The First Congregational Church has a heart of mission. Yet, when the mission hits a situation that's personal and makes one squirm a bit, it becomes more of a challenge. Seven teams have been sent from the church to help the rebuilding in New Orleans. The first teams did the mucking, getting all of the belongings out of the house and putting them…

Recognizing that faith, religion, and spirituality can be as important a consideration and as integral a facet in the lives of exceptional families as healthcare and education, "Exceptional Parent" presents installment seven in this multi-part series, examining several programs in the Catholic faith. The Catholic Church teaches that all…

In the Unitarian tradition, Coming of Age (COA) is the counterpart of confirmations or bar/bat mitzvahs, with much less structure. Unitarians are all about freedom of thought, of belief, of expression, and this young adult rite of passage is an opportunity for each young person to say to the congregation, "This is what I believe." The author…

CLC Network is an organization that partners with churches, schools, and families to help promote and build inclusive and interdependent communities for those with disabilities. This article describes CLC Network's most recent tool--a book entitled the G.L.U.E. Training Manual. G.L.U.E. is an adhesive process to allow each individual to be firmly…

One might think a large church would organize Sabbath morning "classes" for children with special needs, staff them with volunteer professionals trained in working with the children, and sit back and enjoy being large enough to have the resources to do so. Not Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey. Neither the theology nor the…

A minister responds to concerns voiced by parents of disabled children about their lack of comfort and feeling of exclusion in many church and synagogue congregations. The importance of acceptance and support in the religious community is stressed, as is the need for education and awareness regarding disability. (CL)