Overview

Inclusion is More Than Being--a House of Prayer for All Peoples Everyone wants to belong--in their community at large and especially their faith-based community. Nearly 20 percent of people live with a disability or mental health condition, which means so many families--maybe even yours--are dealing with these issues for their loved one. The one place everyone should feel like they belong is their house of worship and other faith-based community organizations. From Longing to Belonging is a new approach to inclusion. Author Shelly Christensen, M.A., a leader in faith community disability inclusion, provides step-by-step guidance to any faith-based organization committed to welcoming, supporting, and including people with disabilities or mental health conditions and those who love them. From Longing to Belonging will help your faith community take a new look at inclusion and belonging and learn how to welcome and include everyone. From Longing to Belonging is a comprehensive approach to inclusion of people with disabilities and mental health conditions written by one of the leading voices in the faith community disability inclusion movement. Based on Shelly Christensen's work with congregations and faith-based organizations, people with disabilities, mental health conditions, and families, this book guides churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship to take their good intentions and turn them into actions--so that each and every person can participate and contribute how they wish. Other faith-based organizations-including seminaries and university religious studies programs, social service agencies, community centers, youth groups, camps, arts venues, and philanthropic organizations-can advance services, supports, and participation by people with disabilities and mental health conditions. As Shelly Christensen was researching and framing From Longing to Belonging, she recalled the iconic text from Isaiah 56:7, ""For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."" Faith communities often quoted this text to let seekers in on how inclusive they were. But the truth is, this phrase only tells part of the story. Shelly explored the whole text of Isaiah to 56:7. What she read astounded her. Here was the truest understanding of inclusion she'd ever seen--God's definition of what it means to belong and be included. ""I will bring them to My holy mount, and I will cause them to rejoice in My house of prayer, their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon My altar, for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."" Based on this text, Shelly developed a process that goes well beyond what faith communities are currently doing to build a true culture of belonging and inclusion. Shellly has developed and written about a new approach based on her experiences helping many different faith-based organizations. She gives us an understanding of what the terms ""inclusion,"" and ""belonging"" mean through the stories she tells, including her own as the parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder. The book covers many aspects of inclusion in faith communities and religious organizations, including worship, social inclusion, religious education from preschool through adulthood, camping, youth groups, life cycle events, parenting, and grief and loss. This book is based on two concepts, both equally important in a faith community's journey-The Spirit of Belonging and The Structure of Inclusion.

Full Product Details

9781946195272

Table of Contents

Reviews

Drawn from her years of experience as a mother, a parent, an advocate, a program developer, a collaborator, a partner, and a leader, Shelly Christensen asks us to examine our feelings and experiences of belonging to our own faith communities. What follows is an organized guide to what Shelly has learned, sometimes the hard way, from her own work and that of many others. The stories that Shelly tells, and the empowering paths she proposes to get to the place and time where you have your own, are what belonging is about. Enjoy the trip! Bill Gaventa, M.Div. Director, Summer Institute on Theology and Disability Shelly Christensen has created an invaluable how to guide for faith communities with From Longing to Belonging. The book speaks to the personal challenges and possibilities of a parent of a child with disabilities and how that translated into a call to action for faith communities. Shelly outlines the need for advocacy, empathy, and resilience. as she speaks to individuals and faith communities as to the necessity of making one's house of prayer for all people. The book stands on a powerful faith based foundation that, key to all people is the basic need to belong and feel valued, just because they exist. From Longing to Belonging is an essential tool for clergy and laity who wish to spread wide their tent of meeting. Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min Director: Jewish Sacred Aging(R) In From Longing to Belonging, Shelly Christensen provides a comprehensive resource for understanding and developing successful inclusive efforts in faith communities. Drawing on her extensive personal and professional experience in the disability field, Shelly breaks down the components of both the why and the how of successful inclusion efforts, giving faith communities a path to developing congregations that are more than a place to be included, but a place to belong. I have no doubt that From Longing to Belonging will quickly become a go to resource for faith communities looking to begin or develop inclusion efforts. It will certainly be one of the first that I recommend to congregations that seek consultation and support from our organization. Karen Jackson Executive Director Faith Inclusion Network of Hampton Roads Author, Loving Samantha

Author Information

Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD is an award-winning international author, speaker, consultant, and leader in the field of faith community inclusion of people with disabilities and mental health conditions. For nearly two decades Shelly has walked with diverse congregations and faith-based organizations to guide and inspire them to support belonging and inclusion in all aspects of community life.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available