The Virginia United Methodist Commission on Disabilities (COD) affirms the responsibility of the Church to be in ministry with all persons, regardless of their physical and/or mental conditions. The COD functions as a resource group to conference boards and agencies to enable persons with all types of disabilities and challenging conditions to participate to the fullest extent possible as members of the Body of Christ on the local, district, and conference levels.
Virginia United Methodist Men have supported this ministry since 1972.
Disability Awareness Sunday Resources
Sunday, July 27, 2025
Disability Awareness Sunday Message
From the Commission on Disability – Virginia Annual Conference
Speaker 1 – Introduction
“Virginia Annual Conference, the Commission on Disability has long advocated for a dedicated day on our conference calendar—a day when churches throughout our connection can come together to observe Disability Awareness Sunday.
We are excited to announce that Disability Awareness Sunday, scheduled for July 27, 2025, is a time to reaffirm our shared commitment to being a church where everyone is welcomed, valued, and included.
Speaker 2
Disability Awareness Sunday is more than a moment of recognition; it’s a call to action. Disability inclusion is not just about accessibility; it is about belonging. As the body of Christ, we are called to recognize and celebrate the gifts of all people, ensuring that no one is left out due to barriers, whether physical, social, or attitudinal.
The Commission on Disability continues to work toward a church where people of all abilities can fully participate—in worship, in leadership, and in the vibrant life of our congregations. We invite you to join us in this important observance as we continue growing into the inclusive body of Christ we are called to be.”
Speaker 2 – Scriptural Foundation
Our call to inclusion is deeply rooted in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 12:22-27, Paul reminds us:
“The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable… If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
This passage challenges us to ask: Do we treat all members of the church as indispensable? Are we actively removing barriers so that every person can serve, lead, and worshipfully? The kingdom of God is not complete until all are included.
Speaker 3 – The Work Before Us
Many churches have taken steps toward accessibility—installing ramps, providing large-print bulletins, or offering ASL interpretation. These are vital improvements, but true inclusion goes deeper.
Disability ministry is not just about accommodations; it is about changing the culture of the church so that people with disabilities are seen as full participants and leaders. It means creating sensory-friendly worship spaces, ensuring leadership opportunities are open to all, and listening to the voices of people with disabilities as we shape our ministries.
Speaker 4 – Call to Action & Prayer
As we observe Disability Awareness Sunday, the Commission on Disability invites each church in the Virginia Annual Conference to take action:
- Listen to the experiences of people with disabilities in your congregation.
- Assess your church’s accessibility and look for areas of improvement.
- Commit to ongoing education and advocacy, ensuring that disability inclusion is not just a conversation for today but a permanent part of our ministry.
Speaker 5 – Materials
To support churches in observing Disability Awareness Sunday, the Commission on Disability has developed a helpful resource designed to guide your planning and participation.
To access these materials, you may find them through the QR Code on the screen or by visiting https://vaumc.org/disabilities/
This resource includes:
- Sermon preparation tools rooted in Scripture and inclusion
- Suggested worship materials and prayers
- Guidance on the use of inclusive and respectful language
- Practical recommendations for making your worship and community spaces more accessible
Our hope is that this guide will assist congregations in creating meaningful worship experiences that reflect the love of Christ and honor the full participation of people of all abilities.
We encourage pastors, worship leaders, and church teams to use this resource as a starting point for deeper engagement in disability inclusion, both on Disability Awareness Sunday and throughout the year.
Speaker 1: The Commission on Disability thanks you for your commitment to inclusion. May we go forward with open hearts and a renewed dedication to being a church where all are truly welcome, and we look forward to celebrating Disability Awareness Sunday alongside you.
All monies donated support the following programs of the COD:
- Accessibility Grants — which assist local churches in working their way toward total accessibility in both church facilities and parsonages.
Program Grants — to assist any church and/or church-related organization wanting to develop new ministries with persons with disabilities. - Camper Scholarships — to help campers who otherwise could not come to Camp Rainbow Connection without full or partial financial assistance.
- Disability Awareness Sunday resources
- Support of Conference Deaf Ministries
- Printing of Materials in Braille for churches, districts, conference events and individuals
- Provision of Resources to the local church, districts, and conference
A large part of the work of the Commission is in the area of education and advocacy.
For more information about the Commission on Disabilities, contact the Missional and Community Engagement Office: Virginia Conference of the UMC, 10330 Staples Mill Road, Suite 100, Glen Allen, VA 23060; phone: (804) 521-1165
Disability Awareness Sunday FAQs (pdf)
Accessibility Audit/Survey (pdf)
Church Accessibility Checklist (pdf)
GBGM Accessibility Audit for Churches (pdf)
That All May Worship brochure (pdf)
Hearing Assistance Devices (pdf)
A Guide to Nurturing Individuals with Disabilities Through Hospitality (pdf)
General Board of Church and Society Bulletin Insert (pdf)
Accessibility and Program Grants (Word)
Scholarship Application (pdf)
UMDHM Grants (pdf)
The Commission on Disabilities is charged with providing advocacy and education on behalf of persons with challenging conditions. In carrying out this mission, the Commission on Disabilities provides support grants for accessibility, and new program ministries. To be considered for grant funds, a church must complete the specific grant application listed below and attach the required items noted in the application. A copy of the Accessibility Audit/Survey must be included with Accessibility Grants. For a copy of the Audit/Survey, click here (pdf).
Accessibility Grants: Grants are given to churches that have identified their architectural barriers and have made plans to remove them. This grant is given to demonstrate that the Commission on Disabilities is supportive of endeavors to allow all people to have full access to the community of saints and the worship of God. The accessibility grants provide supportive funds for ramps, platform lifts, elevators, bathroom renovations, signs and symbols, door modifications, handrails and any other changes needed to EXISTING CHURCH FACILITIES to give access to all persons. All renovations that will remove architectural barriers must be in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act or within the guidelines set by the Health and Welfare Ministries of the General Board of Global Ministries. A visit by members of the Grants Committee of the Commission may be required. Technical support from the Commission is available upon request. Click here to download grant application. (Word form)
Program Grants: These grants are given to expand participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of church life. Churches and/or organizations may submit proposals for new programs and services to assistance with startup costs. These grants can also provide for the purchase of large print or Braille literature, interpreters for the Deaf, assistive listening devices, Christian Education materials and curriculum for children or adults with special needs, and audio/visual recording of worship services. The Commission on Disabilities encourages each church member to report to their respective Board of Trustees and Pastor any barrier that prevents any person from entering the church facilities and fully participating in all church programs and activities. Click here to download grant application. (Word form)
If we say we welcome all to the table – to the Body of Christ – but allow architectural barriers to remain in place, we are not the church we envision. If a physically open door is blocked by attitudes, our hearts and minds are not open. We cannot afford to deny ourselves fellowship with persons with disabilities, nor can we deny them church membership. We must intentionally develop more healthy attitudes and behavioral responses to persons with disabilities. A church that acknowledges it has barriers to full participation of people with disabilities and makes a commitment to begin the process of removing them is truly striving to become accessible.
Most requests for accessibility grants from the Commission on Disabilities are for the construction of ramps, renovation of restrooms, pew cuts, and purchase of personal hearing assistance devices. The guidelines given here provide basic information for your church as you make decisions regarding accessibility to your buildings and ministries.
Worship Seating Guidelines (pdf)
The worship seating guidelines are from pp. 37-39 of the Accessibility Audit for Churches: A United Methodist Resource Book about Accessibility prepared by the General Board of Global Ministries.
Bathroom Specifications (pdf)
Ramp Specifications (pdf)
The following links are materials provided from a workshop on Autism and the Local Church that was held at the Virginia United Methodist Center on Oct. 23, 2009. They are presented with permission from the presenters.
The Resource Connection, Inc.: Equipping congregations to recognize the disabled (pdf)
Sensory Sensitivities and the Church (pdf)
Rainbow Room Sunday School at Burke United Methodist Church flyer (pdf)
Disability-Friendly and Accessible Church Badge Project
from the Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church
The Disability Ministries Committee (DMC) of the United Methodist Church is now offering training to annual conference disability committees on what is involved in adopting the program in your conference.
The committee has added a Copper Pre-badge level for churches that are not accessible but faithfully complete their annual audits and set goals to achieve what they can within their ministries.
Bronze and Silver levels are awarded based on the church accessibility audit score and self-report. See the Audits and Accessibility Badge page for instructions on obtaining these digital badges.
The DMC is reviewing churches for the Gold level if there is no conference committee trained and available. Churches will obtain a certificate and a door cling decal in addition to the digital badge to let the community know they have earned this distinction.
For more information about the Disabilities Ministries Committee visit https://umcdmc.org/
A basic local church training video is available through the Baltimore-Washington conference Commission on Disability’s website:
The Board of Discipleship exists to provide resources and training to local ministries to assist them in building contextual discipleship processes to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We foster and promote a holistic approach to disciple-making through Christian education, small-group ministries, camping, retreats, evangelism, stewardship, worship, lay development, spiritual formation, age-level/life-span ministries, leadership education, and other areas as the Annual Conference determines.
- • Assists churches of all sizes in their efforts to win persons to Jesus Christ as his disciples and to help these persons grow in their understanding of God.
- • Assists congregations in building, improving, and sustaining systems that develop spiritual leaders for congregations
- • Promoting Emmaus Ministries to assist churches in developing leaders
- • Provides resources and training that will assist leaders in planning and administering comprehensive age-level ministries
- • In consultation with the Board of Ordained Ministry, recommend annually to the conference and to the bishop in charge the appointment of general evangelists as provided for in The Book of Discipline.
- • Recognizes clergy, laity, and youth for excellence through the Denman Award and One Matters Award
- • Identify and gather best practices and resources in disciple-making
- • Make recommendations to local churches for curriculum, materials, and programs resources that would enhance the ministries of the faith communities
Rev. Robin G. BeMiller
Rev. James H. Carey Jr.
Rev. John H. Conway
Mr. Richard B. Dawson
Ms. Harriett Darst
Rev. Nilse Furtado-Gilliam
Dr. Timothy D. Hazlett – Chairperson
Rev. Michael P. Kendall
Mr. Kevin O. Mooers
Rev. Gayle D. Porias
Dr. Susan Schall
Rev. Matthew B. Sergent
Rev. George M. Warner Sr.
Rev. James N. Wishmyer
Mrs. Nancy Yarborough
Ms. Ronda Wimmer
Staff Members
Mr. Dwayne Stinson
Ms. Elayne Monroy
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