Making Room at the Pew: Understanding Disability Experiences in Christian Church Settings

This qualitative study explores the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities within Christian church settings, examining stories of exclusion and inclusion that shape a sense of identity and belonging. Through semi-structured interviews and written responses with twenty-five participants who have hearing, visual, or mobility impairments, the analysis identified two primary themes: exclusion (characterized by lack of awareness, misconceptions of disability, and absence of accommodation) and inclusion (marked by presence of accommodation and belonging). By centering participants’ stories, the study examines how disabled congregants construct meaning through storytelling and how churches, as audiences to these accounts, bear ethical responsibility for how they respond. Participants’ stories revealed how churches often create barriers through physical inaccessibility, social alienation, and harmful messaging while proactive accommodation and authentic listening foster genuine belonging. The findings offer practical guidance for churches seeking to create more accessible and welcoming faith communities. By centering disabled voices and emphasizing storytelling as a tool for understanding exclusion and inclusion, this research contributes to scholarship on disability inclusion in religious contexts.