“Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dig through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, you are forgiven…'” Mark 2:3-5
The Open Roof Fellowship is comprised of Church of the Brethren congregations that have put forth significant effort to establish and grow ministries for and with persons of all abilities.
Open Roof congregations are enriched through diversity and enlivened by welcoming persons of all abilities into Christian fellowship, worship, education, discipleship, and service. They seek to ensure that “all may worship, serve, be served, learn and grow in the presence of God as valued members in the Christian community.” Through this designation, in addition to being connected to each other, congregations are listed as such by the denomination, and receive information of interest from the Church of the Brethren Disabilities Ministry Office and the Anabaptist Disabilities Network.
Applications for the Open Roof Fellowship are due June 1 (so that new member congregations can be recognized at Annual Conference). Please fill out the form online or print out a copy and follow the instructions provided for submission. Questions can be addressed to Rebekah Flores, Disabilities Advocate, at rflores@brethren.org. If your congregation is interested in analyzing your attitudes and accommodation of persons of all abilities, there are self-assessment tools available through the Anabaptist Disabilities Network. If you are interested in education and fostering discussion, please consider this bibliography and the “5 Stages: the Journey of Disability Attitudes”.
2017
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren
York Center Church of the Brethren
2016
Spring Creek Church of the Brethren
Mt. Wilson Church of the Brethren
Parables Community
Spruce Run Church of the Brethren
Luray Church of the Brethren
Union Center Church of the Brethren
2015
Cedar Lake Church of the Brethren
Staunton Church of the Brethren
2014
Clover Creek Church of the Brethren
Lone Star Church of the Brethren
South Waterloo Church of the Brethren
2013
Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren
Nettle Creek Church of the Brethren
Stone Church of the Brethren
Wolgamuth Church of the Brethren
2012
Hanover Church of the Brethren
Mountville Church of the Brethren
Wabash Church of the Brethren
2011
Oakton Church of the Brethren
2009
Goshen City Church of the Brethren
2008
La Verne Church of the Brethren
2007
Lititz Church of the Brethren
2006
Papago Buttes Church of the Brethren
2005
Black Rock Church of the Brethren
2004
Lansing Church of the Brethren