1. Just as I Am
A living Theology

2. The Life of Charlotte Elliott
A Disabled Woman for much of her life
Far more concerned about her spiritual state that her physical
Gave up her society life
Read mostly the Bible and a few up lifting authors
Wrote many hymns and poems that reflect her life

3. Not as portrayed
Internet searches will give the impression that she was a weak ‘feeble’ person restricted to her home
Between flare ups of her conditions
Charlotte toured Europe thinking the Alps were like Heaven
Visited friends all over the UK

4. Active Worked for years editing manuscripts and hymnals
Supported local charities not taking any money from her writing
First published Just as I am in hymnal in 1835
Unknown woman printed leaflet

5. “My Bible is my church Studied the Bible extensively
A favourite chapter Revelation 3
2 Corinthians 3 verse 18
she wrote what was needed for life was “great faith, great patience, great peace”

6. Her view was to make the most for God
She believed and lived as she wrote
“My times are in thy hand”
And a verse in one poem
“should grief or sickness waste away
My life in premature decay,
My father still I strive to say
Thy will be done”

7. What should be our response
Charlotte was of her time and class this can be seen in her writing and how she lived as a disabled person
Her sole focus was on her spiritual life even when depressions and her illness were restrictive
Healing is wholeness not cure she understood that
We are of our time and we have resources that we can all use for God

8. Problem of Church acceptance
The church is often still stuck in the Victorian attitudes of Hymn writers
Expecting us to live as they think Charlotte did
Our lives challenge the church
Need for a model for church prejudice, against Disabled Christians (look at models)

9. Research Taken to Lourdes Not able to belong to church unless healed
Not able to have a role as unreliable
Only work where no one else is availble

10. We have theologies Or our God models as Disabled Christians One Body
Broken Body
Image of God and reflection of Christ
Gifts of The Body

11. Call to Action
If we are Christians then we need to do what we can for God and for His Kingdom
We need to challenge the Churches as they were challenged in Revelation. As Jesus challenged the leaders of His day.
Jesus the Adult, was not meek and mild!
Vipers and tables, (picket?)
No matter what our impairment or body difference we can all do something, great or small. We are the living view of Christ crucified

12. Without us
Without Disabled Christians the church is incomplete