The feedback from the nearly 150 participants was resoundingly positive. Attendees left the conference inspired and engaged to take what they learned back to their congregations and communities.

Here are a few of the most memorable ideas from the event for me.

During her keynote address Ginny Thornburgh spoke about asking her son Peter, who has developmental disabilities what G-d is like. Ginny says that Peter thought about her question for a while and said, G-d is “nice,nice.”

Ginny’s story reminds me to ask of my church and other congregations: Does our welcome and hospitality reflect the extravagant love of a G-d who in the words of Peter Thornburgh, is “nice!” If not what must we do to have our intentions for hospitality reflect the love, joy, compassion and kindness of G-d?

Rabbi Lynne Landsberg introduced attendees to the Hebrew word Hineini. Hineini means present and the concept is much deeper than simply present. The concept means here I am for you, here I am with you, and here I am able to do whatever you need done. May we all continue the work of building communities where hineini is spoken, heard, and responded to in practical ways.

Reverend Al Mead spoke passionately and convincingly about the need for a winning attitude and a strong faith to help get us through life’s challeges.

The keynotes were amazing!

I also came away from the conference with a renewed sense of urgency around the telling and the hearing of stories of people with disabilities. James Charlton wrote a book in the 90s titled: Nothing Agout Us Without Us and the meaning of that was on full display at the conference on Sunday.

Keynote speakers, panelists, worship participants, planning committee members. and volunteers were all people with disabilities who showed up and shared their stories and their lives with power and grace.

I received an e-mail from Mark Johnson, Director of Advocacy, at the Shepherd Center who summarized the take-away like this:

“if anybody left the conference not knowing the next step, they weren’t listening, if you don’t know what to do or aren’t sure you’re doing the right thing, ask those you’re trying to include.”

Thank you Mark Johnson for summarizing the take-away better than I could have.

The final thing that the event on Sunday affirmed for me was that you can do an interfaith worship service that is respectful and affirming of all traditions represented while highlighting the common call of all traditions to offer compassion, kindness and opportunity to all of G-d’s people.

That All May Worship 2008 was an amazing experience. I am grateful to sponsors, participants, organizers and volunteers. The conference would not have been the success it was without the contributions of each person.

We have set the bar for the next year’s conference awfully high and I know we can exceed everyone’s expectation for next year’s event.

We are putting the finishing touches on preparations for That All May Worship: Beyond The Ramp for 2008. It promises to be a great event! I am grateful to all of the people who have worked over the past year to make the event educational and inspiring.

There are articles here and here that focus on the challenges and opportunities that people with disabilities and their families encounter when they seek support from their congregations. I am grateful to the newspapers in Augusta and Savannah for helping tell these important stories.

I am certain there will be more to come post-conference.

Update: The online edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution has a great story up as well: Interfaith conference aims to connect disabled, faith leaders.

Thanks to Empish Thomas and Reverend Kim McGarr from Mount Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta for being interviewed for the article and for being wonderful spokespeople!

There will be a post conference wrap up to come.