Results of Bethsaida Team Mini-Conference "They Won't Come if They Can't Go"
Participants’ survey responses to the “They Won’t Come if They Can’t Go” Mini-Conference on Funding Accessibility was enthusiastic, with over 80% ranking the workshops as excellent and above average. Convened by the Bethsaida Team of the Diocese of Newark on Saturday, May 14, 2005, it is the Team’s initial effort to provide much needed expert advice for diocesan congregations seeking to upgrade church facilities to make them accessible to people with disabilities. Two architects, two financial experts, and an expert in environmental and energy issues conducted the workshops.
Blessings showered upon this ministry of inclusion and accessibility as the conference venue, the workshops and their experts, and the attendees, themselves, contributed to an experience that went above and beyond the expectations of the Bethsaida Team. The first of the blessings was the hospitality of St. Mark’s Church in Teaneck, which hosted the event, providing a welcoming and accessible space for the workshops and, supervised by The Rev. Randall Day and parishioner Bill Hurbaugh, included attention to every comfort imaginable including a delicious and healthful lunch.
The Rev. Bill Gaventa, Executive Director of the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Ministries, gave the opening address to all attendees, introducing the concept of grace and accessibility. Gaventa’s story-telling skills held the rapt attention of the audience and there were tears, smiles and laughter in reaction to the story of Cal, an autistic woman who suffered the repeated rejection and abuse of family, the community, healthcare agencies and even many churches who invited her in, but always with an “except.” Finally, Cal finds a church and we leave her looking at a church bulletin board that says “Cal ____ has been accepted as a member in our church,” her hands uncontrollably fluttering with joy because there is no “except.”
“It isn’t just that we must minister to people with disabilities,” Gaventa said, “we must allow ourselves to find ways to accept their spiritual gifts to us.”
The three fundraising workshops included: capital campaigns led by Ms. Susan H. Stover, a Senior Manager with graham-Pelton Consulting, Inc; grant research and writing which had by far the largest group of attendees and was led by the diocese’s own Ms. Jackie Ross, Development Director for the community Outreach programs of the Diocesan ECD CDC; and funding grants for historic buildings which was led by architect Mr. Ross Sweetland, Supervising Preservation specialist for the New Jersey Historic Trust. Architect Mr. Richard McNealus, a principal of Tuller/McNealus/Feld, Interiours LLC in Manhattan, discussed accessibility options for older churches and was the second largest workshop. The Rev. Fletcher Harper of GreenFaith presented a workshop on environmental and energy choices that both contribute to a better environment and perform efficiencies that could free up financial resources for other uses.
Finally, there were two surprise blessings. In addition to attendees from our diocese, we had two attendees from the Diocese of New Jersey and four attendees outside our denomination – two Methodists and two Presbyterians, making the conference ecumenical.
We also had five people with disabilities attending – two deaf, one blind, and two needing a physically barrier-free environment. Because of the accessibility of St. Mark’s Church, people with disabilities were able to enter and participate in the event in the same way as all other attendees. This conference exemplified the aims of the Bethsaida Team’s misson – that people of all abilities can participate wholeheartedly when the physical and social barriers are removed. In addition to providing attendees with much needed financial and planning information, we also demonstrated the principle behind the movie, “The Field of Dreams” – build it and they will come.
Because of the success of the May conference and the apparent desire and need for information on accessibility, the Team is planning another funding and planning conference, broader in scope, for 2006-2007. Watch for the dates and the news.
On November 9th, 2005 at 7:00p, the Bethsaida Team is presenting a workshop on accessibility for people with mental illness, which are often hidden disabilities and are much more prevalent than we are generally aware. Plan on sending a representative or two from your church to learn more about this issue
The Bethsaida Team has found that targeted workshops and conferences are a good way to bring information to the churches in our diocese and we plan to continue our leadership role in bringing knowledge and understanding of various disability issues to the congregations in the diocese.
