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Bill C-384, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

Bill C-384, "Right to Die with Dignity Act," would legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. This proposed legislation threatens people with disabilities. We have more information for you here on C-384 including talking points and, for Canadians, how to contactyour MP.

Where do we start?

A brief handbook for inclusion: The staff and volunteers of Disability Concerns have worked together to produce a brief, idea-packed resource for churches to get started with disability ministry. All Christian Reformed Disability Advocates have already received a paper copy. We offer it free for download here: Handbook for Disability Advocates. Feel free to print it yourself, or to include sections of it in your church newsletter. If your church would like one or more paper copies, please contact us.

Everybody Belongs, Everybody Serves

Most churches are very good at helping people through short-term crises such as accidents and illnesses. But churches have more trouble dealing with someone who is not going to “get better.” The paid and volunteer staff of Disability Concerns help churches to include all of God’s people in their life and ministry so that all members know that they belong and can use their gifts fully.

A half-time director as well as administrative assistants working part-time in Grand Rapids, Mich., and in Burlington, Ont., comprise the paid staff. Their work is multiplied by a network of hundreds of volunteers who serve individual churches as church advocates, and who serve entire classes as regional advocates.

Disability Concerns committees in Canada, in Chicago, and in Michigan support the work of the regional advocates. The Canadian committee holds a training conference every spring in Ontario for the church advocates, and the Michigan committee sponsors an annual training workshop in the fall.

Disability Concerns also cooperates with Friendship Ministries in its ministry to people with cognitive impairments in the United States and Canada.

Quick Facts

  • Disability Concerns communicates with churches primarily through its network of volunteers, but also through its newsletter, Breaking Barriers.
  • Studies by the U.S. Census and Statistics Canada indicate that about 17 per cent of their populations live with at least one disability. That translates to over 46,000 Christian Reformed people, or 17 out of every one-hundred people in your church, who live day in and day out with a disability.

Disability Ministry Workshops

Healthy churches train their members in warmly welcoming people and encouraging them to use their gifts. Disability Concerns encourages you to consider the following workshops:

  • October 25 - November 22 – "Spirit and Pride: Reimagining Disability in Jewish and Christian Communities" Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information email plymouthp@wmis.net.

Disability Consultation

Disability Concerns is available to offer assistance by phone, letter, email, or (when possible) in person on matters related to the needs of persons with disabilities, their families, and their churches.

We have general information on a wide range of disabilities and are in contact with organizations serving people with disabilities in a variety of ways. We do not staff licensed counselors, nor do we operate facilities offering shelter, work, or professional services to people with disabilities. However, we will give any help we can in establishing contact between inquirers and such facilities.

We are available to plan jointly with a church or a group of churches conduct workshops that train people to organize disability ministries, whether they be respite programs or support groups of various types. Support groups may be for people with a specific disability or group of disabilities (developmental, emotional, mental, physical, sensory), or they may be support groups for parents or siblings of people with such disabilities.

Disability Concerns provides:

 

Contact Us

Christian Reformed Disability Concerns
Rev. Mark Stephenson, Director

(United States)
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560  United States
Phone: 616-224-0844 or 888-463-0272
Fax: 616-224-0834
E-mail: disabilityconcerns@crcna.org

(Canada)
3475 Mainway
PO Box 5070 STN LCD 1
Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8  Canada
Phone: 905-336-2920 (x 279) or 800-730-3490
Fax: 905-336-8344
E-mail: disabilityconcerns@crcna.ca