Preaching disability: The whole of Christ’s body in word and practice

Abstract

Including disability in preaching and people with disabilities in the design and practice of worship can raise many questions for clergy. Disability should not be addressed with euphemisms or with some traditional theological perspectives on disability that can wound people deeply and turn them away from the church and the people of God. This article explores five areas to help clergy think about preaching disability: practices of worship, perspectives of people with different kinds of disabilities, possible biblical passages and themes, current parables and stories, and the paradoxical uses of disability as metaphor.