Neurodivergent people bring creativity, insight and gifts that enrich our churches and communities.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a chance to celebrate the unique ways God has created each of us. Throughout this week we are sharing a series of short videos highlighting different perspectives and experiences of neurodiversity in the life of the Church. We hope they spark conversation, deepen understanding and help our churches become places where everyone can belong and flourish.
Creating a safe culture for neurodivergent people
The Bishop of Buckingham, the Rt Revd Dave Bull, is lead bishop for Equality Diversity and Inclusion in the diocese. He said:
“Every person we ever meet is precious to God, and they have the potential to make a one-of-a-kind contribution to the life of the church. Our prejudice stops us from seeing this potential and our EDI work is about helping us learn to see all people as Jesus sees them... Where people feel they can be fully themselves and freely use the gifts that they bring – often because of their different way of thinking – our churches become more like the communities God designed them to be.”
The diocesan Neurodiversity Forum
Our Neurodiversity Forum will serve people across the diocese. The forum is for lay and ordained people in leadership who identify as neurodivergent, whether they have been diagnosed or not. It will be a space to make connections, support and encourage each other. We all have strategies for ways to help ourselves and some things we find really easy so great to share.
The Revd Jane Hemmings, the Area Director of Ordinands for Dorchester, said:
“Things can be tough in ministry for everyone. Our neurodiversities can be very helpful or make things a bit more difficult. Want to share wisdom and support each other. We expect it to develop into what it needs to.”
Details of a big launch event on 13 May at 2-4pm this year will be made available in the coming months.