“Were You There…?”

Abstract

Persons with disabilities were present at the Council of Nicaea. Some bishops with disabilities were present: for example, Paphnutius of the Upper Thebaid, Potamon of Heraklea, and Paul of Neo-Caesarea. These bishops became persons with disabilities because of the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire. However, we can debate whether their presence represented the presence of persons with disabilities because they had been bishops before they became disabled through persecution. They came to the Council of Nicaea mainly as bishops, not as persons with disabilities. They were respected as living martyrs who were faithful to Jesus Christ and imitated him in his suffering. They were unlike persons with disabilities in common life, who were not respected in society and became targets of charity in the early church. Today, while some persons with disabilities are present in the church leadership, most are not fully welcome and some are still marginalized. Working for the inclusion of and justice for persons with disabilities is still needed in the church today.