Toward the Goal

Barriers that people who are differently-abled encounter in our congregations:

• Architectural barriers - Anything that keeps someone from physically entering a building or fully participating in the life of the congregation.
• Attitudinal barriers - Attitudes such as fear, avoidance, pity, or exclusion that keep people who are differently-abled from feeling welcome in the congregation.

God's love calls us to press on "Toward the Goal" of full inclusion. Congregations can:

• Remove any architectural barriers
• Welcome the presence of people who are differently-abled
• Invite people from the community who are differently-abled to be a part of the congregation
• Use the gifts of people who are differently-abled in the life and ministry of he congregation
• Actively encourage people who are differently-abed to answer God's call to ministry
• Provide large print materials, audio taped or brailed worship and educational materials
• Ask for suggestions from people who are differently-abled
• Welcome rostered leaders who are differently-abled into the congregation

To order a copy of "Toward the Goal," contact Augsburg Fortress at 800/328-4648. Please have the resource's ISBN number handy when you call: 6-0001-6928-0.