Faithful presence: a practice of belonging with people experiencing profound autism
This paper engages David Fitch’s idea of faithful presence with the lived experiences of autism to explore how the church can embody the concept of unity in diversity. To belong as God’s family with people considered the least among us begins with seeing them as persons, not projects. Next, the powe...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge
2022
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| In: |
International journal for the study of the Christian church
Year: 2022, Volume: 22, Issue: 1, Pages: 21-34 |
| Further subjects: | B
Disability
B Inclusion B body of christ B Belonging B faithful presence B profound autism |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This paper engages David Fitch’s idea of faithful presence with the lived experiences of autism to explore how the church can embody the concept of unity in diversity. To belong as God’s family with people considered the least among us begins with seeing them as persons, not projects. Next, the power differential in a giver-receiver relationship needs to be addressed. Then, following the lead of the Spirit into Christ’s presence, church members submit to one another mutually and equally, receiving each other as gifts of God. Finally, as the body of Christ, we tend to Christ in our shared life inside and outside the church. In the process, all in the body encounter Christ, who transforms our hearts towards loving one another, desiring to share each other’s burdens and joy, thus becoming one in Christ. |
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| ISSN: | 1747-0234 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal for the study of the Christian church
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/1474225X.2022.2035580 |