Thinking Differently About God: Neurodiversity, Faith and Church

 

 

 

 

Thinking Differently About God: Neurodiversity, Faith and Church
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October

A weekend of events to mark our 8th annual conference on Disability & Church, a partnership between St Martin-in-the-Fields and Inclusive Church.

Neurodiversity is the idea that there are natural variations in the way people think and process information. These include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and Tourette's - each a particular combination of needs and gifts. 

We explored our understanding of God and sharing experience of discovery, discrimination and discernment. Speakers included: Bingo Allison, Dan Barnes-Davies, Sue Hartley, Phillip Hickman, Naomi Jacobs, Ann Memmott, Rachel Noel, Krysia Waldock, WAVE and Sam Wells.

We welcomed 80 people from across the country and are hugely grateful to the many people who supported the event. Participants said:

• Brilliantly stimulating conference at St MitFs on neurodiversity. Speakers telling their stories. "Divinely disruptive", "Different not broken". God loves and accepts all of us.
• Fabulous day! Thank you all so spoke with and whose company I enjoyed - church should be like this more often!
Thank you for being a bright bulb in our lives. I am motivated and moved following today’s Neurodiversity Conference. I engaged with many participants who were uplifted because they had the space to unpack hidden challenges.
• Every year I leave the conference at St Martins in the Fields thinking that it truly is a prophetic voice to the wider church. Today is no different - a truly transformative and challenging day. Thank you to all the speakers and especially to Fiona and her team.

Tomorrow at the 10.00am Eucharist at St Martin-in-the-Fields we welcome Ann Memmott, author of Church of England guidelines on welcoming autistic people, as our visiting preacher. Parts of the liturgy have been written by our Disability Advisory Group, under the guidance of Sam Wells. The service is BSL interpreted.

Something Worth Sharing: we'll also be launching a new booklet on disability and church. Based on our 2018 conference it shares ways to create change in church. Includes our own Disability Advisory Group, theological reflection by Sam Wells and an introduction by the Bishop of London. Copies are available after service in the Lightwell. Donations to support this work are welcome.

At 2.00pm in St Martin's Hall we explore the ideas via the creative arts. Including an introduction to Contemplative Photography by Phillip Hickman and a special screening of ‘Touretteshero: Me, My Mouth and I’; a documentary exploring neurodiversity in the visual arts through the lens of Samuel Beckett's play, 'Not I'. We'll be joined by Jess Thom (aka Touretteshero) – to explore what the arts have to teach the church about diversity, acceptance and belonging.

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Let Us Build A House Where Love Can Dwell.