Original Research

Enabling abilities in disabilities: Developing differently abled Christian leadership in Africa

Kimion Tagwirei
Theologia Viatorum | Vol 48, No 1 | a252 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/tv.v48i1.252 | © 2024 Kimion Tagwirei | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 30 April 2024 | Published: 22 July 2024

About the author(s)

Kimion Tagwirei, The Unit for Reformational Theology and the Development of the South African Society, Faculty of Theology, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Abstract

It is heartening to realise that Christianity is inclusively membered by differently abled people. Paradoxically, although the Church has cared for, and engaged with persons living with disabilities (PWDs) throughout history, African Church leadership has been exclusively made up of predominantly identically abled persons. Researchers report that ecclesial, infrastructural, leadership, and ministerial structures do not accommodate PWDs, mainly because of misunderstandings about disabilities, discriminatory traditions, hermeneutics and theologies. Disabilities are often generalised as repercussions of disobedience, sin, curses or defeat by evil spirits and witchcraft. Consequently, PWDs are misjudged as lacking abilities to be effective ecclesial leaders. While calls for inclusivity are loud globally, little research has been done to reconcile disabilities and abilities in ecclesiology and Christian leadership. If the Church merely proclaims but neglects demonstrating inclusivity, the gospel can be mistaken as paying hypocritical lip service in this regard, and rendering the Church exclusive, insensitive and imprisoning when it should be inclusive, sensitive and liberating for everyone, regardless of their impairments and (dis)abilities. Drawing from the inclusivity of Jesus Christ, missionary demands of the Church to minister to, with all creation as well as eschatological reflections, under grounded theory and reviewing related literature, this article unpacks the significance of inclusivity, identifies (dis)abilities and argues that Church authorities should consider, appreciate, accommodate, empower, develop, and enable PWDs to be part of ecclesial leadership for inclusionary transformation in and beyond Church walls.

Contribution: This article advances transformational inclusivity in ecclesiology and Christian leadership.


Keywords

Church; abilities; impairments; disabilities; inclusivity; Christian leadership; integral mission; transformation

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 10: Reduced inequalities

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