Creating Access and Inclusion in Worship

A LETTER FROM PATHWAYS AWARENESS FOUNDATION

Dear Religious Leader:

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the historic conference that inaugurated the Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors inclusion movement. This year is also the 10th anniversary of the deaths of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and Father Henri Nouwen. Since 1996 Pathways Awareness Foundation has carried out the legacy of inclusion left by these two spiritual leaders in the last months of their lives. Due to their inspirational leadership, many congregations have made great progress on providing environments that allow people of all abilities to participate in worship, ministries and leadership roles in our Houses of Faith.

An integral part of this inclusion movement is the annual Inclusion Awareness Day. We invite your congregation to participate on Sunday, September 24, 2006. Pathways Awareness Foundation has provided the Inclusion Awareness Day Workbook at www.inclusioninworship.org to assist with your participation. If your congregation is unable to participate on September 24th please set aside another weekend to reflect on your progress on this important issue.

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, Pathways Awareness Foundation is issuing a commemorative two DVD set that will include English, Spanish, Polish, captioned and descriptive versions of Open Hearts Open Minds, Open Doors plus the bonus DVD of the complete 1996 keynote address The Vulnerable Journey by Father Henri Nouwen. Please call 1-800-955-2445 to order your copy at the special price of $20.00 per set.

Our heartfelt thanks for your continued efforts to raise awareness to the gifts received when worshipping communities are accessible and inclusive. Please continue to open your communities so that people of all abilities can participate, not only on Inclusion Awareness Day, but every day of the year.

Sincerely,

Shirley W. Ryan
Chairman