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.

Interfaith Disability Connection

The Shepherd Center and

First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta

Present:
That All May Worship: Beyond The Ramp

A Discussion of Religion, Acceptance and Inclusion

August 3,2008

Shepherd Center Atlanta, GA

Interfaith Disability Connection (IDC), The Shepherd Center and the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta will present this educational conference Sunday, August 3 at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Titled, That All May Worship: Beyond the Ramp, this one-day event will focus on how religious communities can make their houses of worship even more accessible to those with disabilities. Topics will go beyond eliminating physical barriers and discuss creating services and programs in which all members can easily participate.

The event will be led by Rabbi Lynne Landsberg, Reverend Al Mead, Imam Furqan Muhammad and Ginny Thornburgh; four leaders in religion and disability education.

Leaders in religious communities and disability communities, advocates and friends are invited to take part in this conference on religion, acceptance, and inclusion. Attendees will gain the knowledge, resources and motivation to make positive changes in their religious communities.

Rabbi Lynne F. Landsberg is Senior Advisor on Disability Issues for the Union for Reform Judaismâ??s Religious Action Center and Department of Jewish Family Concerns. She is currently a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Justice, Peace and Religious Liberties Committee and chair of the CCAR Committee of Disability Awareness and Inclusion.

Reverend Al Mead is the Associate Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and believes â??God has given us all the ability to Transcendâ?. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 1996 Paralympic Organizing Committee and as a CBS Sports commentator for the Games. A Paralympic gold and silver medalist Mead was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

Imam Furqan Muhammad is the Resident Imam at Masjid Al-Muminun in Atlanta. He possesses personal experience that has made him a tireless advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Islamic community. Imam Muhammad currently serves as a member of the Board of the Interfaith Disability Connection

Ginny Thornburgh is Vice President and Director of the Religion and Disability Program at the National Organization on Disability in Washington, DC. Mrs. Thornburgh is a nationally recognized authority in matters at the intersection of religion and disability. Thornburgh is the author and editor of many insightful guides that focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in congregational life. These guides include That All May Worship: An Interfaith Welcome To People With Disabilities (written with Ann Rose Davie), Loving Justice: The ADA and the Religious Community, and From Barriers to Bridges: A Community Action Guide for Congregations and People with Disabilities (Written with Janet Miller Rife).

Conference Agenda*

12:30 - 1:30 Registration and Box Lunch (Kosher lunches available)

1:30-1:40 Welcome and Invocation

1:40- 2:20 Reverend Al Mead

2:20- 3:10 Rabbi Lynne Landsberg

3:10- 3:40 Breakout Sessions led by Speakers

3:40- 3:55 Break

3:55- 4:40 What I Wish I Could Say to My Congregation About Welcoming a Person Like Me - Facilitated by Ginny Thornburgh

4:40-4:55 Break

4: 55- 6:00 Interfaith Worship with Challenge and close from Ginny Thornburgh

*Schedule subject to change

Registration details and fee information coming soon.

For more information visit www.interfaithdisability.org or email idc@bobbydodd.org.