Day 22 - Fearfully and wonderfully made

Experts tell us that autism affects about 2% of people, and that males are up to ten times more likely to be on the autistic spectrum than females. At Witney Congregational Church we have a much higher than average number of people who are living with autism, about 10%.

The terminology around autism has changed; professionals are careful to say “a person with autism” but autistic people prefer the straightforward adjective. “Having an ASD” (autism spectrum disorder) is common parlance in the U.S. but I dislike that word “disorder”, which has connotations of needing to be fixed or cured. Paddy McGuinness, in a recent BBC documentary entitled Our Family and Autism, said of Leo, Penelope and Felicity: “There’s nothing wrong with our children, it’s everything else around them”.

Autism affects how people communicate (the footballer Paul Scholes’ son Aiden is sixteen and non-verbal); learn (in 2019 29% of children who had an EHC plan were classified as autistic); behave (meltdowns are common) and interact socially. (An Education, Health and Care plan is for children who need greater support than special educational needs support.)

The naturalist and TV presenter Christ Packham, an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, said “The greatest discomfort for autistic people can be the social one. For me, I was confused by the way people behaved”. Paul Scholes, talking about Aidan said: “He’s never going to be neurotypical”. That is another jargon word to absorb; if you are autistic you are described as neurodivergent by medical professionals. On Healthline.com we read: “People who support the use of terms such as neuro¬typical and neuro¬diverse believe that autism doesn’t need a cure. They believe the differences it presents in people should be respected and celebrated”. Hooray!

We were all created unique by a loving creator God. Although those words are not actually scriptural, surely a God who knows how many hairs we have on our heads (Matthew 10:30) and who was involved as we were being formed in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:13) made sure we are all unique?

I suspect that as we are labelled non-conformist churches, we have an advantage in attracting those who find it difficult to conform. So, how do we approach, welcome and include autistic people in our churches? By forgetting their label and getting to know them as individuals – just like anyone else. We are all special.

Let us pray:

God our creator, we thank you that we are fearfully and wonderfully made or, as the Message says: we thank you, High God - you’re breath-taking! Body and soul, we are marvellously made!

Jesus our Redeemer, help us to remember that you died for all – whatever labels society forces on us, you love us and desire to have a relationship with us. When you walked this earth, you broke bread with many people and accepted them – show us how to copy you.

Holy Spirit, help us to nurture those who struggle intellectually and assure them that you see them as whole, not broken. Draw us all closer to our loving God, Amen.

Elaine Kinchin