2013 Summer Institute on Theology and Disability
Location: University of Toronto Conference Center
The Collaborative on Disability, Religion, and Inclusive Spiritual Supports, a network of 12 UCEDDs, is one of the sponsors of the 2013 Summer Institute on Theology and Disability. The members are: The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (NJ); Vanderbilt Kennedy Center; Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State; Partnership for People with Disabilities (Virginia); Institute on Community Integration (MN); University of Kentucky Human Development Institute; Institute for Human Development, UMKC; Community Inclusion and Disability Institute (Maine); Texas Center for Disability Studies, University of Texas; University of Connecticut A.J. Pappanikou Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities; Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University; JFK Partners, University of Colorado Denver; and Institute on Disability and Development, Oregon Health and Science University.
In addition to the Collaborative on Disability, Religion, and Inclusive Spiritual Supports, sponsors for the Summer Institute on Theology and Disability include: The Bethesda Institute; Christian Horizons, Inc.; L'Arche of Ontario, Canada; and Emmanuel College at the University of Ontario with an endorsement by the Association of Theological Seminaries.
The 2013 Summer Institute on Disability will be held July 15-19, 2013 at the University of Toronto Conference Center. Complete information about the program and registration is available at http://bethesdainstitute.org/theology. The same website includes mp3 audiofiles from the 2010 and 2011 Summer Institutes and videos from 2012.
The theme this year relates to both spirituality and cultural diversity: "In God There Is Diversity, But No Division: Building Interfaith Dialogue and Collaboration through Theology and Disability." With the diverse city of Toronto as our backdrop, the focus will be on exploring disability and theology from a variety of religious perspectives and traditions.
The first day of the Summer Institute, as is our custom, will be focused on Disability, Diversity, and Hospitality-Getting to the Heart of the Issues. As in the previous Institutes, this event will feature the key Faculty/Mentors for the Summer Institute, Bill Gaventa and Erik Carter from The Boggs Center and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center respectively, along with Hans Reinders, John Swinton, Deborah Creamer, Jeremy Schipper, and Tom Reynolds. People interested can register for this day alone if they wish. Then, successive days will include two plenary sessions each morning followed by afternoon discussion groups and workshops by guest speakers, faculty/mentors, and some participants.
Themes for other four days are, respectively, "Case Histories in Theology and Disability in Religious History," "Where Faith hits the Road: Theology, Ethics and Practice," "Going Back to Foundations: Sacred Texts and Traditions in Judaism and Islam," and "Hospitality at the Center: Interfaith Relationships and "Evangelism" through the Lens of Disability." Speakers will include Mohammed Ghaly, one of the foremost scholars on Islam and Disability, Rabbi Julia Watts Belser, Jason Hayes, and Andy Calder (Australia). An evening excursion to L'Arche Daybreak is being planned for those interested.
To receive updates on the Summer Institute or if you have questions, contact Bill Gaventa at [email protected].
