Community is one of the hallmarks of Anabaptism. From the 16th century martyrs came the strong conviction that one could not be a true Christian in isolation. Especially in the difficult times of struggle and testing, drawing closer to God meant also drawing upon the physical, emotional and spiritual resources of brothers and sisters in the faith.

Mennonite and Brethren families have historically been characterized by strong ties to each other and the church. However, living farther from biological families in our more fast-paced urban society has caused us to re-evaluate what it means to live in community. Many other faith traditions are cultivating the value of community in the body of Christ.

Persons with mental illness, as well as developmental and physical disabilities, often reveal the margins of our community and our caring. The extent to which our churches can include persons on the fringes shows our commitment to be a community for everyone, open to embracing all of the gifts God sends our way.

Families that care for persons with disabilities and mental illness need the surrounding care and support of the church. By modeling the caring community, we witness to the wider society about the unconditional love of God.

The following are links to sites that pay particular attention to including persons with mental illness and other disabilities in the life of the community. These websites and organizations either share a Christian perspective or reveal a perspective which closely parallels the Anabaptist view of community.

Companion Resources
Developed out of the pastoral experience of ADNet Director, Paul Leichty, Companion Resources looks at how technology can help to build rather than be a barrier to true community. Includes a practical perspective and plenty of links to helpful sites.

Gentle Teaching
The concept of Gentle Teaching, as taught by John McGee, has found a ready reception by many Mennonite-related disabilities services providers. McGee's approach to building community is to start with the one-on-one relationships in the home to enable persons with many fears and much pain to experience safety, acceptance, and love. The website has a wealth of material including complete books by John McGee available free for downloading.