Spiritual Support & Services
Presentations
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Spiritual Support provides support for each client to have access to their spiritual needs. Individualized support plans meet the spiritual needs of each person, and the coordinator supports the client to achieve these goals with an emphasis on community engagement and relational growth.
General goals for this program:
— Provide access to religious and/or spiritual involvement
— Support opportunities for individuals to explore and discover their personal spiritual goals
— Promote meaningful relationships between faith communities and people with I/DD through education and communication
— Support sustainable relationships with people in the community and faith community members.
Spiritual Services include:
— Training, education, and lead discussion for clergy and spiritual care providers on various topics (theology, religious education, worship, fellowship, grief support, pastoral counseling, etc.)
— Congregation leadership/team and congregation-wide training, education, and discussions on particular topics of inclusion and belonging
— Guest preaching/speaking
— Offer practical resources for faith communities and their leadership
— Consultation: whether its guidance on a particular situation
— Liaison between person with disabilities and their faith community
Upcoming Events
APRIL
Date: April 22 at 2 p.m.
Topic: Creative Strategies for Inclusive Digital Worship
Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Bethany McKinney Fox
JUNE
Date: June 24, 11 a.m.
Topic: Building Relationships Through Mutual Connection
Speaker: Rev. Sarah VanderZee McKenney
AUGUST
Date: TBA
Topic: It's Not So Different!: Supporting People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities and their Families in Times of Grief & Loss
Speaker: Rev. Bill Gaventa
OCTOBER
Date: TBA
Topic: The Power of "How": People with I/DD in Congregational Leadership
Speaker: TBA
Resources
ARTICLES
- Presbyterian Today (Jan. 18, 2021)
Is your digital ministry leaving out people with disabilities?
How to welcome all into the 21st century
-Sarah McKenney
Congretional Resources
Mulit-faith Books
- Congregational Outreach Survey (pdf)
- Religious Education Support Plan Adults (pdf)
- Religious Education Support Plan for Children/Youth (pdf)
- A Practical Guide for Congregations (pdf)
Mulit-faith Books
- From Longing to Belonging—A Practical Guide to Including People with Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions in Your Faith Community by Shelly Christensen
- Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism
- Every Child Welcome
- Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations
Islam:
- EnabledMuslim, a project of American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), is an online community for spiritual and practical support for Muslims with disabilities and their loved ones. http://www.
- MUHSEN provides a range of accessible services, education, resources and programs to encourage inclusion in your masjid. https://muhsen.org/
Jewish:
Gateways provides free resources for Shabbat and Jewish holidays on their website. http://www.jgateways.org/
Jewish Disability Awareness Month Guide: https://
How Inclusive Are We Congregation Assessment: https://cdn.
Christian
Webinars (Archived)
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Power of Spirituality in Inclusive, Quality Supports
(Webinar hosted Feb. 25, 2021)
#Inclusive Holidays (Facebook posts)
About Us
Your Help
Partnerships
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Stone Belt Arc is the local chapter of The Arc in Monroe County. The Arc is committed to all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities realizing their goals of living, learning, working and fully participating in the community. The combined strength of local Arcs, The Arc of Indiana and The Arc of the United States makes The Arc the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Learn more about The Arc by visiting www.arcind.org and www.thearc.org.