Guest Speaker: Michelle Eastman

This week at Harbor we are joined by disability theologian Michelle Eastman! 

There are few people in this world I have known who are as captivating as Michelle. I met Michelle as a college student and I soon learned about Michelle’s cerebral palsy and the narratives–many harmful–she heard about her disability growing up as an Evangelical Christian. As the daughter of a megachurch pastor at one of the world’s most influential Christian churches, Michelle impressed me immediately with her tremendous humility, grace towards others, confidence, and witty sense of humor that allowed her to rise above the barriers. I learned quickly that not only was Michelle someone who was resilient in her own life, but was also someone who could be a huge leader in my life, and in the lives of many others. 

I was not wrong. Michelle has proven time and time again that–although society and harmful theological narratives will “other” her for her disability–she is someone in her full joyful and disabled self to look to and learn from. After working in ministry in the South Pacific Islands for several years, Michelle moved to Boston to earn her Master of Divinity degree. During her time there, Michelle learned how to navigate the barriers of living in a physically inaccessible city as well as a bitterly cold 6-month winter that magnified the pain of her disability. For many, enduring those circumstances would be more than enough triumph; but Michelle not only survived, she thrived. During her studies, Michelle dug deep into disability theology, advocacy and justice leading her to play a significant role working with Boston University to create a more handicap-accessible campus.

In addition, Michelle led six other graduate students from Boston University, Harvard, and Boston College to host the first-ever disability theology conference “Accessing the Divine: Disability, Embodiment and Claiming Joyous Futures” that hosted 220 attendees and featured keynote speaker, Sharon Betcher, one of the most prominent scholars in the field. Michelle’s influence in that field has already been wide-sweeping. Not only have some of the world's top liberation and disability theologians asked to work with her, but also her communities outside of academia have tremendously benefitted from the fruits of her insight, wisdom, and strength. 

Currently Michelle works at an affordable housing organization in San Francisco, California and is the creator of the Instagram called @disabilitytheology helping to change the narrative around disability and the church. 

We are very thrilled, to say the least, to be welcoming Michelle to Harbor this week.