On Sunday, October 12, 2025, we spent some time discussing ways we can be more welcoming and inviting to our siblings in Christ who are neurodivergent.
We used an article from the summer issue of Living Lutheran, "A Welcoming, Accessible Church," as our jumping off point for discussion. The article gives some information about what neurodivergence is, and includes a link to a study guide that offers more information.
From the article, "Neurodivergence—a term encompassing conditions such as autism,
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia and other
cognitive variations—represents a growing area where understanding and
accommodation are essential." Neurodivergent people have different strengths and can see the world in different ways from neurotypical people. It's important to remember that there is no "normal" way for a brain to work. We are all different and unique!
Using the article, available here,
we began our discussion using examples of families who found warmth
within a church that was willing to meet them where they are. One child, who is autistic, relates more to nature than to faith, and
the pastor began incorporating more language about nature into his
sermons. Another church installed a sensory fence on their property.
We learned there are so many ways to make our church inviting to our
neurodivergent siblings!
We discussed ways we could make our own church more welcoming, too. Some of our ideas were to add information to our "what to expect" page on our website, to include more details about noise levels and areas where folks can move to if they need a moment away. Two of our youth members talked about friends who are neurodivergent (anonymously) and how they relate to those friends. They suggested having noise-canceling or reducing headphones and fidgets available to anyone who might want them. Another idea was having a blank page in the bulletin for those who need to keep their hands busy when they're listening.
It was such a good discussion and we were delighted at how eager and enthusiastic our members were to provide ideas and suggestions for how to help make our church more welcoming.
If you would like more information on what neurodivergence is and how you, your church, or other organization can work toward being more welcoming to neurodivergent people, consider checking out the Living Lutheran study guide, available here. You can also find information about neurodivergence online at other sources, or by talking to your doctor.
Our most important takeaway is remembering that listening to our siblings is the best way to make them welcome, and a willingness to meet them where they are can make a huge difference for someone who isn't sure how they might fit in, especially at a new church.
