Inclusive Community

22 July 2014

The Inclusive Community Disability Seminar organised by CWM’s Justice and Witness unit, is now running in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Federation representatives are Margaret Morris and Adrian Wyatt. The theme for the seminar is “Building an Inclusive Community – moving beyond accommodation to affirmation and advocacy for people with disabilities”.

Rev. Randolph Turner, Programme Secretary Justice and Witness, gave the official welcome to all the guests, resource persons and delegates, saying, “We are here to spark a movement in advocacy”. 

The General Secretary of CWM, Rev. Dr. Collin Cowan also addressed the gathering, reminding everyone that “justice is at the very heart of our faith”, and that it is no longer possible to sit by idly in the face of oppression, injustice and violence. He raised the critical questions – who advocates and who affirms? “As if we are free from all disability”, he asked, and adding, “Are we not all differently able”? Bringing the focus back to issues of language and silence, Rev. Cowan said, “People who are silent also speak. The problem is we have conditioned ourselves not to listen.” In his address, he also acknowledged the work already being done in the area by other organisations, particularly The World Council of Churches and their Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network programme. 

CWM’s Inclusive Community Disability Seminar will be in progress all week and will end with the release of a conference statement to the public.