Building Church culture for ‘Belonging’
Wednesday 4 March 2026
7.30pm to 9.30pm
Free
A webinar hosted by St James and Emmanuel, in association with the Centre for Autism and Theology
Sign up via ZoomOverview
In this webinar, we continue to explore the foundations of a church that is characterised by ‘belonging’. We build on our 2024 webinar’s topic of “Made in the Image of God” (a theological perspective), by exploring the subject: Building a Church Culture for Belonging” – with particular emphasis on “hidden differences”.
St James and Emmanuel
St James and Emmanuel is an Anglican parish in Didsbury, south Manchester, UK. Its vision in brief embraces ‘Belonging, Believing and Becoming’, and its inclusive conviction in being a church for everyone guides its work in sharing the gospel.
The Centre for Autism and Theology (CAT)
CAT was set up by Grant Macaskill and fellow Director Léon van Ommen at Aberdeen University in 2018. It aims to provide an international hub for research into autism and theology. It recognises the interdisciplinary aspect of this research and collaborates with the third sector and various interested individuals and parties. To this end, CAT hosts interdisciplinary research into autism in Christian faith communities. It aims to encourage research of the highest standards and to engage in dialogue with various faith communities. CAT aspires to work actively together with both autistic people and faith communities.
Contributors
Dr Penny Pullan
Penny is a consultant, speaker and facilitator focused on the leadership of change. She is a director of Making Projects Work Ltd. Penny has a diagnosis of ADHD and has undertaken research in the area of ‘unseen’ illnesses and disabilities in the church context. She is writing a book for SCM Press with the title: ‘Seeing the Unseen’. Penny provided leadership input to the Church of England’s ‘Enabling Leaders’ programme for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent leaders in 2025. A lay minister for many years, she is currently in training for ordination’ alongside leading Durham Common Awards MA and BA modules in ‘Leadership and Collaboration’ and ‘Leadership for the Future Church’ at St Hild Theological College.
Dr Léon van Ommen
Léon is a researcher in the Department of Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. He is also a co-founder and Co-Director of the Centre for Autism and Theology at the University. Léon’s research centres on neurodiversity (esp. autism) in relation to church communities. He has written extensively on the concept of normalcy – the group dynamics that shape church culture and that lead to the exclusion of those to ‘do not fit’.
Dr Krysia Waldock
Krysia is a neurodivergent and disabled scholar activist, and interdisciplinary weaver of research. Krysia’s PhD (University of Kent) explored autistic people’s inclusion and belonging in Churches and Mosques, combining both Religious Studies and Critical Autism Studies perspectives. Krysia is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Swansea University, EDI officer for the BSA SocRel Study group and a part of the Church of England’s Neurodiversity Working Group. Krysia is also a podcast host for the Autism and Theology podcast. You can read more of Krysia’s work at: linktr.ee/krysia.waldock
Stewart Rapley
Stewart is a PhD candidate at CAT, where his research is looking at the autism discourse in the UK from a theological perspective. Stewart is a member at St James & Emmanuel church (SJE) in Didsbury, Manchester. He was diagnosed as autistic in 2006 at the age of 52. Since retirement, Stewart has undertaken MA research into the way in which the ‘different thinking’ of autistic people can affect their sense of belonging in the church context. He hosts discussion groups for autistic and ADHD Christians and co-ordinates a ‘Neurodiversity group’ at SJE.
Format
| Welcome and introduction Stewart Rapley | 10 mins |
| Influences from national culture Penny Pullan | 15 mins |
| The cult of normalcy Léon van Ommen | 15 mins |
| Break | 10 mins |
| Espoused and operant theology Krysia Waldock | 15 mins |
| What are we learning in practice? Stewart Rapley | 15 mins |
| Break | 10 mins |
| Panel Q&A | 20 mins |
| Summary and close Stewart Rapley | 10 mins |