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Episcopal Church Hosts WCC Disabilities Network

Episcopal News Service. December 12, 1985 [85253]

NEW YORK (DPS, Dec. 12) -- Of the world's 500 million disabled people, eighty-five percent live in the Third World, according to World Council of Churches' disability consultant Lynda Katsuno.

Meeting at the Episcopal Church Center in mid-November with key U.S. religious leaders in the disability area, Katsuno shared information on a three-year project of the World Council, emphasizing Third World concerns.

Following the morning meeting sessions, the group attended a luncheon hosted by the Episcopal National Commission on Social and Specialized Ministries, which includes the Church's Task Force on Accessibility and Conference on the Deaf. There they were introduced to Presiding Bishop-elect Edmond Browning. Both commission members and the visitors spoke of being moved by the presence and sensitivity of Browning, who spoke to each of them, individually, as well as to the group.

Marcia Newcombe, staff officer for social and specialized ministries at the Episcopal Church Center, said that she "felt particular pride that we were the Church that hosted the meeting, because this is the first time they have met." Newcombe and Katsuno had originally met this spring, at a WCC-sponsored conference in Holland, and later, in Nairobi at the United Nations' meeting honoring the end of the decade of women.

Noting that the Episcopal Church's national Task Force on Accessibility has as one of its five goals the sharing of "information, insight and expertise...with our sister churches in the Anglican Communion," the group affirmed the importance of focusing future efforts on disability concerns of Third World countries. They cited some international model programs, including a village rehabilitation program in Western Mexico. The feasibility of holding a regional meeting for 1988 or 1989 in a country such as Thailand was explored, along with ways of facilitating network exchange.