Date of Award
8-4-2021
Document Type
Major Applied Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
Department
Practical Theology
First Advisor
Thomas J. Egger
Scripture References in this Resource
Leviticus 19:13-14; Deuteronomy 15:4; Deuteronomy 27:15-26; 1 Samuel 20:15; 2 Samuel 8:15; 2 Samuel 9:1-13; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7; Matthew 23:23-24; Mark 12:1-12; Acts 2:35; Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5:1-11; Acts 6:1; Romans 12:1-3; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11; Ephesians 4:32; Philippians 2:4; 1 John 4:18-19
Abstract
People with disabilities and their families frequently experience barriers toward inclusion and belonging in multiple spheres of life. These barriers are also present in Christian congregations. However, many congregations express a godly desire to love people with disabilities and their families without these obstacles.
The Old and New Testaments provide examples of how God’s people sought to love people with disabilities in their midst creatively and intentionally in response to God’s gracious actions, invitation, and command. Recent research in disability studies routinely highlight the necessity of being attentive to the uniqueness of each person with disabilities and his or her family. Recent work in the realm of sanctification also encourages Christians to practice active righteousness and vocation with an emphasis upon loving specific neighbors.
This research project attempted to better understand the effects of a person-centered disability awareness seminar about the pastor’s own child in a single congregation using a mixed methods approach. A pretest posttest design was used in the quantitative phase of the research utilizing the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS) to measure attitudes (N = 42). A focus group was used in the qualitative phase of research (N = 7). Results suggest a person-centered disability awareness seminar can be an effective way to improve attitudes and relational engagement in a congregational setting.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Joshua H., "Perfect Love Casts out Fear: Exploring the Effectiveness of a Person-Centered Disability Awareness Seminar in a Congregational Setting" (2021). Doctor of Ministry Major Applied Project. 159.
https://scholar.csl.edu/dmin/159
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Included in
Accessibility Commons, Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Disability Studies Commons, History of Christianity Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Practical Theology Commons, Religious Education Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons
