Kendrick spoke to the United Methodist Women’s group at Saint Paul’s and Saint Andrew’s United Methodist Church about ‘The Church and People with Disabilities.’

Here is what they wrote about him before the event:

An exploration of “disability” begins on May 15 after church with a presentation by Kendrick Kemp, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary. Kendrick notes that as a student of Black Liberation Theology founder, Dr. James H. Cone, he has developed “a black liberating theology of disability: a theology that recognizes the crucified, resurrected, triumphant Christ as a disabled Christ, whose body is pierced, wounded, and imperfect. As such, Christ holds within himself four centuries of asphyxiated, beaten, broken, bullet-riddled, burnt, castrated, blown-to-pieces, and torn apart black bodies of America.”

Kendrick writes that he is “a lifelong advocate of civil rights.” With a BA in Social Work from Syracuse University and an MSW from Binghamton University, he is “devoted to practicing the Christian mandate of love by way of justice.” Evoking the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s statement from the Birmingham Jail-- “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” -- Kendrick quotes this as he works to maintain locally, as a founding member and co-chair of the Disability Justice Caucus at UTS,and nationally, as a member of ADAPT: a national grass-roots organization that promotes disability rights through non-violent protest, civil disobedience, and direct engagement with policy makers.

Kendrick believes that “an educated and engaged citizenry is the lifeblood for cultivating and maintaining a culture where all are free to live with dignity and respect.” Kendrick is excited to begin the next chapter of his theological journey, with plans to pastor a church that maintains an ethic of justice.

Kendrick’s presentation is the first of a two-part series related to the study The Church and People with Disabilities. On June 12, Mollie Vickery, deaconess and United Methodist Women staff in the area of children, youth and family advocacy, will lead us in discussions on able-ism and advocacy.

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