As part of our commitment as a diocese to prioritise the inclusion and flourishing of all God’s people in our worshipping communities, the Revd Phil Bryson has taken up the position of Diocesan Disability Adviser.
The purpose of this role is to work collaboratively with others in the diocese to enable churches to be welcoming places for people with disabilities and neurodivergence, and their households, and to support their growth into ministry and leadership.
As part of the mission and ministry for this work, Revd Phil will work with others to address the needs of those with disability, including convening an advisory group; developing advice on achievable wins that could help the local church being more accessible to different needs; developing strategic thinking around both physical accessibility and accessibility to enable differently abled worshippers to participate in worship, and offer and grow their gifts of ministry and leadership, along with those of their household.
The Diocesan Disability Adviser’s work will also be linked to the strategic priorities of the diocese, collaborating with diocesan officers and colleagues in advocating for and towards these aims, both strategically and practically.
Revd Phil will carry out these duties on a voluntary basis, alongside his position as Vicar of St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough.
Revd Phil is visually impaired, and has been since the age of 11. Talking about his experiences and calling to the role, he said: “My experience as a disabled (or as I like to say 'differently abled') person, and as a priest, has given me a particular passion for worship and ministry being accessible to all people, and the value of including differently abled people.
“I was blessed to have been in the first cohort of the Church of England's Enabling Leaders programme - the leadership development programme for disabled and neurodivergent leaders - where I learned alongside many other wonderful people with a range of disabilities and neurodivergence, all of whom brought particular gifts and skills through the ways in which they were differently abled,” he explains. “This has further developed my call to enable the church to be a more accessible place.
“Through the role of Diocesan Disability Adviser, I hope that churches can be enabled to be more aware and more accessible of differently abled people and their households both to participate in worship and church life and also to developing their own vocation.
“The disabled community represent the largest minority group in the country and are represented in all our communities. Enabling the participation of differently abled people is a gospel imperative and a missional opportunity. I pray that through this role that such accessibility can be championed and there will be much fruit from it.”
Revd Phil will also be working with the diocesan Social Responsibility Panel, members of the diocesan vocations and ministry team, the chaplain to the Good Shepherd Church for the deaf and hard of hearing and the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches.
The Ven Richard Worsfold, Archdeacon of Leicester, said: “I am delighted that Phil has taken up Bishop Martyn’s invitation to be Diocesan Disability Advisor. Phil will bring much needed support for this work, and I welcome his initiative also in setting up a new advisory group to harness the gifts and experience of others too.”
Phil is currently assembling a Disability Advisory Group, which he will chair. This group will have representation of a broader range of disabilities and neurodivergence, bringing together a wide range of knowledge and experience to develop advice and strategy. If you would like to be considered for the Group, please get in contact with Phil.
Phil can be contacted about this role on phil@harborough-anglican.org.uk