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“God calls everyone, including persons with disabilities, to the fullness of life in Christ,” states a communiqué issued at a consultative workshop on “Theology and Disability” organized in Nigeria by churches and ecumenical organizations. It emphasizes, “God is the sovereign and loving Creator of all people including persons with disabilities.”
The communiqué stressed that challenges faced by persons with disabilities do not reduce the image of God in them. At the same time, the restoration of their abilities does not improve the image of God. They are in God’s true image as they are, reads the document.
The consultative workshop which issued the communiqué was organized by the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network of the World Council of Churches and the Christian Council of Nigeria. The event was held 11 to 15 August at the Institute of Churches and Society in Ibadan, Oyo Sate.
The workshop brought together representatives from the CCN-affiliated theological colleges, African church leaders, government officials and some non-governmental organizations. In discussions at the event participants encouraged theologians, theological institutions as well as secular institutions to engage in research work to broaden the scope of disability studies.
In the communiqué they stressed that “churches and theological institutions should involve qualified people with disability in the leadership of bodies and groups”.
Churches were encouraged to be at the forefront of advocacy for the re-structuring of public buildings and facilities in order to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
