(Dis)Abling church spaces
Walking the talk of inclusivity in Zimbabwe
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21492818 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kimion Tagwirei (0000-0002-2109-1170, North-West University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-09 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0259-9422 • E-ISSN: 2072-8050 |
| Publisher | AOSIS (PUBLISHER • ZA) |
| DOI | 10.4102/hts.v81i1.10677 |
| OpenAlex | W4412068684 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 18 |
Since time immemorial, the Church has had much to say about people living with disabilities in and beyond its walls. Commendably, in Zimbabwe, the Church has established and supported schools for people with hearing, visual, physical and psychological impairments. A lot has been said and published about the Church and disabilities, especially concerning church-driven empowerment and inclusion. However, in reality, and hypocritically, infrastructural, liturgical, leadership, ministerial and related spaces of the Church have remained inaccessible and exclusive. Transforming Church spaces is crucial to ensure comprehensive inclusivity in Zimbabwe. In view of unwelcoming ecclesial spaces in the Zimbabwean context, this article applied Osmer’s practical theological methodology of observing, interpreting, assessing and strategic problem-solving to review the Church’s talk and deeds of inclusivity. It argued that exclusivity is self-defeating, because it contradicts the inclusive missio dei, missio ecclesiae, and neglects the vulnerability of everyone to disabilities. While appreciating past and present utterances and contributions of the Church to achieve inclusion, this article contends that real inclusivity will be realised only when the Church lives out its inclusionary words by realising accessibility for everyone, regardless of impairments and diversities. Contribution: Reconciling the talk and walk of the Church on (dis)abilities by reviewing church spaces makes a crucial contribution towards transforming African ecclesiologies, theology of disability, missiology and development
Christian Church · Christianity · Empowerment · Missiology · Political science · Sociology · Theology · Christian Theology and Mission · Contemporary Christian Leadership and Education · Gender Studies · History · Law · Religion, Society, and Development
Involvement of people with disabilities in church matters in relation to gender equality in Tanzania
Political violence and faceless perpetrators in Zimbabwe
The primacy of liturgy in Christianity
Addressing Accessibility Within the Church
Pastoral ministry and persons with disabilities
Inclusion
Speaking in signs
Inclusion
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |