Thursday’s post on the paper published in the British Medical Journal outlining the misrepresentation of data in Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 study suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism resulted in a record number of hits to the blog-80% more than our highest day on record.

In my day job, I spend lots of time with kids and parents who experience intense emotion. Nevertheless, I was taken aback by the intensity of emotion from parents who are convinced that the MMR vaccine contributed to the development of autism in their children. I think it’s only the second time I’ve been “defriended” on Facebook.

I’ve been kicking this issue around in my mind since Thursday in an attempt to learn lessons for the next time a hidden disability-related story is the focus of great media attention. Here are a few thoughts:

1. It’s important that those of us advocating for the inclusion of families of kids with disabilities in the church not allow disagreements like this one to distract us from the ultimate goal…helping more kids and families to connect with churches where they can come to know Jesus Christ. There are so many incredible developments occurring within this movement that we need to anticipate that those opposed to the reestablishment of God’s Kingdom will do anything to undermine the effectiveness of the churches and ministry leaders involved. One of the enemy’s favorite tactics is to sow division and disunity. Let’s anticipate the attacks and not let disagreements about the causes or treatments of specific disabilities to sidetrack our ultimate mission.

2. Any development that draws attention to pain experienced by families of kids with disabilities and results in the church reaching out to those families in love will be used by God for good. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

3. While we don’t want disagreements over the causes and treatments of common emotional, behavioral or developmental disorders to distract us from our primary goal, children’s and student ministry leaders should have a solid understanding of current assessment and treatment methods. Parents will frequently turn to pastors for help when they suspect their kids may be in need of professional help. The church can provide an invaluable service in these situations by directing families to the most appropriate resources. I’ve seen lots of situations in which well-meaning church staff have done more harm than good with referrals to facilities or professionals promoting treatments that haven’t been shown to be safe or effective.

Church leaders are frequently approached by members or community groups seeking permission to use the church’s facilities for outside events…lectures, presentations, support groups, etc. When a church is approached about hosting such an event, leaders need to be aware of  any controversies that could compromise the church’s reputation and influence in the community. Our teammate, Harmony Hensley, shared this as an example for church leaders to contemplate:

Let’s say your church was scheduled to host a seminar for members on financial planning to be led by the CEO of Enron in the weeks after news of their accounting practices hit the media. Would you go ahead with the event?

While it’s critical to not allow controversies to divide us, it’s also important to be aware of issues that hold the potential of damaging the credibility or reputation of the church or ministry initiatives central to the church’s mission. Our primary mission at Key Ministry is to serve churches. Given the professional experience, contacts and background of  a number of our ministry team members, we have an obligation to educate the Christian community when the reputation of the church or the health and safety of children are at stake. We’ll try to speak the truth in love, but we will speak the truth.

Clarification: I’d like to emphasize a point from one of my wise friends. This person commented that ministry volunteers should not engage in conversations with parents about treatment controversies and they shouldn’t offer advice to parents affected by autism or other hidden disabilities. Such advice often leaves parents frustrated when it conflicts with recommendations from treating professionals.