The Teaching Office that Crosses the Divide: Priesthood of All Believers

The Teaching Office that Crosses the Divide: Priesthood of All Believers

IP-SHEA Chi Fung

The notions of the abled and the disabled constitute a two-tier hierarchical structure that sets people apart as “normal” or “abnormal” according to their bodily conditions. However, this line of demarcation easily becomes a way of segregation—”we-versus -they". Recent theological reflections on disabilities, particularly those works that challenge the adequacy of disability right movement in overcoming such a deep seated segregation, suggest a return to the rich Christian traditions in order to discover new insights into the meaning of inclusion. This article attempts to extend this emergent approach of disability studies to the field of Christian Education. By revisiting the teaching office proposed by Martin Luther that is grounded on the doctrine of universal priesthood, the author intends to recover a radical form of inclusion for the social order of the Church.