ACC Accord Summer 2021 Issue 111

Autism and Pastoral Care
by Emma McCaffrey
My name is Emma and I
attend the Salvation Army
in Edinburgh. I sing with the
adult choir (Songsters), the young
people’s choir – though I probably
should have retired by now – and
I play tenor horn with the brass
band.
Outside of church, my mum likes to
call me an ‘advocate’ or ‘activist’. I
dabble in acting and video editing.
During covid, I made a film for the
Salvation Army to give to prisoners
and also did some filming for
my mum’s Sunday school. I am
a member of a theatre company
called Lung Ha and have been
acting in theatre since 2013. I was in
the National Theatre of Scotland’s
production of a show called ‘The
Reason I Jump’. I also volunteer for
a charity called ‘get2gether’ where
I film their work and also write and
perform murder mysteries. I do not
currently have a ‘job’ besides all
that. I spend most days in my room
and when not busy, I play video
games like Fallout, Elder Scrolls and
Hitman. I love roleplay games.
I’m also autistic with learning
difficulties.
Autism is an individual disability –
basically you’re not going to meet
one person with the condition
and suddenly you know what we
are like. A lot of autistic people
do not have learning difficulties
and hold steady jobs as doctors,
teachers, even church leaders etc,
while others need extra care due
to physical difficulties autism can
cause.
I’m in a unique situation as I was
born into the Salvation Army. My
parents met in the William Booth
College and became Officers
(church ministers). This meant
that as an ‘officer’s kid’ – besides
often helping my parents with the
sermons – the word of Jesus was
something I was very aware of, to
the point it could get rather boring.
Still, I liked Jesus – he was
everything an adult should be.
Kind, considerate – he wasn’t
going to get mad at your sins; he
knew if you were trying your best.
And as an autistic kid who wasn’t
diagnosed till 11, that was a big
deal. If no one else could see my
struggling and trying my best, at
least Jesus could.
Whilst I’m ok meeting new people
of different faiths, being in new
buildings of worship is a whole
different animal to tackle. Along
with new people, there’s the
colours, the smell, and the fact
I don’t know the building well. I
have the same trouble going to
new coffee shops or cafes – I end
up rehearsing what I’m going to
say and if my first encounter in a
building isn’t at all pleasant, I don’t
go there again unless I have to.
That can be an issue when an
autistic person of faith wants to
join a church and some autistic
Christian people end up staying
home rather than facing a new
building and/or new people.
So why bother with church? I have
found that Christians – in fact most
people of faith – badly want to be
the best person they can be. They
do not in fact, want to feel hate,,
but to love. A lot of autistic people
feel the pressure to do good and to
feel some acceptance is immense;
it’s a lonely disability to have and
finding friends that accept you for
who you are is a rare find. I find
acceptance in Christ. That makes
the search for good friends easier.
On the down side, society including
religious groups can create harmful
stereotypes for people with autism,
because disabled people are often
seen by others as lamenting their
fate, in need of help, using their
disability to gain power, or even
worse their disability is seen as a
‘symbol’ of their evil.
I must point out that this is my own
opinion. A lot of people reading this
on the spectrum will disagree with
my choice of language and opinion
– people are different.
My own relationship with Christ is
both distant and close. I pray each
night to keep my family, church
family and friends safe and happy,
but I do not really bring my religion
up with friends or strangers. Nor
do I read my Bible often – I watch
videos and listen to music more
often instead. As a matter of fact,
the first time a friend finds out
my religion is when I am invited
to a pub and I have to explain as
a Salvation Army member why I
won’t be drinking alcohol.
At my church, they are eager to
let me know that I am wanted.
I’m one of the younger members
at 28. I like to talk to the children
– I sing and play horn. I get a lift
to and from church (pre-covid)
and I am still in contact with
members through Facebook and
Zoom. I play and invent quizzes (I
win most). Sometimes during a
service, I will leave the room and
sit outside to listen to the sermon
rather than be in the same room
if the lights are too bright, or I feel
tired after an hour or two in one
room full of people. My church
family accept that this is what I
do. I will sometimes even help
in Sunday school or make sure
biscuits are ready after the service.
Outside of church, they attend my
shows and invite me to dinner or
cinemas. I don’t always fancy it,
but the thought is appreciated.
Despite my weird sense of humour,
strong opinions and at times odd
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