Amy Kenny - My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church

Through a series of fascinating, moving, and sometimes disturbing narratives, Kenny takes us into the heart of the experience of disability and the practical and theological challenges that people face on a daily basis. In her experiential narrative theology, she brings to light the inadequacies of certain theological assumptions and at exactly the same time draws attention to the invaluable perspective that theology, thought through in the light of disability, brings to the life of the church and the world. The book opens up fresh perspectives that can help all of us understand disability theologically and appreciate our humanness more fully.

John Swinton , theologian, University of Aberdeen

Kennys book doesnt just turn the American churchs misguided understanding about disability right side up. It invites the churchs members into the community of the beloved where disabled bodies and nondisabled bodies are seen, valued, and loved equally and holistically. Her book is a loving invitation into communal wellness. May it be so.

Chant Griffin , journalist and advocate

Beautifully written and vulnerably shared, Amys message cuts to the core of ableism, whose culture has been allowed to roam unchecked in the church, perpetuating harm. Kenny calls us to be a more inclusive people, graciously and honestly helping us learn new theological insights, practices, and ways forward together.

Michelle Ferrigno Warren , activist and author of The Power of Proximity

Kenny says this book is her scream! What resounds is the Holy Spirits empowering witness to the ends of the earth about what redemption in Christ looks like for a disabled person. This witness calls all of us nondisabled persons to repent of our ableism. Be prepared to experience Gods saving transformation of our minds, our prejudices, and our ways of life so that we can go from seeing bodies like Amys as a prayer request to being part of a church that challenges the ableism in our world.

Amos Yong , professor, Fuller Theological Seminary

This book is sure to challenge churches in precisely the right ways. Kenny writes with an honest, compelling, clear, and prophetic style, artfully weaving together personal narratives with rich biblical understanding. The result offers transformative possibilities for cultivating faithful communities of belonging for all.

Thomas E. Reynolds , associate professor, Emmanuel College, University of Toronto

Kenny writes with devastating humor and uncommon depth that will remind readers of Anne Lamott. You will laugh, weep, and fume with rageall on the same page. The words she writes will matter to you. They will change the way you seeeverything. Kennys courage to say the things that need to be said is only matched by the skill with which she wields her proverbial pen. All hail this new and necessary voice.

Lisa Sharon Harper , author of The Very Good Gospel and Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World and How to Repair It All

By times wise and tender, then grab-you-by-the-lapels prophetic truth-telling, Kennys passion, anger, and hope for disability justice is utterly embodied. I found this book to be not only a call to justice but an invitation to deep blessing. I will be pressing this book into the hands of every ministry leader I know.

Sarah Bessey , editor of the New York Times bestseller A Rhythm of Prayer and author of Jesus Feminist

Kenny describes with wit and candor her experiences as a disabled Christian in worship services and Bible studies, but also in places like the DMV, high school, the doctors office, and Disneylandshowing, lamentably, how ableism at church looks just like it does everywhere else. She raises up the way of Jesus to practice holistic healing in the face of ableisms holistic harms. Kenny issues a convicting invitation to the people of God to live up to our deepest values and to stop excluding the necessary gifts of our disabled kindred, for the good of all. I will be giving this book to my disabled and nondisabled friends alike.

Bethany McKinney Fox , author of Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church

In Kennys outstanding debut, she tells us this book is her unstifled scream. Are we listening? I am screaming alongside her when I read about how we as the church harm her and other disabled people. Kenny exegetes not only Scripture and individuals with precision but also the American system and the church. Our theology and our actions demonstrate that many are anything but pro-lifewe are guilty of ableism and eugenics, and we need to repent. Kenny is among the sharpest writers and thinkers, and she offers the truth through beautiful writing, wit, wisdom, and grace while showing us the way forward.

Marlena Graves , author of The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself

Incisive, witty, and revelatory, My Body Is Not a Prayer Request is a much-needed prophetic intervention against the ableist common sense that prevails in many churches. This work is sure to be a balm for those who have ever felt sidelined because of ableist theology and sure to be a redemptive kick in the pants for the rest of us.

Andre Henry , award-winning singer-songwriter, writer, and activist