Churches and United Methodist-affiliated organizations can request up to $2,000 for accessibility projects through a new Michigan Conference grant, with applications open Oct. 19 to Nov. 19. The grant launches in celebration of Disability Awareness Sunday on Oct. 18. See how one Holland congregation made its sanctuary more accessible, one armrest at a time.
It started with a simple request. Rev. Tish Bowman knew that her parishioner Dave Macqueen had woodworking skills and wondered if he might be able to add armrests to a few chairs in Holland: First UMC’s sanctuary.
Two and a half years later, 61 chairs in the church’s 300-seat sanctuary have armrests, a crucial support for folks with mobility issues.
“So many people have expressed their gratitude for the new arms on the chairs,” Bowman said. “A simple observation combined with a passion for woodwork and a desire to serve has expanded our welcome in a simple and profound way.”
The work was a team effort. Dave managed the construction and his wife, Mary, was in charge of the finishing work, which involved the painstaking process of matching wood stains.
Dave and Mary’s accessibility work at Holland: First is a great example of how churches can make themselves more welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities. It’s a critical issue, as more than one in four U.S. adults have some type of disability, according to the Center for Disease Control.
In celebration of Disability Awareness Sunday on October 18, the Michigan Conference’s Board of Justice is launching a grant to support churches in their accessibility work.
Disability Awareness Sunday is one of five Annual Conference Special Sundays throughout the year. While the Michigan Conference has slated Disability Awareness Sunday for October 18, churches may observe the special Sunday at any time during the year. For information and ideas on how to observe a Disability Awareness Sunday, visit the Disability Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church’s website.
Disability Awareness Sunday is not only an opportunity for our congregations to reflect on how they can be more accessible and welcoming, it’s also a chance for churches to celebrate the gifts and contributions of disabled people.
Dave and Mary Macqueen have seen firsthand how accessibility work can strengthen the life of a church.
Mary shared that when the first few refurbished chairs popped up in the sanctuary, the seats usually sat empty. People seemed reluctant to take a chair from someone else, but that hesitation dissipated as more chairs were made.
“Now that there are lots of them, people aren’t afraid to use them,” Mary said.
In addition to the armrests, the church has also put more space between some of the rows in the sanctuary in order to better accommodate walkers, wheelchairs and other mobility devices. These small changes make a big difference, Mary said, and benefit the entire congregation as they help people more easily take part in worship.
“Everybody benefits because [people with disabilities] are part of the church,” she said.
For Dave, the armrest project was a chance to do some good during a particularly difficult time. Dave has had health challenges for the past three years. He had sepsis twice last year as well as kidney failure. He’s been on dialysis for the past year. The armrest project was a welcome distraction and a way to give back to the church.
It’s a labor of love,” he said. “It also keeps me from getting inside myself.”
In the past few years, Dave and Mary have become staunch advocates for organ donations. One of Dave’s potential donor matches is a fellow parishioner he met at Holland: First his first Sunday there nearly three years ago.
“It’s a vital, vital gift,” he said. “More than anything else you can give.”
The Michigan Conference’s Division on Disability Concerns grant application will open October 19 and close November 19. Churches and United Methodist-affiliated organizations can request up to $2,000 for accessibility projects.
To learn more about the grant or to make a donation to the conference’s disability concerns fund, please contact Board of Justice Co-Chair Rev. Haley Hansen at [email protected].
The publication of this article was made possible thanks to generous financial gifts from local United Methodist churches in Michigan through Ministry Shares. Thank you! Learn about the impact of Ministry Shares on mission and ministry in Michigan and around the world.
Last Updated on October 13, 2026