Access
Access Leadership Network (AcLN) seeks to come alongside churches across the ACNA to inspire, equip, and empower leaders to build the body of Christ, enabling people of all abilities to worship, grow, and serve together.
Website revisions in process. Please email: kayres@acna.org if you are unable to access something you are looking for.
Upcoming events
Virtual Gatherings
Third Monday of the Month
7:00 – 8:00pm Eastern
Joni and Friends have people who can come alongside individual churches to be better equipped for ministry with people living with disabilities and their families. Each state or region has a Joni & Friends Ministry Relations Manager who can help you develop a clear and unique plan for your church to disciple and serve people living with disabilities.
You are invited to learn more about the resources and training they offer for free.
Join the virtual gathering (vg) at the link above or join here.
Monday, August 17 at 7pm Eastern.
Future AcLN Virtual Gatherings:
September – Take a break
October 19 – Presentation on Theology and Disability –
November 16 – Holiday Stresses –
We are considering having two sessions of the Nov 16 virtual gathering:
One at 7pm Eastern and One at 7pm Mountain.
Please let us know if you are interested in having a Mountain time session.
Click the graphic above to learn more about Access Grants.
OUR WORK
About Us
About Us
AcLN comes alongside individuals and churches within the ACNA to help overcome obstacles with thoughtful creativity and engage those with disabilities as valued and indispensable members of their congregations.
Connecting Team
The Connecting Team
The AcLN Connecting team facilitates connections between people and resources to support the ministry of the local church related to ministry with and by people with disabilities.
Resources
The Resource Team
connects people and shares resources to support the church’s ministry with and by people with disabilities to facilitate Christian community among the body of believers, growing and serving together.
Training
The Training Team
• provides training resources for churches to build communities of belonging and make accommodations for individuals with and without disabilities.
• believes that belonging involves reciprocal relationships of growing together and mutually serving to build up the local body of believers.
Ephesians 2:17-19
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Deacon Kathy Ayres, Director
Kathy Ayres is the Director for Access Leadership Network and heads up the Training Team. After a 35-year career in Occupational Therapy and volunteer in ministry with hearing and deaf youth, Kathy sensed a call to ordained ministry as a vocational deacon and attends seminary part-time. Kathy has a passion to help churches create communities of belonging for growth and service together, developing leaders with and without disabilities to build God’s kingdom.
Ruth Brewbaker
Ruth Brewbaker and her husband, Dick are the parents of five adult sons,
three of whom are now married to wonderful daughters-in-law, and they
have 3 grandchildren as well, with another one on the way. Their fourth son,
Ben, now 24, was born w/ Spina Bifida. Having Ben in their family opened
up a whole new beautiful, yet challenging world of getting to know and love
families and individuals who experience life differently. For most of Ben’s life
and even before, God has put on Ruth’s heart a desire to live in community
alongside ones touched by disability or who are differently abled.
Beth Kirby
Beth Kirby heads up the AcLN Advocacy team. She is a founding member of Servants of Christ Anglican Church in Gainesville, Florida, and is active in ministry there and in the Gulf Atlantic Diocese with the summer camp program. She is a teacher and mother of three: a son and a daughter in college and a teenaged son with autism. When her youngest son Aidan was diagnosed, and as he grew older, church involvement became a challenge. The way the SOC church community has supported Aidan and the Kirby family inspires Beth to bring awareness to other churches of the value of acceptance and inclusion for people with disabilities and their families.
Heidi Reichert
As the Communications Coordinator for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, Heidi gets to share the stories of how churches spread the love of Christ throughout their communities. Outside of work, she volunteers in youth ministries and community programs, striving to create inclusive spaces for young people with disabilities, working alongside peers and leaders to ensure everyone feels welcomed and appreciated.
Don Pollard
Don Pollard has been a resident of Conyers, GA, since 1984 and an active member of Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral in Loganville, GA—the Cathedral Church for the Anglican Diocese of the South—for the past few years. He teaches Sunday school classes and is a current member of the Chapter. Don works as a private tutor, helping individuals of all ages reach their educational potential. As someone who has lived with a disability (ventilator-dependent quadriplegia) for most of his life, Don offers unique perspectives, viewing situations from angles that others might not normally consider. In his work with the AcLN, he prays for the ability to fulfill whatever tasks he is called upon to do in order to ultimately advance the Kingdom for all.
JOIN OUR NETWORK
AcLN hosts virtual gatherings 7-8 times a year for leadership development, soul care, and sharing ministry resources on the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:00 pm (ET).
Join the Access Leadership Network mailing list for the monthly newsletter regarding upcoming topics and the link to the virtual gathering. Hope to meet you soon at a vg!
Email access@acna.org for more information.