Uncategorized – The Accessible Altar

21. Bible and Disability

Robyn and Stephanie keep talking about the Bible, this time about how it can be hard to read (or hear preached) when you are Disabled or Chronically Ill. They have some suggestions. They share those and look at Mark 2.1-12 as an example passage. ⁠Full Transcript⁠ ⁠Reading Scripture as Good News while Disabled⁠ (pdf ofContinue reading “21. Bible and Disability”

20. Resurrection

"Christ was able to be resurrected with everything he had been through, all of his scars, all of his wounds. He doesn't need to have all those things somehow fixed or repaired in order to rise, or to be the resurrected Christ, or to access eternal life in solidarity with all of us." The background is light blue and the top left corner has a decorative green linework.

Stephanie and Robyn talk about the Bible, disability, and how stories of the resurrection offer insight into God’s thoughts about and participation in embodiment. The conversation touches on many passages but with focus on John 20.19-27. ⁠Full Transcript

19. Baptism and other Sacraments

One a blue background with a black geometric decorative border it reads, "It's about attaining the one perfect body there is, which is the body of Christ, which has room for every single member in it. And every single member has a part to play that doesn't ignore physical, mental, whatever ability we can imagine, but has a place that is specifically designed for them to be in it because of those aspects of who they are."

Robyn, Stephanie, and returning guest Ian Lasch Robyn, Stephanie, and returning guest Ian Lasch continue to talk about sacraments and disability, looking more specifically at Baptism. This is the second part of a longer conversation. The Rev Ian Lasch is an autistic priest in the Episcopal Church who takes great joy in living out theContinue reading “19. Baptism and other Sacraments”

18. Sacraments and Disability

Robyn, Stephanie, and returning guest Ian Lasch talk about the sacraments and disability theology. This is the first part of a longer conversation. The Rev Ian Lasch is an autistic priest in the Episcopal Church who takes great joy in living out the priestly vocation to serve as “pastor, priest, and teacher.” He is currentlyContinue reading “18. Sacraments and Disability”

17. Worship Accessibility

Stephanie and Robyn continue their conversation with Kristen, turning more specifically to considerations for accessibility in our worship spaces and services. Kristen Tossell Pitts is an Episcopal priest and school chaplain whose vocation focuses on the intersection of spiritual formation and Gospel-centered justice. She currently serves as the Chaplain and Director of Spiritual and CulturalContinue reading “17. Worship Accessibility”

16. Disabled Leadership and Embodiement

In a geometric bubble is the text, "I would love for us to find ways to make space to wonder and explore in community in a way that didn’t feel like I need to defend my personhood. And that’s hard."

Stephanie and Robyn are joined by the Reverend Kristen Tossell Pitts for a conversation about how being disabled shapes their leadership. Kristen Tossell Pitts is an Episcopal priest and school chaplain whose vocation focuses on the intersection of spiritual formation and Gospel-centered justice. She currently serves as the Chaplain and Director of Spiritual and CulturalContinue reading “16. Disabled Leadership and Embodiement”

15. Crip Camp

It's a very secular movie but I see the image of the kingdom of God as present throughout it. Is in white text on a dark green background. On one side in image of the poster for the documentary Crip Camp/. The image has a faded 70's feel and shows a black person standing behind a white person in a wheelchair.

Stephanie and Robyn discuss the documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution. We discuss our deep love for camp culture, the history of the camp the title refers to, and how a community formed in the 1970’s helped shape disability activism and the world we all live in. Significant admiration for Judy Huemann happens. Full TranscriptContinue reading “15. Crip Camp”

14. Grief with Rev Sharan Knoell

Stephanie and Robyn are joined by Sharan to discuss her diagnosis journey and how the grief involved is informing her faith. The Rev. Sharan Knoell is the pastor of Valley United Presbyterian Church in a small-town community that straddles the Pennsylvania – New York border. Prior to 2014, Valley United was three Presbyterian Church (USA)Continue reading “14. Grief with Rev Sharan Knoell”

13 Mother God with Teresa Kim Pecinovsky

Stephanie and Robyn are joined by the Rev’d Teresa Kim Pecinovsky to discuss her gorgeous children’s book Mother God . They discuss the importance of good theology and diverse representation in the church and in children’s literature. Born in South Korea and raised in Iowa, Teresa had a brief stint as an ESL teacher inContinue reading “13 Mother God with Teresa Kim Pecinovsky”

12. Images of a Disabled God

In this part of Robyn and Stephanie’s conversation with Ian, they talk about the impact of disability theology on Ian’s diagnosis process, the implications of diagnosis and diagnostic criteria, and the Bible. The Reverend Ian Lasch is an autistic priest in the Episcopal Church who takes great joy in living out the priestly vocation toContinue reading “12. Images of a Disabled God”