My Account

Dear Church

Dear Church, You might not know this, but I have a disability. I want to be in church; I really do. But some weeks it is very hard to be here. My disability goes everywhere I go: to work, to school, to the grocery store, to the dentis, and to church. Some people might already […]

Dear Church,

You might not know this, but I have a disability. I want to be in church; I really do. But some weeks it is very hard to be here. My disability goes everywhere I go: to work, to school, to the grocery store, to the dentis, and to church.

Some people might already know that I have a disability, but most times, you cannot tell if someone has a disability just by looking at them. Because my disability may be unknown to you, there may be things you do not understand. If you did understand my perspective, perhaps I would feel more seen, known, loved, and included.

I have depression. I’m late to service because getting out of bed takes all I have. 

I have anxiety. My inner voice often tells me I am not good enough to experience God’s love and grace.

I have ADHD. Passively sitting through a sermon feels unbearable. 

I have sensory processing disorder. Your intense lights and sounds can be overwhelming. 

I have autism. I am stressed by a change in routine or sudden change of plans. 

I have a learning disability. I often get lost listening to long monologues without visual aides or engaging questions.

I have bipolar. Sometimes I miss church because I was up all night the night before and could not get to sleep, no matter how hard I tried. 

I have vision loss. Sometimes the font size and style in the weekly bulletin is too small or too busy.

I have hearing loss. Background noise can be distracting and confusing.

I have a wheelchair for mobility. Your restrooms are difficult for me to maneuver around in.

I have a traumatic brain injury. There is no space for my caretaker to sit next to me in church.

I have dyslexia. Reading Bible passages aloud to my Sunday school class can be very stressful.

I have a compromised immune system. It is safer for me to access church online. 

I have an intellectual disability. It is difficult for me to find a Bible study to join.

I live in a group home. I have limited transportation to and from church. 

I am a member of the body of Christ. I long to be seen, known, loved, and included in my church. 

Sincerely,

25% of the US Population Affected By Disability 

Originally posted May 25, 2023

About Bronwyn Murphy:

Bronwyn is committed to connecting with and supporting churches to build thriving communities for those with disabilities and special needs. Bronwyn currently serves as the Inclusion Coordinator at University Covenant Church in Davis, CA and equips churches and families impacted by disability in the Evangelical Covenant Church. She holds a special education credential with previous experience educating children and teens in public school and residential settings. She is married with 3 children and is an avid San Francisco 49ers fan. Bronwyn is available for consultation, training, and speaking.
Read more by Bronwyn Murphy

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