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"Blessed are the Neurodivergent" is a compassionate, honest and often humorous exploration of what it means to be autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent in a church culture largely built by and for neurotypical people.
Drawing on her experience as a mum of two autistic teens, a pastor's wife, and a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman herself, the author weaves together theology, story and practical wisdom. You'll meet composite case studies like Sam and Dan, whose "behaviour" is so often misread, and hear directly from neurodivergent adults and parents who responded to the author's survey.
This book gently dismantles myths ("you're just not trying hard enough"), explains key concepts in clear, accessible language, and asks hard questions about how sermons, small groups, youth work and unwritten church rules can harm those who experience the world differently. But it doesn't stop at critique: it offers concrete ideas for "reasonable adjustments" and a richer, more biblical vision of the body of Christ, where ND people are not projects but indispensable saints.
Whether you're neurodivergent, love someone who is, or lead in a church, this book will help you understand, repent where needed, and reimagine belonging - for everyone.
— Mark Arnold, Additional Needs Ministry Director, Urban Saints, and co-founder of Additional Needs Al
"This is a deeply compassionate, clear-eyed and much-needed book. With honesty, warmth and a welcome thread of humour, Sophie Killingley opens up the world of neurodivergence in a way that is both disarming and hopeful. Blending personal story, practical insight and thoughtful theology, she helps the church not only understand but genuinely welcome those who have too often felt on the margins. It gently challenges our assumptions and exposes a few of our less helpful habits, doing so with grace rather than a wagging finger. This is a book that will soften hearts, sharpen understanding and help communities become places of belonging. It deserves to be widely read and, just as importantly, put into practice."
— Alastair Gordon, artist and author of Why Art Matters
"What a beautiful Jesus journey as Sophie leads us towards understanding, acceptance and inclusion of neurodiverse people in the body of Christ! With compassion, vulnerability and lots of humour she explains neurodiversity and the challenges kids and adults face, while inviting us to take a bigger look at how our church communities can foster belonging among those who "diverge" from the norm. A much-needed book that will spur lots of a-ha moments and a flurry of ideas on how we can create a community that welcomes and includes all."
— Sheila Wray Gregoire, researcher, author and founder of BareMarriage.com
"What might be possible for the body of Christ if it considered the needs, perspectives and great gifts of its neurodivergent members, both young and old? This book is a wonderful reminder of the vast richness found in the church if we are willing to inhabit the vulnerable love of Jesus. Author and artist Sophie Killingley brings a keen eye and kind heart to this examination. With clear questions and an empathetic voice, this book is a tremendous resource to both everyday parishioners and Christian leaders."
— John Hendrix, New York Times best-selling illustrator, and author of The Mythmakers: The remarkable
"Blessed are the Neurodivergent is an invaluable, eye-opening gift to the church. With wit and wisdom, Sophie Killingley serves as a faithful guide to help us see the beautiful and complex range of neurodiversity within the church. Killingley never claims to speak for everyone, but she does strike a gracious balance in sharing her own experiences alongside those of so many other thoughtful voices. At the heart of it all, this book calls us to a hopeful, biblical approach as we seek to love and care for one another well."
— Scott James, author of The Sower, The Littlest Watchman, Mission Accomplished, The Expected One and
"This book is a clear, compassionate and challenging introduction to neurodiversity, with a focus on autism. Anyone who wants to care well for those with special needs, or for the parents of children with special needs, will benefit from reading it. I warmly commend it to grandparents, other family members, friends, church members and pastors. Come for the cheeky artwork, stay for the hard-won insight."
— Bobby Jamieson, author of Everything Is Never Enough: Ecclesiastes' surprising path to resilient hap
"I was the kid in church who couldn't sit still, asked too many questions and was constantly reprimanded for behaviours that were not, it turns out, spiritual failures. Blessed are the Neurodivergent is the book I wish had existed when I was growing up in the church. And now that I'm raising a few neurodivergent kids of my own, I'm grateful it finally does. Sophie holds the full tension: neurodivergence as a genuine gift and a real disability, church as a wounding place and a hopeful one. The theology is careful, the pastoral honesty is refreshing and the vision of the church that emerges looks a whole lot like Jesus. I needed this thirty years ago. Families like mine will be so glad to have it now."
— Kristen LaValley, author of Growing Up Saved: When loving God feels like losing yourself
"Perhaps it is the unfortunate but inevitable result of human nature, but we tend to find people who are different from us difficult. Or even a threat. As a result, we are reluctant even to try to understand them, let alone make them welcome. Sophie Killingley has known the pain of this, particularly through bringing up two remarkable neurodiverse children, which is why she is so well placed to write this book. I really do think it is vital for all in church leadership to engage very seriously with it. Not only does she help to explain some of the complexities and realities of neurodiversity with characteristic humour and clarity, but she provides a brilliant model for how we should interact with anyone we deem to be "different" somehow. I cannot recommend this enough!"
— Mark Meynell, pastor and teacher, author of When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend
Foreword by Graham Miller vii
Glossary of acronyms ix
Spoken word poem: 'Blessed are the Neurodivergent' xi
Introduction 1
Part 1
1 Defining and debunking 9
2 Let's get technical! 22
3 Further under the neurodivergent umbrella 39
4 Living it 56
5 Parents and carers 67
Letter to parents and carers 84
Psalm 139 88
Part 2
6 A brief theology of neurodiversity in the Old Testament 93
7 Jesus and neurodiversity 107
8 The early church and neurodiversity 122
Letter to neurodivergent adults 137
Part 3
9 The neurodivergent mind and faith 145
10 The neurodivergent mind and practice 160
11 Church culture and neurodiversity 175
12 Where church is getting it right 193
13 A map for the future 206
Letter to church leaders 220