Inclusion is right at the heart of the
christian Gospel, for the good news of Jesus is open to all of humanity. This is at
no other point clearer in the new Testament than on the day of Pentecost described in Acts 2:1-11. On that day, Jews from all over the known world had gathered in jerusalem and many of them spoke different languages. Through the Holy Spirit, despite the differences of those gathered, each one was able to learn about 'God's deeds of power' (v11) in the language they used. The good news was not for an elite few, but was freely accaccessible to everyone using a medium they were capable of understanding.
Christian people believe today that the Holy Spirit continues to be alongside humanity as the presence of God with us, our advocate and guide. Because of the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in the world today, the good news of Jesus Christ continues to be accessible to all. Not everyone will understand even a part of the good news presented to them because they have limited abilities, but none of us understand it all for all of us are limited human beings. People with severe learning difficulties or severe communication impairments may not understand anything at all, but we should not underestimate the Spirit's ability to engage with every human being – as they are – and to make known to them the love of Christ for love is something to be experienced and not understood. Some more able-bodied people may be used as instruments by which that love is conveyed, but that can also be true the other way around.
Disabled people together with all other human beings reflect the image of their Creator God. They do not distort that image any more than anyone else simply because their bodies or minds do not conform to what society has defined as ‘normal’. Acknowledging this reality can serve as a reminder that disabled people should be treated as full and not lesser human beings. Each person, in their uniqueness, deserves the respect and love that would be shown to anyone or anything that bears the mark of the Creator.
Much of the advice that follows provides guidelines on how to include children with disabilities in the life and work of the church as a whole. This has become a matter of urgency in recent years with the implementation of new disability and human rights legislation which is aiming to change the way so many disabled people have been marginalised in society, and no less so in the churches. The non-disabled members of churches with their disabled brothers and sisters must respond, however, not simply because of legal obligation, but because God is interested in every human being and, as we see time and time again in the Gospels, those who live on the margins. It is the privilege of humanity to be loved by and reflect the image of God and to know that the Holy Spirit knows no boundaries as it seeks to engage with us in the good news of Jesus Christ. It is the duty of the whole church of God to recognise and affirm these truths in disabled people, and so many others who feel excluded, so that His kingdom may come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.