Disability, Trauma, and the Church

Disability, Trauma, and the Church: Toward a Disability-Just, Trauma-Informed Ecclesiology, Ministry, and Institutional Practice
A White Paper from the Association of Ministers with Disabilities

This white paper grew out of the conversations, experiences, and concerns raised at the 2026 Disability Summit. It explores the intersection of disability, trauma, ableism, and the life of the Church and calls The United Methodist Church toward practices that are both disability-just and trauma-informed.

The paper is intended not only for disabled clergy and laity, but also for bishops, cabinets, annual conferences, Boards of Ordained Ministry, District Committees on Ordained Ministry, clergy mentors, seminaries, congregations, and other ministry leaders whose decisions and practices shape participation, belonging, leadership, and vocation in the Church.

We invite you to read the white paper, share it with others, and use it to begin conversations about how our churches and the denomination can recognize trauma, confront ableism and other disability-specific forms of oppression, remove barriers, and create communities in which people with disabilities can participate and lead fully.

Learn more on the AMC-UMC website.