Inclusive Ministry
by Sandy Boyles
We are a church embracing individuals and families of many abilities and disabilities. We believe that every person needs access to God. And, indeed, we are blessed with a number of circumstances that help us make this happen:
We are a small but understanding church family.
We have a taskforce called “SNAP†(Special Needs Accessibility Project). It addresses the special needs of individuals and families to ensure that they are included within worship and the other activities of the church. The taskforce is well linked to the wider church family.
We also have flexible structures that allow us to adapt our worship life to the needs of new families. We provide respite care during worship and other events if provided advanced notice. We know how important it is for families to have respite time, even if it’s only during the hour of worship. Our church library has a growing section with literature on developmental disabilities.
But what is new for 2008?
SNAP completed and refined its confirmation curriculum for students with developmental disabilities. Rev. Hartmut started with several confirmation curricula for special needs students that he had received from the Boggs Center at UMDNJ. From this he compiled theological content and preliminary learning goals, all adapted to the needs of a congregation of the Reformed Church in America. Then, special education teachers Heather and Dan Epstein used the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) technique to develop programs, or learning units, for Walter Boyles, an 18-year old with autism and mental retardation. Heather, Hartmut and Sandy (Walter’s mom) used these programs to teach Walter the curriculum. Since the programs had never been used before, there was a lot of mid-course correction and adaptation, but finally Walter mastered the programs he needed to in order for him to be confirmed. Other church members volunteered their time helping Walter with his studies. David Waanders and John Coakley helped Walter understand that in our church a pastor wears a special robe. Gary and Lauren Bernhofer used Gary’s knowledge of ABA and autism to help out in several different ways, including being substitute teachers for Walter’s weekly lessons.
Once Walter had learned the required knowledge, we decided to set his confirmation day for May 18, 2008, Trinity Sunday. He met with the elders and several questions were asked and answered about the unusual circumstances of his confirmation. Sandy sent out invitations to family, friends and people from Walter’s school, the Eden Institute in Princeton, NJ. Church members signed up to bring Walter’s favorite foods to a special coffee hour to follow the confirmation service.
Â
On the big day, the Boyles and Bernhofer families came early to set up fellowship hall. Meanwhile, all sorts of wonderful food came pouring into the building. Cold items were arranged on several tables in Fellowship Hall.  Lauren raced out of the end of the service to put all the hot items out.Â
The service that followed was a historic event, not just for our church, but for the autism community. There are not enough adjectives to describe the service. It was beautiful, spiritual, touching and joyous. There was not a dry eye in the house by the end of Hartmut’s sermon. Visitors and members alike said later that they had never seen such a moving event and they were all renewed by witnessing it.
With the curriculum in place, First Reformed Church is ready to confirm, or assist other churches that would like to confirm, individuals with autism (or other individuals with neurological issues).  For more information please contact hartmutkramermills@firstreformedchurch.net.
We invite individuals with disabilities, their families and/or teachers to join us in worship and fellowship. Please come and try us out. Meet committed parents, teachers and a loud and funny group of children, and people who struggle with similar questions during the week. “Come and see,†Jesus said to the first disciples once (John 1:39). The invitation still stands.
Â
