장애인복지시설 이용인의 지역사회 통합예배에 대한 비장애성도들의 인식

Abstract

Current trends in disability facilities come out of the deinstitutionalization, independent living, and integration movements, with the final goal of normalization. One form of integration would be participation in the religious rituals and events in the community. Although there are good reasons for disabled people to be living in dependent care facilities, there is a case to be made that the disabled should have the opportunity to leave the facility and join church worship and other religious activities on the outside. The study focuses on this practice and explores how fellow church members view inclusive worship for those with disabilities by applying the method of participant observation and interview. One of reasons for obstructing the normalization of such integration would be people’s misunderstanding about and bias toward the disabled. Thus, an investigation of the non-disabled fellow church members’ experiences with integrated worship with the disabled will offer some instructive insights. The results of the research show that two factors converged, which seem contradictory but nevertheless coexist. One is the indifferent attitude about inclusive worship. On the one hand, there is physical and emotional distance between worshippers, since the disabled sit separately in the church. On the other hand, there is the realization that inclusive worship and understanding of the handicapped would seem mandated by the Bible’s call for Christians to love, value, and support all people, leading church members to welcome, cherish, and include the disabled among them. In the end, church members came to have increased concern about the welfare and wellbeing of the disabled. To overcome the deficiencies of inclusive worship, it is suggested that there be more contact opportunities, such as sitting together, picnicking together, and so on. Following up such results, suggestions were made about better integrating fellowship through worship and other church activities.