An invitation

By The Rt Rev’d Jennifer A. Reddall, sixth bishop of Arizona

I met recently with Win Charles, a member of Saint Barnabas on the Desert, Scottsdale whom I confirmed this year. 

Win approached me about restarting the Disability Concerns Committee in the Diocese of Arizona. I wholeheartedly endorse the idea, and she and I discussed several areas that such a committee could work on physical accessibility, technological accessibility, and a wide range of other issues. 

Here is a brief introduction from Win: 

My name is Win Charles. I have a physical disability, Cerebral Palsy. My home church is Saint Barnabas on the Desert in Scottsdale Arizona. A little background about me and why I’m doing what I’m doing with the Episcopal Church. I was housebound in Aspen Colorado in COVID. Before that, I had a part-time job as a teacher. 

God put on my heart to make churches more handicapped accessible but my true gift is going to be teaching those who are homebound and bed bound and especially hospital bound how to go to church via technology so that they have some sense of hope as they go through the trials and tribulations of being in the hospital or being stuck at home and having the loss of the sense of community as friends and loved ones go to church. 

I hope you are willing to help people with disabilities. Enjoy the aspect of church in the Episcopal denomination and I hope you will be willing to work right alongside me as we bang the drum for the disabled to make the Episcopal church denomination a better place for all, including those with disabilities, whether mental, physical, or psychological.

If you are interested in joining us in this work, please send an email to Serrena Fuentes at serrena@azdiocese.org so that we can have an initial meeting to see who will join us in this ministry.