This episode invites us to be disrupted in our ideas of ourselves as human beings and as the church, and to be open to the Spirit’s work and gifts among all of us. In this episode Jeff and Emily are joined by Dr. Brian Brock and Dr. Devan Stahl to help us begin to understand disability. We also talk about how medicine and technology shape the ways we see the world and make decisions, as well as how the church can do better when it comes to speaking about and welcoming those with disabilities.
Brian Brock holds a personal chair in Moral and Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen. He is the author of several books including the most recent Disability: Living into the Diversity of Christ’s Body and Wondrously Wounded: Theology, Disability, and the Body of Christ.
Devan Stahl is Assistant Professor of Religion at Baylor University and a bioethicist who specializes in disability studies. Her latest book, Imaging and Imagining Illness: Becoming Whole in a Broken Body is an edited volume examining the power of medical images and their impact on patients and the wider culture.
You can learn more about Access InterVarsity, an accessible and disability inclusive space for all to belong, grow closer to Jesus and use their God-given gifts here. And the LifeGuide Bible study, Belonging is available from InterVarsity Press.
Missio Alliance Comment Policy
The Missio Alliance Writing Collectives exist as a ministry of writing to resource theological practitioners for mission. From our Leading Voices to our regular Writing Team and those invited to publish with us as Community Voices, we are creating a space for thoughtful engagement of critical issues and questions facing the North American Church in God’s mission. This sort of thoughtful engagement is something that we seek to engender not only in our publishing, but in conversations that unfold as a result in the comment section of our articles.
Unfortunately, because of the relational distance introduced by online communication, “thoughtful engagement” and “comment sections” seldom go hand in hand. At the same time, censorship of comments by those who disagree with points made by authors, whose anger or limited perspective taints their words, or who simply feel the need to express their own opinion on a topic without any meaningful engagement with the article or comment in question can mask an important window into the true state of Christian discourse. As such, Missio Alliance sets forth the following suggestions for those who wish to engage in conversation around our writing:
1. Seek to understand the author’s intent.
If you disagree with something the an author said, consider framing your response as, “I hear you as saying _________. Am I understanding you correctly? If so, here’s why I disagree. _____________.
2. Seek to make your own voice heard.
We deeply desire and value the voice and perspective of our readers. However you may react to an article we publish or a fellow commenter, we encourage you to set forth that reaction is the most constructive way possible. Use your voice and perspective to move conversation forward rather than shut it down.
3. Share your story.
One of our favorite tenants is that “an enemy is someone whose story we haven’t heard.” Very often disagreements and rants are the result of people talking past rather than to one another. Everyone’s perspective is intimately bound up with their own stories – their contexts and experiences. We encourage you to couch your comments in whatever aspect of your own story might help others understand where you are coming from.
In view of those suggestions for shaping conversation on our site and in an effort to curate a hospitable space of open conversation, Missio Alliance may delete comments and/or ban users who show no regard for constructive engagement, especially those whose comments are easily construed as trolling, threatening, or abusive.