Suggested reading

Living gently in a violent world

By Stanley Hauerwas and Jean Vanier

In this fascinating book, theologian Stanley Hauerwas collaborates with Jean Vanier, founder of the worldwide L'Arche communities. For many years, Hauerwas has reflected on the lives of people with disability, the political significance of community, and how the experience of disability addresses the weaknesses and failures of liberal society. And L'Arche provides a unique model of inclusive community that is underpinned by a deep spirituality and theology. Together, Vanier and Hauerwas carefully explore the contours of a countercultural community that embodies a different way of being and witnesses to a new order--one marked by radical forms of gentleness, peacemaking and faithfulness.

Arthur's Call

By Frances Young

Written by one of the world's most distinguished theologians and spiritual writers, here is a book full of hope and help for all who struggle with faith in the face of unremitting suffering.

Frances Young reflects on forty-five years of caring for her severely disabled son, and how this has led her through darkness and doubt to a deeper awareness of God's presence. With profound insights into the vocation and ministry of persons with severe disabilities

Disability in the Christian Tradition

By Brian Brock and John Swinton

Written by one of the world's most distinguished theologians and spiritual writers, here is a book full of hope and help for all who struggle with faith in the face of unremitting suffering.For two millennia Christians have thought about what human impairment is and how faith communities and society should respond to people with perceived impairments. However, never before has one volume collected the most significant Christian thinkers writings on disability.

Brian Brock and John Swinton have answered this need in Disability in the Christian Tradition. This book brings together for the first time the views of renowned Christian leaders throughout Christian history including Augustine, Aquinas, Julian of Norwich, Luther, Calvin, Hegel, Kierkegaard, van den Bergh, Bonhoeffer, Barth, Vanier, and Hauerwas. Fourteen experts in theology and disability studies guide readers through each era or group of thinkers, offering clear commentary and highlighting important themes.

Mental Health: The Inclusive Church Resource

By Jean Vanier and John Swinton

There is a huge need for churches to be more inclusive - some might be more inclusive in some areas than others (both in attitude and resources), but on the whole this is a massive failing of churches. Most church leaders recognise this failing but lack the resources and understanding to effect meaningful change.

The Inclusive Church Resources aim to educate, to reflect theologically and to provide practical advice and guidance. Each book contains first-hand personal experiences of people from the marginalised group, a theological reflection by Jean Vanier and a resource section containing addresses, websites and practical advice on improving your church's inclusivity.

Enabling Church: a Bible-based resource towards the full inclusion of disabled people

By Gordon Temple

If we are all made in the image of God, 'fearfully and wonderfully made' as the psalmist puts it, what does that mean if we can't see, or can't walk; if we can't hear, or can't speak? How can we be said to share in God's unconditional love if we are humiliated by epileptic seizures? If we can't remember our own name because of the ravages of dementia? Or if the only response of which we are capable is a smile? How can we truly be a valued and valuable part of the Body of Christ here on earth - the Church? This rich resource book for church leaders, congregations and small groups challenges us to get to grips with what the Bible says about disability - and what the Church could do in response. Themes of understanding, inclusion and interdependency are explored through discussion, prayer, worship, hands-on activities and listening to the authentic voices of disabled people.

Disability: The Inclusive Church Resource

By John Hall

There is a huge need for churches to be more inclusive - some might be more inclusive in some areas than others (both in attitude and resources), but on the whole this is a massive failing of churches. Most church leaders recognise this failing but lack the resources and understanding to effect meaningful change. The Inclusive Church Resources aim to educate, to reflect theologically and to provide practical advice and guidance. Each book contains first-hand personal experiences of people from the marginalised group, a theological reflection by John Hull and a resource section containing addresses, websites and practical advice on improving your church's inclusivity.

The Enabled Life—Christianity in a disabling world

By Roy McCloughry

As a much-published author, social commentator and academic, Roy McCloughry is ideally placed to make the latest theological thinking about disability accessible to a wide audience. As a person living with epilepsy who regards his condition, as a 'strange gift' from God - he brings rich personal experience of what it's like to live as a disabled person in a world where acceptance frequently relies on the appearance of normality. Attitudes in the Church too can be strangely unsettling. People are often embarrassed or fearful in encountering disabled people, who are, if the Bible is to be believed, at the heart of the kingdom of God. After all, God does not want us to conform to society's stereotype of what is normal, but to celebrate diversity by delighting in who we are. We do not need to be 'cured' to know God's healing, empowering love in our lives. Indeed, as Roy's deeply moving interview with Jean Vanier underlines, the 'abled' may well discover their true humanity through learning from those whose humanity has sometimes been called into question.

Same Lake Different Boat

By Stephanie O. Hubach

When the church attempts to function without all of its parts, the body of Christ becomes disabled. Same Lake, Different Boat is a transformational work--designed to renew our minds to think biblically about disability in order that our lives, our relationships, and our congregations might wholly reflect Christ.

Dementia. Living in the memories of God

By John Swinton

In this clearly written and accessible volume, Swinton incorporates the best insights of contemporary psychological approaches to human memory and dementia care into a biblically grounded theology. The result is an account that does not shy away from the pain and challenge that faces people affected by dementia, yet at the same time asserts a transformative vision of their situation based on the grace of God who creates and redeems them