The European Society for the Study of Theology and Disability seeks to stimulate and support theological reflection on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. It confesses that the Christian Church and its theology often have not used their valuable sources to support such people. It therefore seeks to include people with disabilities in its own activities. It believes that rigorous theological thinking has much to contribute positively to the understanding of social and cultural processes that currently shape their lives. It is particularly concerned with tendencies that target "disability" as a problem to be solved, and that approach it within the framework of liberal individualism and its obsession with consumer choice. The Society brings together people who are committed to support the increasing participation of people with disabilities in Christian communities and in society at large through their research and writing.
ESSTD Inaugural Meeting - Scorworld, Netherlands, 2007:
Theological reflections on disability: international perspectives.
ESSTD Biannual meeting - Zurich, Switzerland, 2009:
Divine Story-Human Context
The 2009 conference will be held place 1st - 4th July 2009 in Boldern, on the edge of lake Zurich in Switzerland. Details will be posted very soon. You can download a flyer for the conference here.
Online discussion group on theology and disability
The Society also has an online discussion group which elicits the interchange of ideas and experiences between those working in Practical Theology and/or those working with people who have disabilities.
Personnell
Chairman - Professor Hans Reinders, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Email: jsreinders@msn.com
Deputy Chairman - Professor John Swinton, University of Aberdeen. Email: j.swinton@abdn.ac.uk
Secretary - Herman Meininger - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Email: H.P.Meininger@planet.nl
Conference organising committee
- Rev. Martina Holder-Franz: martina.holder@ag.ref.ch
- Aileen Barclay: ai.barclay@abdn.ac.uk
- Assol Bernhard: bernhard@ebg.nl
- Ian Dickson: idickson@belfastbiblecollege.com
Enquiries
General enquiries about the Society shold be directed to John Swinton: j.swinton@abdn.ac.uk
