Sometimes disabled people – especially those with mental impairments have outbursts in church. How should churches handle this? Should they be banned? Should they be segregated from the rest of the church population?I think this is a very touchy subject. Many people with disabilities often use unacceptable behaviors when crying for help – but at what point do churches have to draw the line? Should people with disabilities be segregated from the rest of the church congregation during worship and teaching? What would make segregation acceptable?
Churches must really be careful because of laws such as the American’s With Disabilities Act could easily result in a law suit if you ban someone, or treat someone different just because of a disability or impairment. Violating ADA can also result in a bunch of negative coverage for your church as well. As people for disabilities are now more then ever starting to advocate for themselves accomodations must be made for those with disabilities – including those that effect behavior.
Obviously the safety of those in the church is a good reason to bar someone from attending. But what about if they are a disruption during worship or teaching, should you bar them from attending then? When do you draw the line on whats an acceptable reason to bar a disabled person from attending church?
If you do bar someone from attending – do you offer them any other form of church, such as a small group or a group of people to help this person out so that they can once again attend normal church?
I would love to hear what people have to say on this topic. Its been in the news quite a bit in the last year, and I hope to gather some thoughts and opinions on this very touchy subject.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t really have an opinion on the subject. I very rarily go into the actual church. I drop the kids off for thier sunday school. Then I usually just drink coffee alone for an hour or so, then I pick them up and go home.
I’ve tried the whole church and small group thing. It’s just not for me. (yes. I am a believer in Jesus) I don’t understand the sermons. I don’t fit in with any of the small groups. I just don’t get it at all. I’m on the autism spectrum, I just don’t connect with the whole community thing. Yet, I don’t want to deny the kids. So I’ll be downstairs drinking coffee.
I think churches should go out of their way to accomodate anyone that wants to worship. I’m paralyzed from the chest down and about 8 years ago that a church had steps and I wouldn’t be able to enter. No alternatives were offered and I searched for a month before finding an accessible church. ADA Barrier Standards DO NOT apply to places of worship.
I was brought up as a Christian. The key passage that was always pressed on us in Sunday school was “the good Samaritan”. The key point of Christianity was love, or if you prefer Christian charity. It’s not the only aspect of Christianity, but it’s the single most important aspect, without which you are not a Christian. Cease to have compassion and become judgemental and you are no longer a Christian in my book.
I believe that churches should be very careful with even consedering banning persons with disabilities. The church or temple should receive all people no matter the disability. However i do believe in taking athority over the disruption. I myself am disabled, and i am a temple elder. I’m the third in command at my shool. I know what it is like to be on the beama teaching,when an outburst happens. I do however believe that yahshuah jesus took athority over disruptive spirits. I think that if we know how to handle disabilities, there will not be such a problem. This comes by re educating our brothers and sisters in how to work with disabled persons. My ministry is designed for just this very fact. See above web adress