New Creation Conversations Episode 035 - Prof. Daniel Bowman Jr. and Rev. Julie Keith on Autism, Neurodiversity in the Church, and Life on the Spectrum

Welcome to episode thirty-five of New Creation Conversations. In today’s conversation I am joined by two people who help me have an important and thoughtful conversation about the church’s ministry and inclusion of people with autism and other forms of neurodiversity. My first guest is Daniel Bowman Jr. – Associate Professor of English at Taylor University. Professor Bowman is a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College and has Master’s Degrees from The University of Cincinnati and Seattle Pacific University. He has published a collection of poems entitled A Plum Tree in Leatherstocking County and has written for a number of literary publications and journals. Our conversation centers around his brand new book from Brazos Press entitled On the Spectrum: Autism, Faith, and the Gift of Neurodiversity. It is an excellent book that is semi-biographical – telling the story of his self-discovery of being on the autism spectrum – as well as reflecting with others about how the church can both bless and be blessed by sharing life with people who embody various forms of neurodiversity.

 My second guest is my longtime friend and former ministry colleague from Pasadena First days – Rev. Julie Keith. Julie is now the Associate Pastor of Children and Families as the Tahachapi Church of the Nazarene in Central California. Pastor Julie has spent several years ministering to both children and adults with autism or other unique needs, and she has wonderful advice for how churches can include people in all of our uniqueness and diversity as well as minister to families navigating life that now includes autism or other cognitive or emotional challenges.

 It is a little bit of a different episode and conversation this week, but one that is increasingly important and I hope beneficial as we attempt to be the Body of Christ celebrating and including all of unique and essential members of the body. Here are my conversations with Professor Daniel Bowman and Pastor Julie Keith.