All One in Christ
“Everyone in heaven will be able to sign!”
The Revd Dr Hannah Lewis, Chaplain with Deaf People in Liverpool, set the tone for a Disability Awareness conference in Wrexham organised by a planning group led by the Chaplain with Deaf People in NE Wales, Revd Peter Mackriell. Hannah inspired us in the opening worship with a vision of a fully inclusive and accessible church which was then explored in workshops.
There were workshops on “The theology of disability, justice and inclusion”, “Multi-sensory worship”, “Including families with disabled children”, “Life after stroke”, “Autism awareness”, and many more. There were opportunities to be creative, to use resources for prayer in the chapel, and to meet people.
Sign Language interpreters, a lipspeaker, PowerPoint, music, speech and a modern accessible building, all helped to make the conference accessible to all.
I enjoyed being with people who were enthusiastic about a vision of a fully-inclusive church. The affirmation in the closing worship sent us on our way to make that vision a reality:
“Spirit of liberation, bless our restless journeys as we ask the questions and resist the easy answers.”
Revd Margaret le Grice, Chaplain with Deaf People in SE Wales