Amplifying Our Witness: Giving Voice to Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities

by Benjamin T. Conner

Overview

Nearly twenty percent of adolescents have developmental disabilities, yet far too often they are marginalized within churches. Amplifying Our Witness challenges congregations to adopt a new, practice-centered approach to congregational ministry — one that includes and amplifies the witness of adolescents with developmental disabilities. Replete with stories taken from Benjamin Conner's own extensive experience with befriending and discipling adolescents with developmental disabilities, Amplifying Our Witness

• Shows how churches exclude the mentally disabled in various structural and even theological ways
• Stresses the intrinsic value of kids with developmental disabilities
• Reconceptualizes evangelism to adolescents with developmental disabilities, emphasizing hospitality and friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802867216
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	06/11/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	114
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Benjamin T. Conner is associate professor of Christian discipleship at Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments ix

1 Introduction 1

"Life Is Liturgy"

Disconnected 1

Key Concepts of the Book 4

Amplifying Our Witness 5

Practice-Centered Ministry 6

Adolescence 10

My Biased Perspective (as Opposed to Your Biased Perspective) 14

Practical Theology 15

Missional Theology 17

Structure of the Book 18

2 Awakened to the Issues 20

Visio Dei

Awakened to the Issues 20

Emmanuel's Gift 21

Dissed 21

Labels 24

"Aching Emptiness" 27

Spiritual Nomads 31

The Need for a New Approach to Ministry 33

3 Affirming Presence 34

Imago Dei

"I Did It!"

"Off-Duty Image of God" 35

Friendship 38

"Deodorant and Discipleship" 38

Friendship in Historical Perspective 40

Unlikely Alliances 41

Relationships as Sacramental, Not Instrumental 42

Fireworks 44

Place-Sharing 44

Elected to Friendship 46

"My Place" 48

Connected 49

Peers 51

Rejection: Coping with a Lack of Markers 56

The Inconvenience of Friendship 57

4 Amplifying Our Witness 61

Missio Dei

From Jesters to Gesturers 61

Missio Dei 62

Witness 64

Professor Nathan 64

Iconic Witness 66

Evocative Witness 68

The Witness of All Creation 69

Friendship as a Missional Christian Practice 70

5 Advocating an Approach 74

Opus Dei

Opus Dei 74

Step One: You Have to Be a Professional 75

Step Two: Develop Peer Buddies 76

Step Three: Make Hospitality the Context of All of Your Programs 78

Step Four: Partake in Gestured Practices 80

Step Five: Develop a Proclamatory Program 83

Feeling Faith 84

Smelling Sanctification 86

Heavenly Host(ing) 87

Baptism and the Lord's Supper 88

Step Six: Challenge Church Structures 90

Epilogue: Taste and See That the Lord Is Good 93

Toward a Theology of Evangelism Informed by a Life Shared with Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities

"Thank You for Bringing Me into Your Life" 93

A Parable 96

Bibliography 97

Index 103

Editorial Reviews

Christianity Today
"In Amplifying Our Witness, Conner expounds on the challenges and joys of gospel fellowship with young men and women uniquely burdened, and, perhaps, uniquely gifted. Drawing upon scholarly resources and his own experiences ministering to developmentally disabled adolescents in Williamsburg, Virginia, Conner calls upon the church to ‘create spaces' where mutually redemptive relationships can flourish."

Presbyterian Outlook
"A profoundly theological discussion that reads like a call narrative for the church. . . . Conner argues that this holy encounter with God occurs not in establishing new outreach programs for disabled adolescents, but in electing to practice friendship with them."

"One of the most astonishing books on Christian formation, youth ministry, and mission that I have ever read. . . . This is not a book about how to do ministry with youth with disabilities; it is about how they are in ministry with us. Brimming with stories of young people you might have overlooked, Amplifying Our Witness reads effortlessly yet plunges us into the deepest questions of what it means to be human, to be Christian, and to be someone who bears God's image. This book did not just move me — it changed me."
— KENDA CREASY DEAN
author of Practicing Passion and Almost Christian

"Benjamin Conner here calls attention to what it means for the church to minister to and receive the ministry of adolescents across the ability spectrum. This powerful book will transform the way we think about the missio Dei in a world of differing abilities!"
— AMOS YONG
author of The Bible, Disability, and the Church

"Amplifying Our Witness combines sound theology with compelling personal stories to offer an image of the fullness of the body of Christ when individuals with disabilities are included. Anyone who wants to create a church culture that honors and receives the gifts of all God's people should read this book."
— AMY JULIA BECKER
author of A Good and Perfect Gift

"Disability theology hasn't had a serious conversation with missiology — until now. . . . With scholarly sensitivity and missiological precision Conner offers an important contribution not only to the fields of practical theology, mission studies, and disability theology but also to the life of the whole church as it seeks to be a community of friendship and faithfulness. This book will make a difference."
— JOHN SWINTON
University of Aberdeen

From the Publisher