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We regularly like to give our very busy Stated Clerk a small break and have a member of Presbytery Council or a committee write an article for the Bi-Weekly Brief. For this edition we are grateful to the Rev. Katrina Pekich-Bundy, Pastor of Alma-First and a member of the Mission Coordination Committee.
Last week I was invited to a lunch group (I usually eat alone at my desk like the introvert I am). I jokingly said I hoped I wasn't crashing their really cool lunch club, and someone responded, "We're not exclusive...but we're not inclusive." Before I could close my mouth I said, "That's how church works sometimes, isn't it?"
It’s not how it’s supposed to be, nor is it our intention, but often by design church becomes a place where we are complacent and forget to shake things up and find out how we can be more inclusive in our worship and ministry.
Speaking in a class called Queer Religion, I invited students to first read On Liturgy: Queering Worship. It demands us to consider whose perspective is included in worship, and who is writing liturgy, and who feels included. When we worship, whose voices are being heard? We can do this thought exercise with anyone - does our worship lift up queer people? Trans people? Or is it centering white cisgendered heteronormativity?
The Mission Committee has been asked to write articles once a month for the Biweekly, and this month I thought I’d consider the inclusion of Autistic people in worship and faith life. April is Autism Awareness or Autism Acceptance month. Awareness and acceptance are bare minimums. How many of our churches are ADA compliant? Even if our buildings are compliant, ADA doesn't always encompass intellectual disabilities, or invisible disabilities. ADA is essential - but hasn't been able to grow and expand since it was first created as Section 504 in 1973.
After listening to Autistic people I have come to see the ways in which the disability often stems from a lack of inclusion and ableism. There are times disabilities aren't the hindrance - the inaccessible world is the barrier.
You might have noticed that I've written Autistic person/people instead of person with Autism throughout this article. While there are some Autistic people who prefer person-centered language, most I have engaged with prefer to be called Autistic. It's always best to use the preference of the Autistic person - not the neurotypical person - so it's a great question to ask someone what they prefer. Person-centered language began through healthcare and was created by neurotypical people, as a means to lift up the human and not the disability. As person-centered language has become more common, many in the Autistic community have pushed back, preferring “Autistic,” as they lift it up as part of their identity and remind people that "disability" isn't a bad word - but the attitudes and lack of accessibility are problematic.
The beauty of neurodivergence (neurodiversity is a term that includes neurotypical and neurodivergent people; neurodivergent describes everyone outside of neurotypical, and can include Autistic people, ADHD, and other ways in which the brain functions outside of “normativity,” which is a construct), is that there is no one way to be neurodivergent. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “If you’ve met one Autistic person, you’ve met one Autistic person.” God didn’t create us to be the same, even within disabilities. So, you aren’t going to leave this article with “the holy grail” that will help you be more inclusive for Autistic people. The Autistic people in my congregation are different from each other, and probably won’t be the same as the Autistic people in your congregation. Just like some people like music, others are there for the snacks – Autistic or not.
The most impactful thing I have learned in working with Autistic people, is to listen to Autistic people. Don’t assume you know how they feel, or that they don’t feel just because their facial reactions and body language might not be what you expect. Communication is key. Don’t assume nonverbal means they cannot communicate. All behavior is communication.
Something else I learned is the concept of Universal Design. It was first described to me in architecture terms, but is also used in curriculum, and anything we do. In architectural terms, Universal Design means creating a building that is accessible for everyone from the very beginning. When making the blueprints, it means making all entrances at the same level, no stairs, and seats large enough to fit all body sizes, and doorways large enough to accommodate wheelchairs. It means lighting that isn’t too bright, and a sound system that works for everyone. I used the word “accommodate” here, but it isn’t an accommodation if it's created for everyone. When Universal Design is used, everyone benefits, and accommodations aren’t needed, because all people were thought of at the beginning of the project. The same can be true of our worship services.
If you want to learn more, I've listed some resources which are available at the link below. All but one are written by Autistic people.
Yours In Christ,
The Rev. Katrina Pekich-Bundy
Pastor, Alma-First
Member of Mission Coordination Committee
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