[Faith-talk] What do you want sighted pastors and church members toknow?

[Lauren Merryfield]

Hi,
See below:
What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across
the grass and loses itself in the sunset.

~ Crowfoot, Blackfoot
join me at
www.catlines.com and
www.LettingTheCatOutOfTheBag.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Aikens" <gpaikens at gmail.com>
To: "for the discussion of faith and religion Faith-talk" 
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2013 2:33 PM
Subject: [Faith-talk] What do you want sighted pastors and church members 
toknow?


> Hi friends,
> I'm working on a project for my denomination's center for the blind and am 
> putting together some resources for pastors and church members who have 
> questions about interacting with blind people in their congregations.  My 
> goal is to debunk major myths and misconceptions about blindness from a 
> religious perspective.  I want to be thorough and thought I would ask on 
> this list for suggestions people have of topics to cover.
>
> What are the biggest challenges and barriers that blind people face when 
> visiting a new church or trying to become a member of a new congregation?
**Too many people not talking to me. They don't get close enough to me to 
find out that I'm not more fragile than they are, less intelligent than they 
are, or all that different from them. If they would just interact more with 
me, it would help greatly.

If they would not see me as "deformed" "broken" "not whole" or as less than 
themselves. I am okay the way I am and they need to learn that.
  What challenges and barriers do blind people encounter in churches even 
after long time attendance?
**Not being included on committees, not being given the same information 
other members have access to, being thought of as unwhole and needing to be 
fixed or healed, etc. >
> What do you wish you could express to pastors and church members that 
> might change their attitudes?
> I want them to hear me and actually listen to what I say. I want them to 
> realize I have an interesting and helpful perspective on life that they 
> would do well to hear. I want them to know that God made me exactly the 
> way I am to give others the opportunity to interact with me as a creation 
> of God and that God loves me just the way I am and that kind of 
> unconditional love is what I want to give and receive in the church 
> setting. I want them to know that it hurts when I am excluded from any 
> aspects of church activity. I want to be included wherever I can be of 
> service, whether it is choir, committees, planning social activities, etc.

I have been able to participate in music in several churches but not much of 
anything else. One problem I have is that I tend to be rather quiet and shy 
so it is not in my nature to be loud, obnoxious and force myself on people 
to include me. I know some blind people who do that. I used to be really 
embarrassed by it but now I might understand why they do it.
> What would you say to a pastor who is concerned about being able to reach 
> out to the blind people who visit his or her church?
> Just reach out to blind people the same as you would with anyone else. 
> Visit them either at church or in their homes.  Call them. Emamil them.
> I'm looking for both negative and positive experiences you have had as a 
> blind person trying to get involved in a local church.  What made your 
> experiences positive or negative?  Successful or unsuccessful?
> **I was in one church where some members didn't want me to take my turn as 
> platform assistant and provider of music because I "didn't look like a 
> good example of God's creation." In that same church, a couple decided not 
> to give my daughter and me rides anymore because "You are too negative. If 
> you were more positive, you wouldn't stay blind." I'm not kidding; that's 
> what they said.

I have successfully been part of several church choirs and those experiences 
have been good. My last choir director was almost too much into being 
politically correct, but at least he treated me as an equal more than anyone 
ever has. I really appreciated that.

I have also read poetry or other readings in church, which I've enjoyed 
doing and I think it is good for the congregations to see someone reading 
braille.

One time, the power went out during choir practice and my sister (who is 
also blind) and I were the only ones who could sing our parts correctly. 
That was funny and interesting. We also led them into the choir loft, steps 
and all.
Let us know what you come up with. It could be really helpful!
Thanks
Lauren
> Thank you for your thoughtful responses.
>
> Blessings,
> Greg Aikens
>
>
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