Disability Ministries

Find Your Hopeful Place

Our church belongs to Christ, and our Disability Ministry is called to warmly, and without hesitation, invite all people to connect, participate and work together. There is a place here for everyone.

Relationships First

When we begin by knowing a person — not a label — we open the way to see their unique, Spirit-given gifts. Every person is called to worship, serve and help build up the body of Christ, offering their talents for the good of the whole.

Growing in Faith Together

Our life as church is richer when people of all abilities share their gifts and interests in worship and ministry. Together, we see the body of Christ fully alive, vibrant and reflecting God’s wholeness in our shared life and mission.

People seated at tables holding hands together at a large indoor gathering, including a person using a wheelchair

Related Ministries

We wholeheartedly affirm that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities share the Spirit-given gifts and faith needs of all God’s people. In the ELCA, we minister with and among them, honoring their place in God’s kingdom and celebrating how they enrich the body of Christ.

Intellectual/Developmental Disability

Gifts Without Limits

Lutherans see the Spirit in all people. The Evangelical Lutheran Deaf Association, an ELCA partner, uplifts the deaf community through advocacy, global mission, youth outreach, interpreter training and a biennial conference — empowering faith, belonging and leadership in Christ’s church.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Empowered to Belong

Helping to prepare church leaders for more inclusive, justice-centered ministry, the ELCA provides worship and education materials in Braille, large print and audio formats.

Blind and Visually Impaired

Inclusion in Every Form

When people with mental illness are welcomed as their full, authentic selves, the body of Christ is made whole. Their vulnerability is a gift. Together, we can proclaim God’s love, seek justice, offer care and transform how the world treats mental illness.

Mental Illness

Beloved, Not Broken