How the Church Can Love Them Too.

New book on Neurodivergence in a Church setting. I will publish each chapter here as it is written before publishing the whole book on-line.

Before we start…..

Neurodiversity is neither strange nor something to fear or mock, in any setting and especially not in church. God loves neurodivergent people, and many neurodivergent people love God. If there is one place where they should feel fully accepted and loved, it should be the church.

Yet there are countless cases of kind, loving neurodivergent people being made to feel unwelcome and rejected in church, sometimes to the point of being pushed out or even asked to leave.

That should never happen in today’s society, and it must never be accepted as normal in any church worthy of the name ‘Christian’.

The book is divided into three parts:

• Part 1: Understanding neurodivergence
• Part 2: The theology of neurodiversity
• Part 3: Practical changes for churches

Before Part 1, Understanding Neurodiversity, we need to know what it is…

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is a concept that recognises and values the natural variation in human brain function and behaviour. It encompasses a wide range of neurological differences, including but not limited to autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others. The term was coined in the late 1990s by sociologist Judy Singer, who is on the autism spectrum. Neurodiversity challenges the notion that there is one “normal” or “right” way to think, learn, or behave, and instead celebrates the diversity of human cognition. It promotes acceptance and inclusion of all neurological differences, advocating for equal opportunities and accommodations for individuals who think, learn, or behave differently.

Neurodiversity? That’s just autism, isn’t it?

NO! Neurodiversity comes in many, many different guises, here are just some of the main variations, most of which we will look at in this book.

Neurodivergence in church

Below is a comprehensive, structured list of recognised forms of neurodivergence, grouped in a way that will help you later when thinking about pastoral care, inclusion, sensory environments, communication, and theology.

Core Neurodevelopmental Conditions

These are the conditions most commonly associated with the term neurodivergent.

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) differences in social communication, sensory processing, and patterns of behaviour or interests.
• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) differences in attention regulation, impulse control, and energy levels.
• Tourette Syndrome characterised by motor and vocal tics, often fluctuating in intensity.
• Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) challenges with motor planning, coordination, and sometimes organisation.
• Dyslexia differences in reading, language processing, and phonological awareness.
• Dyscalculia differences in numerical reasoning and mathematical processing.
• Dysgraphia difficulties with handwriting, written expression, and fine motor skills.
• Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) difficulty interpreting sounds, especially speech in noisy environments.
• Visual Processing Disorder challenges interpreting visual information (not related to eyesight).

Cognitive & Learning Differences

These are sometimes included under the neurodivergent umbrella because they shape how a person processes information.

• Intellectual Disability / Learning Disability
• Giftedness / Twice-Exceptionality (2e) high cognitive ability combined with another neurodivergence.
• Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NVLD) strong verbal skills but difficulty with spatial, social, or nonverbal cues.

Sensory Processing Differences

These often overlap with other conditions but can also stand alone.

• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory input (sound, light, touch, movement, etc.).
• Sensory Integration Disorder difficulty organising and responding to sensory information.

Mental Health–Related Neurodivergence

Not all mental health conditions are considered neurodivergent, but some are increasingly included because they involve atypical brain functioning.

• OCD (Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder)
• PTSD / Complex PTSD
• Bipolar Disorder
• Schizophrenia-spectrum conditions
• Anxiety disorders (in some definitions)
• Depression (in some definitions)

Note: There is debate here some communities include these under neurodivergence, others keep them separate. For a church-focused book, it may be helpful to acknowledge both perspectives.

Genetic & Chromosomal Conditions Affecting Neurodevelopment

These conditions often involve cognitive, sensory, or behavioural differences.

• Down Syndrome
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Turner Syndrome
• Williams Syndrome
• Rett Syndrome
• Prader–Willi Syndrome
• Angelman Syndrome

Other Neurological Differences Sometimes Included

These are not always labelled “neurodivergent,” but many people identify with the term because their brains function differently from the neurotypical norm and sufferers often have associated neurodivergent symptoms..

• Epilepsy
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
• Chronic tic disorders (non-Tourette)
• Language Processing Disorders
• Hyperlexia advanced reading ability with accompanying comprehension or social differences.

Identity-Based Neurodivergence

Some people identify as neurodivergent based on cognitive style rather than a diagnosis.

• Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
• Synesthesia sensory crossover (e.g., seeing colours when hearing sounds).
• Aphantasia / Hyperphantasia absence or intensity of mental imagery.

For churches, here are the categories that matter most pastorally

Churches tend to encounter challenges and opportunities in these areas:

1. Communication differences (Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, APD)
2. Sensory needs (Autism, SPD, Tourette’s, epilepsy)
3. Behavioural differences (ADHD, Tourette’s, learning disabilities)
4. Processing differences (dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia)
5. Emotional regulation differences (ADHD, PTSD, bipolar)
6. Social expectations and norms (Autism, NVLD, intellectual disability)

These categories can help you think more clearly about church needs in worship, preaching, pastoral care, children’s ministry, and leadership inclusion.

A question to help shape your book

This book will hopefully help you focus on:

• Explaining neurodivergence to churches,
• Helping churches adapt environments and practices,
• Developing a theology of neurodiversity?

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© Richard J Kirk  – 2026. If you want to know
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