The fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq has come and gone - but the war is still real.

Meanwhile....

...   more »

Many churches in our district have responded to the physical changes to their premises required by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), such as the provision of ramped entrances, accessible toilet facilities, etc. even though such changes carried quite a financial burden.

There is one physical change, however, which is met with more reluctance and that is the provision of a hearing loop system. This is rather unrealistic, since, in the context of an elderly congregation, there are likely to be more people who are hard of hearing than those who are wheelchair users. Also, the provision of a hearing loop system, could very well be the least expensive physical change that church premises need.

However, the DDA can only make regulations that require physical changes to buildings; the real change necessary to confront discrimination of any kind is a change in attitude. An Act of Parliament can rarely change attitudes; that requires a more internal change.

Discrimination can be hurtful to people with a disability or impairment, and sometimes even more hurtful because it is so casual and unthinking... people displaying some kind of discrimination often say, " I'm sorry I never realised."

One way that a local church, or a circuit, can help to challenge discrimination is by having some kind of disability awareness training.

As District Disability Officer I have only been invited to arrange one such event -- in the South Shields circuit -- but I would be more than willing to consider arranging something similar for other circuits should they be interested.

A friend passed me an article from an old copy of the Methodist Recorder, which may help to recognise some of the hurtful discrimination disabled people feel. It's in the form of a parable entitled ' My Idea of Heaven' (I only know it was written by someone called David)

There was once a village in which all the inhabitants were wheelchair users. Gradually, as the years passed, they began to realise that it was unnecessary to have high ceilings and doorways, and new houses in the village came to be built with ceilings 5' 3" high and doorways 4' 9" high. In time these measurements became enshrined in the village's building regulations, and in many other respects -- height of shop counters, absence of steps -- the village became perfectly adapted for wheelchair users.

A small number of able-bodied people were obliged, by circumstances beyond their control, to come and live in the village. They found some aspects of life in the village awkward. They had to walk bent over under the low ceilings and kept bumping their heads on the doorways. The village doctor, who was of course a wheelchair user, saw a constant stream of able-bodied people complaining of backache and bruised foreheads.
Hats

On his recommendation, hard hats were issued free of charge to all able-bodied people by the village authorities. Special splints and crutches were also developed to enable able-bodied people to walk bent over at the "correct" height. These were intended to combat not only the low ceiling problem but also the difficulty able-bodied people had in communicating when their faces were so far above the level of everybody else's. Of course the helmets, splints and crutches gave rise to aches and pains of their own.

Seeing the sorry plight of the able-bodied, groups of well-meaning wheelchair users got together to help them. Soon the bar in the village pub and the counters in the village shops sported upturned hard hats bearing the legend "Help the Able-bodied" into which people put their loose change. Painted plaster models of able-bodied people with hard hats and splints, and in the characteristic bent-over posture, appeared in shop doorways with a slot in the top for money.

Matters came to a head when an able-bodied person applied for a job as a presenter on the village television channel and was turned down. The channel's bosses said that, while they recognised the need for able-bodied people to be better represented on television, an able-bodied person with a stoop, a bent head and a hard hat covering the upper part of his or her face, simply did not have the on-screen presence necessary for the job of presenter.

After this, able-bodied people got together and formed a self-help group. They realised that they were never involved in the management of their own affairs and resolved to fight exclusion from mainstream life. They felt that their problems were social ones and had social solutions. In fact, they realised that there were no problems; only solutions.

Of course the wheelchair users felt that the able-bodied were failing to accept and adjust to their disabilities; that they had chips on their shoulders. But the able-bodied said, "We have to challenge the idea that able-bodied people must adapt. What we should be aiming at is to redesign the normal world so that we can all function in it equally. This is to focus on diversity and celebrate the difference."

Henry Yorke
District Disability Officer

Concerned about climate change? So are many Christians and this latest newsletter has much to offer on this important issue.

...   more »

Worship materials for World Aids Day (Dec 1) and Advent are among the resources highlighted in the latest newsletter from the Joint Public Issues Team.

Action cards produced by Christians Aware, provide one of the simnplest - and most effective - ways of challenging those with the power to act to do so on a wide range of issues of social justice. Find out how your church can get involved.

How faith-based groups and criminal justice agencies can work together, the Christian response to sectarianism, and the work of the Independent Asylum Commission, are three issues which are particularly topical at the moment. Find out how to learn more - and even participate.

This is probably the last newsletter before the holidays, so a blesssed, joyous and peaceful Christmas to all our readers.

Peter Collins
Public Issues Co-ordinator

   more »

Peter and Jennie Collins have a new e-mail address: pandjay.collins@btinternet.com

Please amend your contact file accordingly. Thanks.

Leaders of the Methodist, Baptist and United Reformed churches have been reiterating the churches' continuing concern for issues of social justice, overseas development and poverty reduction during the political party season.

Visits to the conferences of all three main parties led to useful meetings with key figures. Find out more...

Methodists have been prominent in the campaign to maintain pressure on the Government to ensure the gambling industry is closely regulated to protect vulnerable people. A comprehensive briefing paper, Against The Odds...? has been prepared by the Joint Public Issues team in conjunction with the Salvation Army. You can download a copy at www.methodist.org.uk/downloads

Assisted Dying is a controversial issue which needs careful - and prayerful - consideration. The United Reformed Church report on this emotive subject would be a good starting point for house groups and for private study. See the newsletter for details of how to obtain a copy.

The newsletter also has an update on the cluster bombs campaign and links to resources for World AIDS Day, and Poverty and Homelessness Action Week.

Finally, Home, a new play based on the book of Exodus, is touring the country. Find out how your church could book a perfomance.

Please print out a copy of the latest newsletter for your church notice board. And if you have any comments or questions, I'd be gald to hear them.

Peter Collins
Public Issues Co-ordinator

When I was training as a primary teacher, many years ago there was a science book which intrigued me. It ...   more »