Where faith, and disability come together.
Faith & Spoons came to be because I felt called to make space for something that did not exist. A space for faith and disability. Something completely foreign (and unthought of) in the church.
You see disability in the church, but most commonly it's do to age, rather than the many other reasons. Those people, are usually also life long church members and the church is used to thinking those people and their changing needs.
But disability in any other sense of the word not so much.
Churches, are by far some of the most inaccessible buildings that exist. Under the excuse of heritage and "tradition."
It's not that it's not improving. But the most important things are being missed.
Sanctuaries, for example, do not have space for wheelchair seating. Unless they are at the back behind the pews or at the very front ahead of the pews. And a new person is not going to want to be that close to the front, and the back they will not feel like part of the service.
But heaven forbid we take out a row of pews in the center to make space. Because tradition.
Some churches, the main part of the church and the sanctuary are not accessible because the only option is stairs. So to get to a bathroom during service, you have to exit the sanctuary, walk around the building to a main door, enter said door, and then get to a bathroom.
All while hoping that a door is unlocked or you have to actually find someone with a key to let you in to go to the bathroom.
This doesn't even take into account the fact that most churches do not have automatic bathroom doors.
But churches, are accessible, right?!
This is just one of the many structural things keeping people out of churches. That doesn't even get into the attitudes they face, the lack of welcome and inclusivity.
I've lived with my disability my entire life, and still there are people in the church who are convinced that they know my abilities better than I do. They're also the same people dead said against me having any kind of church responsibility.
They're not afraid to announce it either to anyone who will listen.
That leaves people alienated and often feeling like they don't belong in a church space.
So many leave or get pushed out sick of the inaccessibility, the attitudes, and loneliness that all of those factors can bring.
Where do you go, if you're seeking God, and the church isn't a welcome space?
Where do you go, if church, isn't physically possible?
For many, church isn't always physically possible. Even if your church is semi or even fully accessible, a person needs to be well enough to use it.
And disabled, and chronically ill people know that this is not always the case.
But there is no solution, within the church for disabled and chronically ill.
Covid, forced accessibility in many ways that disabled people had been asking for, for years. Sadly, as soon as people started believing that "covid was over" all those accessibility features that were implemented in many places, where then taken away.
Disabled and chronically ill were once again on their own.
Faith is not to be lived in a vacuum.
We have so much technology at our disposal and yet the church and many of those in the church refuse to embrace it in new ways that lets everyone be included, have a voice, and take up space in the church.
But that doesn't stop disabled and chronically ill from seeking.
So I decided to start writing. Under faith and spoons.
The space where faith and disability come together. Inside and outside of the church.