Advancing Accessible Worship
Perspectives of Disability Ministry Leaders
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22112216 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Edward W Carter (0000-0001-7153-2782, Baylor University, corresponding author), Madeline Pettit (0009-0004-9655-1292, Baylor University), Kari Maddox (0009-0005-5495-2773, Baylor University), Ashley Westover (Baylor University), Jason L Le Shana (0009-0001-6106-9840, Baylor University), Tessa Nelson-Neigum (University of Wisconsin–Madison) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 127-143 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Disability & Religion (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2331-2521 • E-ISSN: 2331-253X |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/23312521.2025.2531800 |
| OpenAlex | W4413085627 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 23 |
Worship services are central to life together as a church. However, the ways and spaces in which faith communities gather for communal worship can unintentionally exclude people with disabilities and their families. In this study, we held a community conversation with 125 church and denominational leaders from across the country to explore practical ways of advancing accessible worship. These disability ministry leaders provided hundreds of ideas for addressing 15 dimensions of worship services (e.g., architecture, communication, contributions, postures, sensory factors, supports). They also identified seven categories of barriers that can hinder the meaningful involvement of members with disabilities. Based on these data, we offer recommendations for research and practice focused on making worship services accessible for every member of the body of Christ
Christian ministry · Political science · Sociology · Worship · Family and Disability Support Research · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Law · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Spirituality, religiosity, aging and health in global perspective
Research on Disability and Congregational Inclusion
Toward Accessible Worship
An Exploratory Study of Attitudes toward Autism Amongst Church-Going Christians in the South East of England, United Kingdom
“We Should All Be Welcome
The Perceptions of Persons with Disabilities, Primary Caregivers and Church Leaders regarding Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in a Methodist Congregation
Re-imagining church through autism
Application of the World Café to Disability Issues
Community Conversations on Faith and Disability
Religion and Disability
A Preliminary National Survey of Accessible Features of Churches in the United States
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |