29 August 2024
The Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference, shares her passion for inclusion by preaching to launch Disability Awareness Week on 15 September. She encourages all churches to celebrate Disability Awareness Week 15-22 September 2024 using the resources created by Through the Roof and the Methodist Church.
The worship was pre-recorded at Brierley Hill Methodist Church in the Vale of Stour Circuit in the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist District. Brierley Hill was chosen to host the service as it is the home of Shine Church which offers worship for families who have children with additional needs.
In her Presidential address at the 2024 Conference, Revd Helen Cameron said: "If we fail to recognise the call of all disciples, and commission only the able-bodied, then we've abandoned the Gospel ... Those living with disabilities, visible or invisible, need to experience justice, equality and access, as others do."
In 2021/22, 16 million people in the UK had a disability, 24% of the population. Through the Roof is a Christian disability inclusion charity. For the past 25 years, its mission has been to transform disabled people’s lives through Jesus.
Disability Awareness Week is the occasion to embrace Justice, Dignity and Solidarity and reach out to congregation members living with a disability, as well as members of the community.
UCB Radio is amplifying the voices of disabled Christians by sharing five "disability diaries" from individuals with lived experiences of disability. Every day of the week, one person living with a disability will share a reflection on their experience of disability within the church and society on the Talking Point program, from 9 am to 1 pm.
Through the Roof will also share videos from Revd Helen Cameron each day during the week about the ABC of church disability inclusion: Access, Belonging and Commission. There will also be insights posted on social media @TTRChangesLives on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Check our Disability Awareness Week page here.
You can also order a free resource pack from Through the Roof here.
You can watch the launch service, available after 3 pm on 15 September here.
Read Revd Helen Cameron’s Presidential Address to the Conference 2024 here.