The NC UMC Conference Committee on Disability Concerns

Our Purpose

Equipping Healthy Congregations in offering radical Christian hospitality

to persons with disabilities and their families.

The General Conference of the UMC and Disabilities. Persons with disabilities figure prominently in the ongoing healing and inclusion ministry of Jesus Christ. In the United Methodist Church, responsibility for programs on behalf of disabled persons resides primarily with the General Board of Global Ministries. Individual United Methodist congregations and Conferences have primary responsibility to make facilities as "barrier free" as possible. The General Board of Church and Society advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities and in support of the Americans with Disabilities Act to assure that disability issues are addressed in legislation that comes before Congress.

The General Conference of the UMC and Mental Illness. The resource page of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society describes their legislative advocacy, the work of the UM Mental Illness Network, and information and links to their "Caring Community Program" and "Awareness" resources. 

The Model UM Annual Conference and Mental Illness. The movement within the UMC to focus upon those disabled with mental illness first took root in the Virginia Conference. In response to the vision of the 1992 General Conference of The United Methodist Church, Virginia United Methodists established a Coordinator for Ministry with Persons with Mental Illnesses in January 1995.  An advisory committee evolved into the Virginia Annual Conference Mental Illness Committee. In January 1999, the name was changed to reflect the active interfaith nature of the ministry: Virginia Interfaith Committee on Mental Illness Ministries (VICOMIM).

Since 1995, educational materials have been made available free at Annual Conference each year. On October 8, 1996 the committee put the Virginia Conference in The United Methodist Church history book: it was the first time a United Methodist Church conference had planned and hosted a training event for pastors on the topic of mental illness.  This event answered the question "Why Should the Church be Involved in Mental Illness Ministry?" Video and audiotapes of this training event are available.

The North Carolina Conference of the UMC. From the intentional example of the Virginia Conference, other United Methodist Conferences, such as our own, have been motivated to involve churches in mental illness ministry. Beginning in 2002, three resolutions concerning mental illness and the church were passed by the NC Conference of the UMC. The approval of a motion for a task force in June of 2005 brought about the formation of this Committee on Disability Concerns on March 28, 2006.

We have chosen three primary themes: 1) Mental Health, 2) Eldercare, and 3) Support for Caregivers.

We are also very concerned about the clergy who are on incapacity (disability) leave in this Conference. We will meet with the conference Incapacity Committee in January to discuss our mutual concern.

The officers, other members and persons related to this committee are John Crowe-Chair, Gwen Henderson-Vice Chair, Regina Dickens-Secretary Eilene Bisgrove, Dr. Ed Hoeper, Jim Huskins, Ed Morrison, Charles Smith

We are eager to lead the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church in becoming very sensitized to issues of physical and mental disabilities among our church and community members, and possibly latching on to Elder Day Care as a focal point for our congregations along with providing Care for the Caregiver.

Something to ponder.

"Our reaction to those who have dropped exhausted on the road of life is the ultimate test of our personal understanding of God's grace." Bishop Malcolm Smith.

For more information contact:
 
  John M. Crowe, D.Min., APC
 Member, NAMI-NC 
 Member, NC Mental Health Association
 Incapacity Leave
 
 E-Mail drcrowe@nccumc.org
 Phone: 919 759-2146
 

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