The Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) and the Church of the Brethren and its Discipleship and Leadership Formation department have renewed their partnership to provide training, education, and resources that support congregations in becoming more inclusive of people with disabilities and mental illness.
Disabilities
New Bible study curriculum for adults with intellectual disabilities
The Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) has published The Story of God’s First People: Bible Stories from the Old Testament, a Bible study curriculum for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. Written by Jeanne Davies, ADN executive director, this Bible study fills the need for faith formation resources written from an Anabaptist perspective specifically for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Breaking Down Barriers Study Committee gets another year
The study committee formed in response to the query on Breaking Down Barriers–Increasing Access to Denominational Events has been granted another year to finalize their report and bring recommendations to Annual Conference.
Webinar offers conversation on baptism and church membership for people with intellectual disabilites
“Becoming the Baptized Body: A Conversation on Baptism and Church Membership for People with Intellectual Disabilities” is offered as an online webinar on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time).
EDF grants offer aid and relief in Haiti, the United States, Ukraine and Poland, the DRC, and Rwanda
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to respond to multiple crises in Haiti, support continued Brethren Disaster Ministries work following 2022’s summer flooding in the central United States, aid displaced Ukrainians with disabilities, provide school kits for displaced children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provide flood relief in Rwanda, and support a summer program for migrant children in Washington, D.C.
New baptism curriculum is available for adults with intellectual disabilities
Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) has published “Believing and Belonging: An Accessible Anabaptist Membership Curriculum” for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Survey gathers information for work of Annual Conference committee
The Breaking Down Barriers Study Committee was asked by the delegates of the 2022 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren to explore how we gather and how we might create greater equity in access, so that we can include as many people as possible in Annual Conference and other church gatherings.
Anabaptist Disabilities Network creates Disability Language Guide
The Anabaptist Disabilities Network announces the creation of a Disability Language Guide. This guide is meant to help us all carefully consider the language that we choose when writing and speaking about disability and people with disabilities.
Webinar to discuss providing mutual support when people experience mental illness
“Providing Mutual Support when People Experience Mental Illness” is the title of an upcoming webinar on June 17 at 2 p.m. (Eastern time), co-sponsored by the Church of the Brethren’s Discipleship Ministries and the Anabaptist Disabilities Network.
Webinar will explore God’s work of healing self and relationships
“Do We Want to Get Well? Healing What Divides Us,” is the title of a webinar planned for Jan. 21, 2021, at 2 p.m. (Eastern time), sponsored by the Discipleship Ministries of the Church of the Brethren in collaboration with the Anabaptist Disabilities Network. Featured presenter is Amy Julia Becker.
