“The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation

The statement, “the body of Christ is disabled without the presence of people with disability” is one that makes regular appearances in works of disability theologians and practitioners. The pithy aphorism is meant to serve as a prompt to remind church communities that they need to be places where...

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Main Author: Louise Gosbell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Eastern European Instute of Theology 2024-12-01
Series:Богословські роздуми: Східноєвропейський журнал богословʼя
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Online Access:http://reflections.eeit-edu.info/article/view/314915
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author Louise Gosbell
author_facet Louise Gosbell
author_sort Louise Gosbell
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description The statement, “the body of Christ is disabled without the presence of people with disability” is one that makes regular appearances in works of disability theologians and practitioners. The pithy aphorism is meant to serve as a prompt to remind church communities that they need to be places where people with disability can be active and contributing members. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the statement is problematic and, as a result, ends up perpetuating the notion that disability is undesirable and to be avoided. This article outlines two primary objections to the use of the phrase and offers in its place an alternative way of understanding the place of people with disability both in the body of Christ and in our church communities.
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2789-1577
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publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Eastern European Instute of Theology
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series Богословські роздуми: Східноєвропейський журнал богословʼя
spelling doaj-art-2e1e697ccdb24f968b35124e796855532024-12-27T19:34:36ZengEastern European Instute of TheologyБогословські роздуми: Східноєвропейський журнал богословʼя2789-15692789-15772024-12-0122210.29357/2789-1577.2024.22.2.3“The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-EvaluationLouise Gosbell0Australian College of Theology The statement, “the body of Christ is disabled without the presence of people with disability” is one that makes regular appearances in works of disability theologians and practitioners. The pithy aphorism is meant to serve as a prompt to remind church communities that they need to be places where people with disability can be active and contributing members. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the statement is problematic and, as a result, ends up perpetuating the notion that disability is undesirable and to be avoided. This article outlines two primary objections to the use of the phrase and offers in its place an alternative way of understanding the place of people with disability both in the body of Christ and in our church communities. http://reflections.eeit-edu.info/article/view/314915disabilityecclesiologyPauline theologybody of Christ
spellingShingle Louise Gosbell
“The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation
Богословські роздуми: Східноєвропейський журнал богословʼя
disability
ecclesiology
Pauline theology
body of Christ
title “The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation
title_full “The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation
title_fullStr “The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation
title_full_unstemmed “The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation
title_short “The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation
title_sort the body of christ is disabled without the presence of people with disability a re evaluation
topic disability
ecclesiology
Pauline theology
body of Christ
url http://reflections.eeit-edu.info/article/view/314915
work_keys_str_mv AT louisegosbell thebodyofchristisdisabledwithoutthepresenceofpeoplewithdisabilityareevaluation