The news that I would spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair was a complete surprise. But what I expected even less were the challenges I encountered at church!

I was a leader, but I had become one of the "broken," and I found the church unprepared to deal with broken people. As pastor I needed access to the whole church, but much of it was "off limits" to me now.

People I knew warmed quickly to the change, but others treated me as though they could "catch" my spinal cord injury like a virus. Seven out of 10 people wouldn't make eye contact or would speak only to my wife though I was right there.

How can the church respond to "broken" people?

• Church boards can give forethought in planning for the arrival of disabled guests before the need arises. Borrow a wheelchair for your next meeting and have members experience limited access for themselves. From the entry to water fountains, from sight lines in the sanctuary to classroom access, is your church accessible to all people?
   
• Invite a confident disabled person to address "brokenness" with church leadership. Have a question and answer time, listen, and be willing to act on the answers.
   
• Ushers should be trained to look for and properly assist disabled people. The removal or addition of a chair, the offer of an arm to escort the visually impaired, holding the door from behind so the doorway is not blocked-these are not difficult to do, yet they make people with disabilities feel wanted and not out of place.
   
• Prepare for the disabled leader. Skilled, gifted, and professional, yet physically limited, people are going to need a place to serve, so address access to platforms, classrooms, and offices.
   
• Treat the broken with respect and dignity. Disabled people already feel a little conspicuous for obvious reasons, so a little care, given without fanfare, is much appreciated.

Dwight Shirey is an ordained elder serving as worship leader and keyboardist at West Broad Church of the Nazarene in Columbus, Ohio.

Holiness Today

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.