaf persons in worship, leadership, mission, and ministry.

General Conference Action

  • Committee: 510-CB101-R9999-A

  • Vote: Membership 67 | Present 52 | For 51 | Against 1 | Not Voting 0

  • Amendment: In Section II.2, “will” was replaced with “should” regarding the assignment of responsibility for reviewing documents.

Status: Adopted, April 27, 2024

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