Neurodiversity: West Fargo Flame of Faith

"We can look at a million stars in the sky that are incredible and blow me away when it comes to God's creation. And yet the same kind of diversity of God's creation is in our very brains and in the people around us."

Pastor Sara McManus' words capture one piece of the theological foundation that fuels ministry with neurodivergent children and adults at Flame of Faith United Methodist Church in West Fargo, ND. Ignited by the desire to acknowledge and meet the needs of their congregation, many of whom are neurodivergent, Flame of Faith has been intentional about designing its worship and ministries to include all people.

"We don't want the church to ever be a place where someone feels like they are not loved and included for who they are," said Elizabeth Ewing-Lee, lay member at Flame of Faith.

At the 2023 Dakotas Annual Conference session, Flame of Faith's work with the neurodivergent community was honored with the Streams of Justice award. This award celebrates the efforts of ministries that help people find their voice and gain respect, dignity, and fair treatment. It also brings light to the way in which the work of justice inspires other ministries seeking to transform our world into a more inclusive place.  

At that same gathering, members of the Annual Conference also approved legislation forming a Conference committee on disability concerns and ministries. Members elected to serve on that committee include Rev. Quaya Ackerman—Rapid Valley UMC, Rev. Veronica Fleming—Arthur UMC, Katie Clark—Valley City Epworth UMC, Gene Mason—Rapid City Open Heart UMC, Al Aman—Jamestown St. Paul's UMC, and Josh Russiff—West Fargo Flame of Faith UMC. This group will support churches and groups seeking to facilitate formal and informal groups such as Circle of Friends or other disability ministry and outreach programs.

Across the denomination, the Disability Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church plays a crucial role in leading United Methodists toward a culture of full inclusion. Their work ensures that people with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of worship, leadership, ministry, and mission. For individuals and churches seeking to engage in this important mission, the committee's website offers a wealth of information and resources.

Even as the Flame of Faith congregation has led the way in these ministries in the Dakotas Conference, they continue to discover new opportunities and engage in more training. They seek to embrace a philosophy of loving people where they're at and in ways that are not always acknowledged.

As lay member Josh Russiff describes, "Neurodivergency is really good because it brings a different crowd of people into the church, and it allows them to experience faith in their own ways."