St. John the Divine, like all churches, has been affected by the recession but that has not stopped them from continuing to support their outreach programs.  The Reverend Larry Hall says that they continue to give away between $600,000 and $700,000 annually, beyond the 10% they give to the Episcopal Diocese, to causes they feel strongly about.  “It comes off the top,” he said, “and there is never a question about it.  We support wonderful ministries and in this difficult economic time how could we stop? We make sure that our outreach far exceeds dollars.  As we stretch and make the sacrifices that we are required to make, God provides.  It may not come in more money, but in some way, somehow we keep on going and we are able to help.”

When asked about the ministries for disabled persons with special needs, The Rev. Larry Hall said, “We have a special needs class, Wonder-Fully Made, that is supported by a team that includes Caroline DeLuca’s aunt, who is a member of our staff.  (See Disaboom article: “The Joy that is Caroline DeLuca, Born with Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy”).  We make an effort to include these differently-abled children and adults in every part of our service.  They are totally and completely welcome.  Caroline comes to our worship at the Parish Life Center and she speaks out during the service when everyone is quiet.  And quite frankly, I like it.  I would like more of our Episcopalians to be a little more animated during our services.  We have one little lady that could be distracting to a congregation, if bothered by it.  She stands up during the services and dances around, and she is accepted.  They are so special and I believe the Lord smiles when our special needs children and adults are wholly included.

        “The New Life School in Guatemala is also an important part of our ministry to children with disabilities.  Special needs children are not accepted into the public school system in Guatemala, so this school allows 70 of them a chance to learn and grow.  A number of our members are involved in the school, and one of our clergy is on the school staff.

        “We also participate in an Adult Dementia Ministry inspired by St. Luke’s Methodist Church.  Actually, a consortium of churches helped build a building for The Amazing Place.  The Amazing Place offers services and programs to adults in need who suffer from early to moderate Alzheimer’s and related dementia, as well as their care-giving families.  They provide support, education and adult day care, allowing family caregivers time off for shopping or relaxation.

         “Of course, when we’re talking about ministering to people with disabilities, we have to ask, ‘How do we define disabilities?’ Are we talking about mental and physical disabilities only, or are we talking about social disabilities? Our church participates in ministries that address the abuse of children and the trafficking of women.  We built a school and dormitory in Kenya for girls who are considered second-class citizens, and normally would not have the opportunity for an education.  We have 100 children currently, and a waiting list of 400.  The families let the girls come because it doesn’t cost them anything to take care of the child.

        “We also were instrumental in starting Life Houston, which is an infant milk formula program. And although they are not affiliated directly with St. John’s, we gratefully support the recovery community by providing meeting space for 26 local meetings in more than a dozen Twelve Step programs.

On a different topic, The Rev. Larry Hall talked about what some believe was a controversial decision he made to christen and confirm people with mental disabilities, such as Caroline DeLuca.

        “I just would never have thought of it as being controversial, either the baptism or the confirmation.  Jesus said ‘Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not.’  That is all children with all sorts of conditions.  There would not be any reason why we would not want someone like Caroline DeLuca included, nor would Jesus want her to be excluded.  Perhaps, people wonder about her capacity to commitment.  We in the church feel very strongly that our faith teaches and informs our children about everything.  We learn about God and Jesus Christ through the Christian community of which we are a part.  So, promises made by Caroline were made by the Christian community as well.  We committed to look after her wellbeing and her health, not only physically, emotionally, mentally but spiritually as well.  The knowledge of the faith is not dependent on how much I know about God but that I put my trust in him and seek to follow him.  Frankly, I’m not so sure that Caroline doesn’t knows more about the Lord God then some of us so-called mentally healthy people.

        We apply the same logic to infant baptism.  We claim our faith and we learn about God and Christ from people who spend time with Him.  Therefore, my faith is highly dependent on how that knowledge has been shaped in the community of which I have been a part.  That is true for an infant and certainly true for those with special needs.” 

 For more information about The Church of St. John the Divine go to: http://www.sjd.org