Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing a Leading Voice in Inclusive Ministry at National Disability and the Church Conference

The Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing played a significant role at the 2026 Disability and the Church Conference, held April 20–23 at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Key Ministry, the national conference convenes annually to inspire and equip pastors, ministry leaders, advocates, parents, caregivers, and people with disabilities working to build more accessible and supportive church communities.

Prominently featured at the conference was leading-edge research from the team at the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability—a key initiative of the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing. Thought leadership from the Collaborative team was embedded throughout the conference’s three-day schedule, engaging the more than 700 attendees on the main stage, in workshop presentations, and community conversation gatherings.

Erik Carter and Jason Le Shana presented on the main stage, sharing new research on the aims of disability ministry, the current church landscape, and leadership practices that spur churches to move forward. Based on the Collaborative’s recent national studies of pastors and other ministry leaders, their presentation urged leaders to take intentional and sustainable steps toward faithful inclusion and belonging in their churches. Following the talk, Le Shana was joined by Kim Botto and Don Talley for a panel conversation on the implications of the research for practical leadership.

The work of Collaborative members was featured in multiple conference workshops, highlighting the diversity and scope of its current projects. Highlights included:

• Bridges to Belonging Project - Elyse McMullen and Bailey Thompson co-presented on the project’s work with a cohort of 16 Texas congregations to foster belonging for youth and young adults with disabilities, mental health challenges, and chronic illnesses.
• Disability and the Church Research Snapshots - Le Shana and Carter led a workshop sharing data snapshots from recent studies on the disability views and practices of pastors, families’ church experiences, and the practices of local congregations.
• Belonging Under the Bridge - Melody Escobar presented on her recent research exploring belonging within the Church Under the Bridge.
• Parents’ Hopes for the Church - Abigail Roe da Silva and Cindy Utama joined Kirstin Langford of With Ministries to present practical suggestions for including parents and their children with disabilities, based on the recently completed Church Stories research project.
• Overcoming Barriers - Shannon Eshman presented on overcoming barriers to ministry involving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Church Websites and Disability - Le Shana and Langford led a workshop illustrating practical steps churches can take to communicate a more welcoming digital presence on their websites based on a national study of congregations. 

In addition to these presentations, the Baylor team hosted an evening of dialogue and ideation focused on sharing stories of belonging in the church. This “community conversation” involved nearly 70 ministry leaders who explored creative ways churches can foster storytelling around disability and mental health in the church. Similar gatherings at previous conferences resulted in practice guides on helping churches move Toward Faithful Inclusion, Accessible Worship, and Belonging. The insights from this year’s community conversation will inform the Collaborative’s work on its new Whole Body Storytelling project, funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc.

“Our team at the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability looks forward to this conference each year. We not only love sharing our research, but we are grateful for so many new connections and learnings,” said Le Shana. “We are committed to research that does not sit on a shelf, but that makes a difference in the lives of real people and congregations. Gatherings like the Disability and the Church Conference are prime examples of venues where we continue to see fruit from our work.” 

Recordings of main stage sessions from the conference can be viewed here: 

• Keynote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIq7N_epBEI
• Panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11BajvOPD0M

Learn more about the Baylor Collaborative on Faith and Disability and explore our current projects at disability.research.baylor.edu.