I’m often asked for resources to help church communities that want to live out disability access, justice and hospitality, but don’t know where to start. The UK disabled Christian movement is blessed with some talented disabled leaders, consultants and thinkers, sharing their expertise with churches. Disabled people can show churches how to open the gates.

Resources – Access and Justice

Disabled-Led Christian Groups

Disabled Ministers, Theologians & Leaders

  • Fiona MacMillan, Chair of the St Martin-in-the-Fields Disability Advisory Group and Living Edge disability conference planning group; Trustee of Inclusive Church; #AccessibleSynod; training.
  • Tanya Marlow, theologian, author and speaker who writes and campaigns on chronic illness and churches.
  • Ann Memmott, autistic autism professional advising churches and society on justice and access for autistic people.
  • Tim Goode, rector at St Margaret’s Lee Church.
  • Jemma Brown, church accessibility consultant.
  • Pam Webster, Methodist minister retired through chronic illness.
  • Krysia Waldock, autistic researcher currently undertaking a PhD on autism, (non)belief and belonging.
  • Kay Morgan Gurr, consultant and trainer advising churches on how to include children with additional needs.

Books (& More) You Should Read

To understand what keeps disabled people from finding justice in churches, start by reading disabled writers. Here’s a selection of books and articles by disabled and neurodivergent Christians, from the UK and beyond (and one or two allies).

Books

Nancy Eiesland, The Disabled God: Towards a Liberatory Theology of Disability
Lamar Hardwick, Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion
Stephanie Tait, The View from Rock Bottom: Discovering God’s Embrace in our Pain
Daniel Bowman Jr, On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gifts of Neurodiversity
Tanya Marlow, Those Who Wait: Finding God in Disappointment, Doubt and Delay
Hannah Lewis, Deaf Liberation Theology
John M. Hull, In the Beginning There Was Darkness: A Blind Person’s Conversations with the Bible & The Tactile Heart
Inclusive Church, Disability: The Inclusive Church Resource (all contributions are by disabled people, with a theology chapter by John M. Hull)
Kathy Black, A Healing Homiletic: Preaching and Disability
Sharon V. Betcher, Spirit and the Politics of Disablement
Amy Kenny, My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church

Articles

Shannon Dingle, The Full Affirmation of Disability Justice (Sojourners)
Fiona MacMillan and Samuel Wells, Calling from the Edge (The Plough)
Emma Major and Laura Neale, Worshipping Together Safely (YouBelong)
Erin Raffety, Listening Even Unto Rebuke (Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health and Disability)

Videos

Shut In, Shut Out, Shut Up – a ground-breaking disabled-led series devised by Fiona MacMillan, with guest speakers from across the UK disabled Christian movement, reflecting on disability, ableism and churches. Hosted by HeartEdge.

Drop me a line if you know of other resources I can share here. I prioritise work by disabled people ourselves, but I’ll sometimes share other useful resources.