Churches Say They’re Welcoming to Those With Disabilities

Survey finds strong optimism about welcoming disabled, but gaps in preparedness remain.

Pastors and churchgoers assume people with disabilities will feel at home in their church, but congregations haven’t always made sure that would be the case.

A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors and churchgoers finds almost all in both groups believe those with disabilities would feel welcomed and included when coming to their church, even if pastors have grown less confident.

“Being welcoming is a choice. Both pastors and churchgoers are very optimistic that people with disabilities would feel welcomed and included at their church,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “They wouldn’t respond this way if they hadn’t seen their congregation choose to welcome people. But there are many types of disabilities, and churches are likely not this prepared to include them all in activities.”

Jana Magruder serves in Lifeway’s NextGen area and is part of a special needs advisory group for the organization. She said, “Every local church can create places where people of every ability can belong, grow in Christ and serve according to the unique gifts God has given them. The body of Christ is strongest when everyone has a place at the table.”

Welcoming for all?

Virtually all U.S. Protestant pastors (98%) say a person with a disability would feel welcomed and included when coming to their church, including almost 3 in 4 (73%) who strongly agree.

But fewer pastors are very confident their church is creating a welcoming environment for everyone. In a 2019 Lifeway Research study, 81% of U.S. Protestant pastors strongly agreed those with a disability would feel welcomed, compared to 73% today.

“As awareness of the needs associated with various disabilities grows so will the understanding of what it takes to truly include these individuals in the activities of a church. It’s not surprising and is somewhat encouraging that more pastors realize their church could be better prepared to include those with disabilities,” said McConnell.

Churchgoers also believe those with disabilities would feel included in their congregation, but they’re more confident in their ability to welcome people with certain conditions.

Almost all U.S. Protestant churchgoers say those coming to their church would feel welcomed and included if the visitor had a physical disability (97%), dyslexia or other reading challenges (96%) or a cognitive or developmental disability (96%).

Among churchgoers, more than 4 in 5 (82%) strongly agree those with a physical disability would sense a welcoming congregation, while 78% strongly agree concerning those with reading challenges and 75% strongly agree about visitors with a cognitive disability.

Those at average-sized and the largest churches are most confident in their congregations’ ability to extend a welcome to those with a developmental disability. Those at churches with an attendance of 50-99 (98%) and 500 or more (99%) are more likely than those at congregations of 100-499 (94%) to agree.

Accommodations for some?

Almost all U.S. Protestant pastors (98%) believe local churches should make necessary modifications to their church facilities to make them accessible to people with physical disabilities, even when it is not required by law.

The percentage who strongly agree, however, has decreased in the past decade. In the 2019 Lifeway Research study, 82% strongly agreed churches should make those modifications, compared to 76% now.

Most pastors (83%) say their church has made some type of modification to their facilities, activities or volunteer assignments in the past year to help someone at their church with a disability.

Two in 3 churches (66%) did so for someone in a wheelchair. Around half adjusted for someone with a mental health diagnosis (50%), an intellectual disability (48%) or a sensory processing disorder, including autism (46%). Fewer modified for someone who is deaf (27%) or blind (21%). Around half (48%) said they made changes for someone with another type of disability.

Just 17% said they didn’t make changes for any of these in the past year, and less than 1% aren’t sure.

“It is very common for churches to do some extra work to include someone with a disability. Yet the needs are far greater. There are many adults and children with disabilities, and statistically, they are less likely to attend church,” said McConnell.

Pastors at larger churches are more likely to have made such changes. Only 11% of those at congregations of 250 or more say they haven’t made any modifications in the past year for those with disabilities, compared to 18% of pastors at churches between 50-99 and 25% of those with less than 50 in attendance.

Almost all pastors (95%) say they’re trying to care for those with disabilities and their families inside their churches and communities in at least one tangible way.

Three in 4 U.S. Protestant pastors (75%) say they are currently providing financially for families with ongoing needs related to disabilities. Around 2 in 3 (64%) encourage volunteering in community events for people with disabilities, like the Special Olympics.

Most pastors say their church provides an additional teacher to aid a person with disabilities in class (58%) and provides care for family caregivers to give them a break (57%). Fewer (31%) provide classes or events specifically for people with disabilities.

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Only 4% say they aren’t doing any of these, and less than 1% aren’t sure.

Compared to 2019, churches are more likely to provide financially for families (75% v. 70%) and provide an additional teacher for assistance (58% v. 50%) but less likely to encourage volunteering in community events (64% v. 75%).

Pastors at the largest churches, those with 250 or more in attendance, are the most likely to provide an additional teacher (78%) and classes or events for those with disabilities (47%).

Those at rural churches are among the most likely to provide financially for families (82%). Suburban congregations are among the most likely to encourage volunteering in community events (71%) and provide care for family caregivers (65%).

This article was originally published by Lifeway Research