Liturgical Practices for Full Participation: Creating Opportunities for Engagement in Worship for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Authors

Catherine Jane Spiller, Eva Burrows CollegeFollow

Abstract

This paper discusses the theological foundations and learnings from a journey undertaken at the Mooroolbark Salvation Army to explore full participation in corporate worship for people with intellectual disabilities. The key themes of acceptance, participation, and authenticity are discussed, as well as some of the challenges to full participation, such as exclusion, lack of awareness, and lack of time. Some principles of participation that emerged from this process are then considered as they may provide a helpful framework for developing tools and resources to foster full participation in worship.

Author Bio

Catherine Spiller lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, Rhys, and her two children. She was commissioned and ordained as an Officer in The Salvation Army in 2002 as part of the Ambassadors of Grace session. Catherine has served in a variety of appointments in corps and theological education. She earned an Advanced Diploma in Salvation Army Ministry in 2001 from The Salvation Army Training College. Catherine then completed a Bachelor of Theology from Tabor College Victoria in 2013 and a Master of Transformational Development from Eastern College Australia in 2017. Catherine finished the Doctor of Ministry at Abilene Christian University in 2023. She is currently the Coursework Coordinator at Eva Burrows College.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Spiller, Catherine Jane (2023) "Liturgical Practices for Full Participation: Creating Opportunities for Engagement in Worship for People with Intellectual Disabilities," Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry: Vol. 9: Iss. 2, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/discernment/vol9/iss2/3