Posted on: Saturday, January 8, 2005
Ministry reaches out to disabled
By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer
The Rev. Phyllis Meighen used the biblical passage in which Jesus prays for his disciples in the event of his death, asking "that they may all be one," as inspiration for the new ecumenical group reaching out to people with disabilities.
As a force behind the creation of the secular group Winners at Work, Meighen used to help people with disabilities find success in the workplace, but she knew someone needed to address spiritual needs of the disabled. So in August, she and others began their new ministry, which crosses all faiths, though it is based in Christianity, coordinated by the United Church of Christ Hawai'i Conference's church development committee and hosted in the first few months by Wesley United Methodist Church.
"The UCC motto is 'may that all be one,' so we're reaching beyond," said Meighen, a UCC minister.
When: Meets 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow
Where: Wesley United Methodist Church, 1350 Hunakai St. (above the Kahala branch of First Hawaiian Bank) Info: 951-0997 or phyllismeighen@aol.com "What we're doing on a monthly basis is gathering. We gather to fellowship over a meal, like the ancient Christian traditions, then do a group activity," she said, adding that this month's group activity is preparing prayer cards for Indian Ocean tsunami relief efforts. Next month, they'll be assembling personal health kits for tsunami victims.
But it's not supposed to take the place of one's own faith traditions, Meighen notes: "It's a complement to their home churches."
They'll be seeking ways to integrate people with the community and applying what she calls "adaptive learning styles."
Different people learn differently — and that can be key in a ministry that serves people who are not only coping with developmental and physical disabilities, but also chronic mental illness.
"We're not just for people with disabilities, but we're trying to find a way to welcome them," she said. "It won't work if it's only people with disabilities."
It's all part of serving the greater good, which she learned as an older sister.
"When I was at Winners at Work, God used me. ... You could say my reason for being on planet is to create places where people are valued," she said. "My youngest brother has been an inspiration throughout my life. When he was growing up, they didn't have a place in the community for him. That affected my life path. I wondered, 'Why do we separate people out?' "
These days, she's content to know that thousands of people have jobs today because he was in her life.
"That's how God is using the lease," Meighen said. "It's creating a more loving, welcoming community."
But another inspiration was her brother, Tim Morris, who has Down syndrome.
Phyllis Meighen
However, she stressed that it's not a one-woman show, nor is it a formal alliance between churches, but a gathering of individuals from different faith communities. In their core formation team are people from Roman Catholic, Methodist, UCC and Presbyterian churches.
John 17:21 Movement
