“The Body of Christ Is Disabled Without the Presence of People with Disability”: A Re-Evaluation

The statement, “the body of Christ is disabled without the presence of people with disability” is one that makes regular appearances in works of disability theologians and practitioners. The pithy aphorism is meant to serve as a prompt to remind church communities that they need to be places where people with disability can be active and contributing members. However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that the statement is problematic and, as a result, ends up perpetuating the notion that disability is undesirable and to be avoided. This article outlines two primary objections to the use of the phrase and offers in its place an alternative way of understanding the place of people with disability both in the body of Christ and in our church communities.