A Theology, Not a To-Do List
Most conversations about disability in the church begin with compassion and end with charity. Dan Vander Plaats argues that’s not enough, and it’s not what Scripture actually calls us to.
In this book, Dan makes the case that people with disabilities aren’t people to be helped. They are partners in God’s mission. The body of Christ is incomplete without them, not as a matter of policy or accommodation, but as a matter of theology.
Drawing on decades of experience in disability ministry and the globally-used 5 Stages framework, Dan gives readers a practical and Scripture-rooted lens for seeing disability differently, and a clear path forward.
THE BOOK
WHO IT’S FOR
Wherever you serve, this book meets you there
Pastors and church leaders who want to lead their communities toward genuine disability inclusion
Disability ministry volunteers and coordinators
Nonprofit and parachurch leaders
Educators in Christian schools and universities
Parents of children with disabilities who want to understand the church’s role
Anyone who wants a theological and practical foundation for disability advocacy
Dan’s work and the 5 Stages framework have been referenced in:
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BOOKS
Shout for Joy by Dr. Karen Roberts (pages 10-12)
Inclusion Handbook edited by Mark Stephenson and Terry DeYoung (pages 58-59)
On Disability & Diversity by Phil Smith (pages 232, 242-243)
Accessible Church by Sandra Wood Peoples
Removing Barriers: A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Parish More Disability-Friendly
Religion, Disability, and Interpersonal Violence by Andy Johnson, Ruth Nelson, and Emily Lund
The Social Contexts of Disability Ministry by Albert Herzog (page 99)
Bridging Theory and Practice in Children's Spirituality, edited by Mimi Larson and Robert J. Keeley
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ACADEMIC DISSERTATIONS AND PAPERS
Disability and Gregory of Nazianzus's Oration 14, by Heather Renee Morgan
Embodying God's Full Welcome: A Theology and Praxis of Hospitality Toward Families Affected by Autism, by Manual Magana-Garcia
Incorporating Persons with Special Needs into the Worship Ministry of the Church, by Clifford Trent Broussard
Disability and Spirituality by Bilge Nuran Aydogdu, Marmara University
Incomplete Without You: Research on Disability, Inclusion, and the Church by Erik W. Carter
What People Are Saying
“The 5 Stages has been a go-to tool for me to help others understand the script regarding disabilities that the world may have handed them without their knowledge. I have used it in trainings for ministry leaders through our work at 99 Balloons as well as in university classes and ordinary conversations regarding those experiencing disabilities."
Matt Mooney
Founder,
99 Balloons , | Fayetteville, AR
"The Banquet Network has incorporated The 5 Stages into all of our church leader coaching and training. Many pastors want to be disability-inclusive but simply don't know where to start. Using this tool has proven time and again to be useful in the process of educating, advocating, and motivating leaders and their congregations to engage people with disabilities more fully in the body of Christ."
Victoria White
The Banquet Network | Holland, MI