Pursuing Justice in Ministry and Congregational Leadership

In From Inclusion to Justice: Disability, Ministry, and Congregational Leadership (Baylor University Press 2022), Erin Raffety identifies how ableism persists in the theologies and practices of churches in America. To overcome this obstacle, she argues, there must be a paradigm shift from ministries of mere inclusion to more robust ministries of justice. Raffety points the way toward this shift by drawing on ethnographic research, pastoral and teaching experience, and her relationship with her disabled child. This panel seeks to praise Raffety's contribution to Christian thought and practice, while also offering constructive critique. Panelists approach the book from the perspectives of practical theology, biblical studies, and disability theology.