SojoMail - I’m disabled. My pastor said no to a $130 ramp

Ableism Is Still a Core Part of Church Spaces. Here’s How to Change It Amy Kenny I’ll never forget my pastor’s response when I asked about putting a $130 portable ramp in the building where our church meets: “That’s not stewarding tithe well,” he announces without embarrassment. He acts as if he’s making a measured budgetary decision — like he is choosing between two beige paint colors of a similar hue. Except I am the one on eggshells. He acts like this doesn’t determine whether I can access the community gatherings and worship services. He acts like this isn’t personal. But before I can protest his reasoning, before I can explain why this “decision” is personal, he blurts out, “Besides, we don’t have many disabled people anyway.” When I stress that a ramp isn’t just for me or other wheelchair users, that it can assist folks who use other mobility aids, strollers, or even transport sound equipment, he brushes me off with a quick pat on the shoulder — like I’m a good dog. None of this matters to him because he claims it’s not a good use of the church’s money, all while chomping down on the stale donuts and coffee that the church purchases every Sunday. […] The good news is this: We can change this narrative of exclusion. READ FIVE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CHURCH MORE INCLUSIVE Forward Share

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