Journey With Care

Differently Wired in Community | Neurodiversity and the Church With Dr. Kelly Friesen


Listen Later

Partner with work of CareImpact and Journey With Care!

https://careimpact.ca/donate

Description

How can the church better support neurodiverse individuals within its community? Wendi Park and Johan Heinrichs engage with Dr. Kelly Friesen to tackle this pressing issue, exploring her research on the often negative experiences of neurodivergent individuals in church settings. As a certified neuroscience coach and minister, Dr. Friesen highlights key challenges such as sensory sensitivities and the lack of awareness among church leaders. She emphasizes the need for churches to foster an inclusive atmosphere with practical measures like quiet rooms and sensitivity to language. The conversation underscores the importance of humility, learning, and trust-building within the church and advocates for training programs to better educate church leadership. Dr. Friesen aims to ensure that all congregation members feel seen and supported, regardless of neurotype. Join us on this insightful journey towards creating a more inclusive faith communities.

Time Stamps

[05:58] Value in seeing individuals beyond labels.

[09:54] God's call stems from background and experience.

[11:09] Humble acknowledgment of diverse perspectives leads growth.

[14:22] Neurodivergent people trust but face challenges.

[17:41] Creating inclusive environment for all neurotypes is important.

[21:43] Empathy and responsiveness create inclusive congregations.

[24:27] Society should embrace and support neurodiversity.

[30:46] Share stories through books, articles; see individuals.

[33:38] Focus on God, forgive quickly, set boundaries.

Guest Links

Dr. Kelly Friensen's website: https://www.kellyfriesen.ca/

Other Links

Join The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/

Reach out to us! https://careimpact.ca/podcast

Email: [email protected]

About the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportal

DONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the Eh Team!

Be one of 158 Canadians building stronger communities through compassion.

https://careimpact.ca/donate
Donate by April 15 to win a Canadian Care Package (includes a night at CanadInns!).

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Journey With CareBy CareImpact