We Welcome All but ya have to get here first...

Today we discussed the accessibility, or inaccessibility, of media. This situation has been dubbed, quite poetically, the digital divide. 

Most of what I can find about this topic (online, because I have ACCESS) concentrates on the access of internet by the global community. 

I really couldn't find much that speaks to my line of thought in this topic. I already fear missional work that creates and "us" and "them" situation, and its seems that much of the work by American churches in this field is about increasing access in underdeveloped countries. 

( Don't worry. I won't go on right now about my distaste for the use of the phrases first world and third world) 

But what about here in our own back yards? How often do those of us in ministry settings take a step back, quite literally, and approach our churches and ministry buildings from the perspective of someone without the same access and property as us? Have we thought about how our church looks and is experienced by others? 

So I pose some questions - Each of these has the assumption that one of our "goals" as a church is to create a community that gives witness to the coming reign of God. That is, to me anyway, a community of inclusivity and perfect love that only God can give and we can only hope to express.

• Do we make information about public transportation available? Do we coordinate car pools? How many more would be with us each week but can't because of transportation. Don't forget, there are more than just elderly members with limited access to transportation!
• Do we print complete contact information in our bulletins? - websites, email addresses, physical addresses not only for the church structure, but for the pastor, any visible leaders, and any one else that might be in the weekly news of the church? Just this week - a bulletin was soliciting donations for new hymnals - "see so-and-so" it said. But that was it! I was a visitor and wanted to give in memoriam but had no way to find this person. And it was the last week to do it!!
• Do our doors open easily? Nothing worse that not getting that door open! If we have ushers and greeters, are they all inside only?
• Do our altars only have stairs? How can we be inclusive without making those that cannot access the rail feel pitied or different? 
• Do our sermons presuppose knowledge of pop culture only accessible via the internet? To understand the sermon do worshippers need to be and insider? Not to say that we cannot use this information, we just need to bring it to them in worship, either let them see what you are talking about, or explain it. 
• How can we address the social-economic differences among us???  One fabulous example I've seen and recently been reminded of, is when churches have computer labs accessible to the community and especially youth. Doing homework without a computer is nearly impossible isn't it?!? 

These are just a few things I've been thinking about. While searching for more resources I did come across a video by a church. They recorded an "Access Sunday" worship. Having never heard of it, of course I did more research. Turns out a lot of churches do this. I found some resources and share them here: 

The Episcopal Disability Network: Ideas for integration into worship and education

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: All God's Children Have Gifts: Disability and Worship

Rev. Craig Satterlee: ELCA Pastor, legally blind, and prefers phone calls to emails because of the limitations the 
technology creates for the visually impaired!

ELCA Social Statement regarding people with disabilities

Canadian Conference Catholic Bishops