Integrating Disability Perspectives into Theological Education: Transforming the Next Generation of Christian Leaders

Little is known about the presence and integration of disability-related content in theological education. This work asks: how do the curricula at Mainline Protestant accredited Master of Divinity programs in the United States prepare religious leaders to work with disabled people and their families? Results showed disability-related content was primarily found within courses dedicated to pastoral care and counseling. Additionally, the majority of course syllabi analyzed fell into medical or religious/moral model perspectives of disability. Extrapolating from these findings reveals ways in which theological education can become more familiar with disability-positive perspectives and incorporate that familiarity into their work.