Nicole’s e-Pistle “Neurodiverse Worship”

April 22, 2026

Greetings, Friends!

Yesterday, I read an interesting article written by the Rev. Dr. Jen Bluestein in “The Presbyterian Outlook” magazine. Her article was entitled, “Welcoming Neurodiversity in Worship,” and it explored how a “neurodiversity lens invites us to reconsider what we define as ‘normal’ in how we think, perceive and experience the world.” Rev. Dr. Jen Bluestein is currently the coordinator of generational leadership development for Grace Presbytery and the project director for Renewed Grace, one of that presbytery’s initiatives. Prior to her current roles, she served as a pediatric chaplain and in churches in Texas and Arkansas.

When people hear the word “neurodivergent,” they often either tune out of the conversation or automatically think of people with autism. However, while it is true that a small percentage of people (only 3% of children and less than 2% of adults) have autism in the United States, neurodivergence covers a wide range of diagnoses, to include ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) among others. While we as a society have a long way to go in creating neurodiverse spaces in which all people may thrive, churches have an opportunity to create safe places for people to worship and enrich their spiritual lives.

When I think of our own congregation and the people I encounter outside of our church who might struggle with our worship style, I imagine a place where an adult that struggles to sit still due to having ADHD might sit in worship and knit or crochet. I imagine a place where a teenager with autism, who easily becomes overstimulated with the constant rustling of paper bulletins or during an organ piece, might wear noise-cancelling headphones to muffle the sounds around him. I imagine an elementary-aged child being able to take her shoes and socks off to put her bare feet on the cold floor – a common coping mechanism that can help a neurodivergent brain regain its literal “grounding.”

Becoming a neurodiverse atmosphere during worship does not mean having to change our whole worship style, but working toward shifting our views of what is “normal” can go a long way in providing a space where all are truly welcome. In other words, does the act of sitting still and wearing shoes really make anyone closer to God? There are cultures where wearing shoes in a sacred space is highly offensive. In India, I got very used to removing my shoes and walking barefoot in people’s homes and churches. It was actually rather freeing… though I washed my feet thoroughly each night!

Bluestein suggests that the first step in becoming a truly inclusive congregation is simply to educate ourselves and examine our own preconceived notions about neurodiversity. I think it is a challenge worth exploring. Through Renewed Grace, Bluestein and others conduct listening sessions with neurodivergent children and their families and share what they learn with their congregations. Likewise, Big Faith Resources, based at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City has a series of videos, discussion guides, and downloadable materials to help churches evaluate their environments and become more inclusive for all ability levels. One of my professors also wrote a helpful book, though she admits the title no longer fits with the concepts of inclusivity. Dr. Rebecca Spurrier, a professor of worship at Columbia Theological Seminary, wrote The Disabled Church: Human Difference and the Art of Communal Worship, which was published in 2019. (A more inclusive title today might have read “The Differently-Abled Church…”) In her book, she explores ways in which worship can integrate liturgical practices and physical spaces that weave people of diverse abilities together in love for God and each other.

In this Easter season, as we celebrate our Risen Lord, I invite us all to imagine how we might rise to the challenge of our own motto to Love First, Love All as it might pertain to creating a more neuroinclusive environment. With God’s help, I think we just might be up to the challenge. What do you think?

Blessings and Peace,