Feed All My Sheep

1. Guidebook
2. Church Words: A Curriculum
3. Music For Church Words

Additional Info
All congregations should have this book, a lovingly and competently composed curriculum for teaching aults and older youth with disabilities about the church. Doris Clark offers much-needed, experienced guidance for setting up church classes geared to the requirements of adults with special needs. She also provides comprehensive advice about how to integrate adults with special needs into the church community.

This book grew out of Clark’s search for an appropriate church school class for her son, who has Down syndrome. Clark, an experienced teacher, soon came to several realizations;
*There is a great need for classes for adults with developmental disabilities within the neighborhoods served by most churches.
*Regular adult classes do not provide religious education on a level conducive to learning for most adults with special needs.
*There was no literature available giving guidance to churches wanting to start this type of ministry.
*Many programs provide a class for the developmentally disabled but offer no inclusion into the church community.

Clark ultimately develped Joy Class at First Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, and wrote this step-by-step guide to help other churches set up similar classes. It includes everything from locating students and finding teachers to presenting a curriculum. Included are job descriptions for a coordinator, teachers, and Class Buddies, as well as a thiry-four-lesson curriculum, Church Words.

The curriculum is designed for ease of teaching for the Christian leader and maximum learning for the student. Church Words was developed to help students understand some of the terminology and theology of the church through Bible study, discussion, and hand-on activities. Participation in the programs of the church and interaction with church members is highlighted, with an emphasis on self-worth and building relationships.

Original music by Kinley Lange is included for use in the classes. The book also has an appendix of sample letters that can be used to solicit support.