Growing a Healthy Church: A Theological Reflection on Disability Inclusivity in Ghana

Abstract

The interplay of medical, social, cultural and religious factors has led to stigma and marginalization of people with disabilities (PWDs) in the Ghanaian context. Observable church beliefs and practices render the relations between so-called abled-bodied people and people with disabilities (PWDs) as an ‘us and them’ relationship. Ironically, the church is supposed to be a place of welcome, restoration and integration. However, with its emphasis on ‘healing before integration,’ the church space has become a place of exclusion for many PWDs. The study argues that the various ways of modelling disability, and the contemporary Ghanaian Christian response to disability are inadequate and lead to the exclusion of PWDs. The study being a qualitative one used both primary and secondary sources. Observations were made at traditional healing centres and healing and revival church services of some churches in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area (KMA) where PWDs were present. Also, journal articles, books, unpublished dissertations, and church documents on the subject matter were consulted. The study points to the fact that a disability-friendly theology must be constructed in order to guide the church to be disability inclusive and hence engender full participation of PWDs in the various ministries of the church in Ghana. The study recommends ways of constructing a disability-inclusive theology in view of the intersection between Akan traditional religion and contemporary Christian response to disability. This article seeks to contribute to the debate on disability inclusivity in the contemporary Ghanaian church, focusing on its importance in promoting comprehensive healing and inclusion for PWDs.

Keywords

• pwds (persons with disability)
• pentecostalism/neo-pentecostalism
• exclusivity
• inclusivity
• theology of disabilty.