Resolution Number: 1985-A087
Title: Encourage Opportunities Within the Church for Persons with Disabilities
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the Task Force on Accessibility of this Church be commended and authorized to continue its work and ministry of providing leadership, training and education throughout this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention again calls on the dioceses which have not yet done so to convene committees on disability concerns; and be it further

Resolved, That local vestries be encouraged to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings with the assistance of people trained in this field and to designate a person or persons to be particularly responsible for disability concerns; and be it further

Resolved, That all Episcopal Church properties and all Episcopal Church meeting places be made (so far as possible) accessible to persons with disabilities and barrier-free; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church promote the hiring of qualified persons with disabilities within its own structures and within society at large; and that each parish seek as a first step for one person with a disability; and be it further

Resolved, That qualified persons with disabilities not be disqualified for postulancy, for Holy Orders, for ordination or for further employment in the Church solely on the basis of their handicaps; and be it further

Resolved, That persons in leadership roles of this Church be encouraged to participate at community, state and national levels in advocating legislation that will assist persons with disabilities; and be it further

Resolved, That the liturgies, Christian education programs and other forms of meetings throughout this Church be designed for the inclusion of persons with disabilities, using such means as captioning and interpreters for the deaf; and be it further

Resolved, That each church seek to focus on awareness/educational issues related to persons with disabilities including informing themselves about architectural and attitudinal barriers which prevent full participation of persons with disabilities in congregational life; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church at national, diocesan and local places encourage and support the assumption of leadership roles in both church and community by qualified persons who have disabilities.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 1985 (New York: General Convention, 1986), p. 274.

Legislative History

Author: The Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on Social and Urban Affairs

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(A087)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the Task Force on Accessibility of this Church be commended and encouraged in its work and ministry of providing leadership, training and education throughout this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention again calls on the dioceses which have not yet done so to convene committees on disability concerns which can serve as an advocate for a ministry with persons having disabilities; and be it further

Resolved, That local vestries be encouraged to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and to designate a person or persons to be particularly responsible for disability concerns; and be it further

Resolved, That all Episcopal Church properties and all Episcopal Church meeting places be made (so far as possible) accessible to persons with disabilities and barrier-free; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church promote the hiring of qualified persons with disabilities within its own structures and within society at large; and be it further

Resolved, That persons with disabilities not be disqualified for postulancy, for Holy Orders, for ordination or for further employment in the Church solely on the basis of their handicaps; and be it further

Resolved, That persons in leadership roles of this Church be encouraged to participate at community, state and national levels in advocating legislation that will assist persons with disabilities; and be it further

Resolved, That the seminaries and schools of theological study identified with this Church be urged to incorporate into their curricula material relating to the ministry with persons having disabilities; and be it further

Resolved, That the liturgies, Christian education programs and other forms of meetings throughout this Church be designed for the inclusion of persons with disabilities, using such materials as captioned public films and filmstrips and interpreters for the deaf; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church at national, diocesan and local places encourage and support the assumption of leadership roles in both church and community by qualified persons who have disabilities.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the Task Force on Accessibility of this Church be commended and encouraged in and authorized to continue its work and ministry of providing leadership, training and education throughout this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention again calls on the dioceses which have not yet done so to convene committees on disability concerns which can serve as an advocate for a ministry with persons having disabilities; and be it further

Resolved, That local vestries be encouraged to conduct accessibility surveys of their buildings and to designate a person or persons to be particularly responsible for disability concerns; and be it further

Resolved, That all Episcopal Church properties and all Episcopal Church meeting places be made (so far as possible) accessible to persons with disabilities and barrier-free; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church promote the hiring of qualified persons with disabilities within its own structures and within society at large; and that each parish seek as a first step for one person with a disability; and be it further

Resolved, That qualified persons with disabilities not be disqualified for postulancy, for Holy Orders, for ordination or for further employment in the Church solely on the basis of their handicaps; and be it further

Resolved, That persons in leadership roles of this Church be encouraged to participate at community, state and national levels in advocating legislation that will assist persons with disabilities; and be it further Resolved, That the seminaries and schools of theological study identified with this Church be urged to incorporate into their curricula material relating to the ministry with persons having disabilities, and be it further

Resolved, That the liturgies, Christian education programs and other forms of meetings throughout this Church be designed for the inclusion of persons with disabilities, using such materials means as captioned public films and filmstrips captioning and interpreters for the deaf; and be it further

Resolved, That each church seek to focus on awareness/educational issues related to persons with disabilities including informing themselves about architectural and attitudinal barriers which prevent full participation of persons with disabilities in congregational life; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church at national, diocesan and local places encourage and support the assumption of leadership roles in both church and community by qualified persons who have disabilities.

Deputy Delman of California moved to further amend the Resolution.

Proposed Amendment:

Add the second Resolved clause of A070.

The Committee accepted the amendment. [See History Note.]

Deputy Bates of Atlanta moved to amend.

Proposed Amendment:

In the third Resolved clause:

add the words "with the assistance of persons trained in this field" after the word "buildings" and before the word "and."

The Committee accepted his amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

A vote was taken on A087a.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #211)

House of Bishops

The following message was received from the House of Deputies:

HD Message #211: A087 Amended (Accessibility of Facilities to the Disabled).

The Bishop of West Missouri moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete the Resolved with reference to those seeking Holy Orders.

Seconded by Bishop Rose.

The Amendment failed

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #270)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, September 14.

Report Reference:   Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, Reports to the 68th General Convention, 1985, pp. 118-149.
Abstract:   The 68th General Convention reauthorizes the Task Force on Accessibility and requests that a number of actions be taken by the local Church to assist disabled persons.
Notes:  

The Delman Amendment to add the second Resolved clause of 1985-A070 does not appear in the final text, as it largely duplicates the first Resolved clause of 1985-A087.