Deep And Wide Conference Invitation
I wanted to share this post as an invitation to you to the upcoming Deep & Wide Conference this May 10th & 11th. Their theme is going to be 'Ecclesial Engagement With Disability Across Canada' and I am both excited and honored to be able to share some of my own thoughts there.
In his book 'Life Worth Living: A Guide to What Matters Most', Miroslav Volf poses a thought-provoking question: “Do we exist as a limitless forest or a central tree?” This question serves as a metaphor for understanding human nature and agency, exploring the balance between our place in society and our individual autonomy.
After spending thirty years in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury, and viewing life through the lens of disability, I have found three questions that have continually shaped my perspective, and perhaps the greater social experieinces of disability across Canada:
What does the concept and language of disability mean to you or to us?
Where can we find dignity in our lives and a sense of personhood?
How can we nurture hope for today and the future?
While I do not claim to be an expert, I aspire to explore these questions on a personal level and through conversations with others. My aim is to deepen our understanding of ourselves and to discover practical ways to address these questions in our lives today.
Deep & Wide Conference
At the conference this May, I hope to share with you some of my own personal experiences and answers that I have come to see in these three questions. It is my desire that by doing so we can begin a conversation that will go much deeper, allowing a spirit that would bridge our personal answers with those of a great social response to the questions of disability, dignity, and hope for the future.
Friday night in the conference will feature scholarly exploration of theology, disability, and the church. Saturday will offer a blend of practical workshops, presentations, and insights from prominent Canadian authors who embody authentic leadership in the exploration of a more inclusive and responsive church.
Guests Include:
Dr. Heather Morgan – Speaking on ‘Valuing All Bodies in the Body’ – In her own words wants to, “challenge those in the church to consider the sanctifying possibilities of learning to value both their own bodies and the bodies of those around them - even when they differ significantly from their own.”
Dr. L.S. Carlos A. Thompson – Speaking on ‘Encountering Christ Between Us: Community as an Embodied Invitation to Move From Me to We'.
To sign up and attend either in person or online, please visit: