Anabaptist Theology and Supportive Care
for Persons with Disabilities

As heirs of the 16th century Reformation movement called Anabaptism, Mennonites and related groups view the Bible from the perspective of these radical reformers who attempted to recapture the life and vision of the New Testament church.

Anabaptist theology shapes ADNet's vision of the church as an inclusive community that offers supportive care to those living with disabilities. Christine Guth, ADNet Program Associate, has prepared an outline suggesting  implications of particular Anabaptist beliefs for inclusion of people with disabilities.

You may download Christine's entire outline in PDF format. The outline draws on Anabaptist theology as expressed in Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, a faith statement adopted in 1995 by the largest North American Mennonite groups.  Below are major themes from Supportive Care with quotes from (and links to)  related articles in the Confession of Faith. The Supportive Care booklet can be ordered on the right.

Themes:

Reconciling Community:
“In Christ, we are reconciled with God and brought into the reconciling community of God's people.”  (8.Salvation)
     Since salvation involves twofold reconciliation (with God and with human beings), it occurs not in isolation but in the context of community. All human beings come to God and to the reconciling community in brokenness.

Salvation and discipleship
“Our response [to the good news of the love of God] includes …joining the fellowship of the redeemed
and showing forth the obedience of faith in word and deed."  (8. Salvation)
     Participation in the fellowship of the redeemed and faithful living are inseparable from other appropriate responses to God's gift of grace. As we share in the body of Christ we experience salvation.

The church as sign of God's reign
“The church is the new community of disciples sent into the world to proclaim the reign of God and to provide a foretaste of the church's glorious hope.” (9. Church of Jesus Christ)
     The church embodies God's promise of a new humanity, the reconciliation of all humanity in rudimentary form. We express this belief as we pray and sing: "Kindle in us love's compassion, so that everyone may see in our fellowship the promise of the new humanity" (Hymnal: A Worship Book, 420).

Mutual commitment and care
“Commitment to one another is shown in loving one another as God loves, in sharing material and spiritual resources, in exercising mutual care and discipline, and in showing hospitality to all.” (9. Church of Jesus Christ)
     Commitment to one another is expressed concretely in diverse forms. Loving as God loves is a means of expressing commitment to the body available to those whose disability makes it difficult to express commitment to Christ verbally.

An interdependent, inclusive family
“The church is the household, or family, of God. …The church welcomes all people who join themselves to Christ to become part of the family of God.” (9. Church of Jesus Christ)
     Metaphors of household and family suggest interdependence and inclusion without regard to age and ability.

Service and mission
“Christ invites all Christians to minister to each other in the church and on behalf of the church beyond its boundaries.”  (15. Ministry and Leadership)
“Just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me” Matt 25:40.
     In sharing with the hungry, thirsty, naked, estranged, imprisoned (those in human need), we encounter Christ himself. Our response to this encounter is a fundamental measure of faithfulness (Matt 25:46). But balance is needed, since viewing others as "the least of these" can encourage condescension.