What are the theological What are the theological principles we want to endorse principles we want to endorse

in relation to Special Needs in relation to Special Needs amongst us?amongst us?

What does the Bible say?What does the Bible say?

The Image of GodThe Image of God

1)1) Created in God’s Image and Created in God’s Image and likeness: Gen 1/5likeness: Gen 1/5

2)2) Renewed in the image of Christ: Renewed in the image of Christ: 2 Cor 32 Cor 3

Old TestamentOld Testament

1) Troublesome pictures.1) Troublesome pictures.

a) Lev 21:17-23: Exclusion of priests a) Lev 21:17-23: Exclusion of priests with any physical blemish with any physical blemish

b) Deut 28:15-68: the curses for b) Deut 28:15-68: the curses for disobedience disobedience

2) Pictures of Inclusion2) Pictures of Inclusion

a) Jacob’s limp: Gen 32:24-32. a) Jacob’s limp: Gen 32:24-32.

b) The Eunuch: Isaiah 56:3-5. b) The Eunuch: Isaiah 56:3-5.

c) ‘Everything is beautiful’: c) ‘Everything is beautiful’:

Eccles 3:1-11 Eccles 3:1-11

The Good NewsThe Good News

1) Disability not because of sin:1) Disability not because of sin:

a) The man born blind John 9 (1-3). a) The man born blind John 9 (1-3).

b) Zacchaeus: Luke 19 b) Zacchaeus: Luke 19

c) Ethiopian Eunuch: Acts 8 c) Ethiopian Eunuch: Acts 8

2) Contagious holiness: 2) Contagious holiness:

Mark 1:40-45 Mark 1:40-45

3) Christ takes up into himself all of 3) Christ takes up into himself all of human frailty: Phil 2:5-11.human frailty: Phil 2:5-11.

4) The resurrection of Jesus: 4) The resurrection of Jesus:

John 20:20 John 20:20

Image of God Image of God

Varies… Varies…

Value of each personValue of each person

• UniqueUnique• CreatedCreated• NumberedNumbered• KnownKnown• Loved Loved • BelovedBeloved

Church as the body of ChristChurch as the body of Christ

Mutual loveMutual love

Each one loved… valued… Each one loved… valued… respectedrespected… …

Practices of redemptionPractices of redemption

Raging with Compassion – Raging with Compassion – SwintonSwinton• LamentLament• ForgivenessForgiveness• Thoughtfulness Thoughtfulness • RecognitionRecognition• Friendship Friendship • Strangeness Strangeness

OtheringOthering

HospitalityHospitality

Reflecting on our actions… Reflecting on our actions…

Operant; Operant; Espoused; Espoused; Normative; Normative; FormativeFormative

Issues…. Issues….

TIMETIME

ATTENTIVENESSATTENTIVENESS

FATIGUEFATIGUE

HOPEHOPE

Long term engagementLong term engagement New SkillsNew Skills AdvocacyAdvocacy Learn from those who know… Learn from those who know… Love & have your policies in Love & have your policies in

place! place!