[Vision2020] Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive

Sat Aug 5 10:01:30 PDT 2006

Not only that, but what does that tell the children who will be attending 
that VBS?  That even though Jesus healed and was around special people, they 
shouldn't be?  That there is something to fear about this girl?  That even 
though they may see her and be around her in church and other functions, VBS 
is a "handicapped free zone"?

I have a Downs Syndrome person in my family.  I have been around groups of 
them a lot over the last 30 years and have even worked with them.  Only 
twice in that time have I felt that I could not handle one of them and that 
more based on size of the person than their actions.  Whomever is pastor of 
this church has no idea what he is forcing those children to miss out on.  
Downs Syndrome people are some of the most huggy, friendly, forgiving, 
honest, helpful folks I have ever met.

Being "different" does not mean "being shunned is acceptable."

Shame on that pastor and shame on the people that follow his lead in this 
particular line of action.

J  :]

>From: "keely emerinemix" <kjajmix1 at msn.com>
>To: sslund at adelphia.net, vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor: Church is noninclusive
>Date: Sat, 05 Aug 2006 06:34:13 -0700
>
>I can't imagine how the aims of Vacation Bible Church were met by excluding 
>a supervised woman with a disability in its program, and I hope this 
>prompts the church to rethink more than just its VBS outreach.
>
>Thanks, Saundra.
>
>keely
>
>
>From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at adelphia.net>
>To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor:  Church is noninclusive
>Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2006 23:04:35 -0700
>
>Dear Visionaries:
>
>It's not often I'm moved to heartbroken tears by a letter to the editor, 
>but
>it happened today.  For those who don't subscribe to the Moscow-Pullman
>Daily News, I'm pasting the letter below my signature.  I've been around
>long enough to know that there are always at least two sides to every 
>story,
>and this letter tells only one side.
>
>I hope everyone takes the 45 seconds or so it will take to read the letter,
>but I'm hoping for more than that:  my fervent prayer is that each of you
>who reads this will find out what your place of worship would do in this
>situation.  Let your feelings be known, and demand that inclusive policies
>be more than policies -- insist that inclusiveness be practiced.
>
>And, if any of you happen to know the family in question, please pass along
>my heartfelt prayers for them and for Ginger . . . and for their church.
>
>Please don't forget to scroll down to read the letter!
>
>
>Wiping Away Tears of Sorrow,
>Saundra Lund
>Moscow, ID
>
>The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
>nothing.
>- Edmund Burke
>
>Published: 08-04-2006
>Church is noninclusive
>
>I am writing so I can stand up for a disabled person who has no voice to
>challenge the policy of a big church.  Ginger has Down syndrome.  Since the
>death of her mother six years ago, her sister in Florida has been taking
>care of her.  Now it's my wife's turn to take care of her.  She just came
>here to live with us.  My wife is doing her best to do what's good for
>Ginger.  We take her out to numerous places so that she is "mainstreamed."
>
>We have lived in different parts of the United States, and this is the 
>first
>time we have had any issues with organizations who provide services.  We
>attended this particular church that we thought had great youth programs.
>So, when Ginger came to live with us, we placed her in a first-grade Sunday
>school class.  The teacher was more than welcoming and accepting to her, as
>well as the other students in her classroom.
>
>Although she is 48 years old physiologically, her mental age is about that
>of a first grader.  She is well mannered, loves to color, write letters to
>her sisters, reads at first-grade level, etc.
>
>This church was having a vacation Bible school from July 17-21.  We had
>hoped to place her in the first-grade class, however, we were told the
>director of children's ministries had made a decision along with the head
>pastor to exclude Ginger from the program.
>
>I don't understand.  An institution like a church promoting "inclusiveness"
>didn't let Ginger participate.  My wife was going to be one of the helpers
>at the vacation Bible school, so that she could keep an eye on Ginger if
>something happened.
>
>I didn't know where to turn so I am writing this letter.
>
>
>Yoshi Smith, Pullman
>
>
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