For most of my life I have served in United Methodist Church ministry settings, being born into a multiracial family with teaching missionary pastor parents in the foothills of Appalachia. I did not realize until my own adult life as a professional educator and teacher of teachers, that our emergency adoptive and foster care home that specialized in complex exceptional needs was really a case study in unconditional love centered around issues of compassion and justice. My 'Deacon's Heart' is to serve the at-risk, disadvantaged, and underserved populations. This fuels my passion to address the challenges of welcoming individuals with life-threatening invisible illnesses, such as allergies or chemical sensitivities, in the church setting and related church-sponsored activities beyond our walls. My own experiences while growing up in the church began when I developed a life-threatening response to cinnamon from an accidental overdose of homemade apple butter. Now during my adult life in ministry, I continue to find children and adults who need an advocate for a safe space for all members of the faith community and their guests to worship God and fully participate in all ministry activities of the church. 

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A friend wants to attend church but can't go inside without getting sick from the fragrances and chemicals, so she sits on the steps and tries to catch as much of the service as she can. A mother with asthma would love to be part of a local congregation but hasn't been able to sit through a worship service for fifteen years because of all the scented products used by members. A teenage daughter avoids the youth group because the fragrances worn by others give her a severe migraine headache. A son has severe allergic reactions from the pollen in the Easter lilies and has to stay home on Easter.

People with severe allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities have an invisible disability that is seldom considered when churches work to eliminate barriers to participation. People with sensitivities often report that their concerns are not taken seriously, and that members are offended when asked to avoid wearing perfume or using scented laundry products. How can we change the culture of our churches so that all of us can safely worship?
 

The Northern Alabama conference Disability Ministry team offers one possible model. They challenged churches to adopt a Fragrance Reduction Policy - essentially a covenant in which congregations commit to be fragrance free.  Team convener Deb Wade introduced the issue in a recent newsletter article:

"Six percent of the U.S. population experiences medically diagnosed chemical sensitivity. Another fifteen percent self-reports this sensitivity. Did you know that 95% of the fragrances in colognes, perfumes, after-shave and hair care products, lotions, powders, some detergents and fabric softeners and other personal and clothing-care products are synthetic petrochemicals? The National Academy of Sciences has established that many of these chemicals are toxic." 

 
A portion of the model policy reads "Whereas, we the people of Anywhere UMC take seriously the words of I Corinthians 12 that remind us that we are all one body in Christ Jesus and that, in order to be whole we need all parts of the body to be present; Whereas, we the people of Anywhere UMC understand that a growing number of our brothers and sisters have diagnosed chemical sensitivities to fragrances we hereby covenant together to implement this policy for our church family." 

Because a pastor's wife had severe sensitivities, Boise First UMC created a fragrance-free afternoon worship service. Worship took place in a stone chapel made with natural materials which could be cleaned differently than the main building. A more inclusive solution is to use a glassed-in "cry" room so participants can see the whole service. This room should be stripped of carpets and other off-gassing substances and natural flooring installed. Products to use include stone, polished contrete, and ceramic tile. A separate ventilation system, or at least windows that open to a landscaped area other than a parking lot or street, help improve air quality. Posted signs request that only people who use no scented laundry or beauty products enter the room. 

Several churches in Minnesota are working to eliminate the use of fragrances. Moose Lake UMC states their fragrance-free policy on the welcome page of their website, mentioning it in the context of their accessibility features.  For the past nine years people attending worship have used fragrance-free products because they know it makes all the difference for several active church members. The church also avoids any use of fresh flowers. Richfield UMC (Minneapolis) includes this notice in their Sunday bulletin:
 

Establishing a fragrance-free area in the sanctuary may help people with milder sensitivities and allergies. Aldersgate UMC in Carrollton, TX, marks their fragrance-free section with green ribbons. Education is ongoing in this and other churches, as it takes time to revise habits of a life-time. Parish nurses can be especially effective in teaching the congregation how to reduce fragrance and chemical use for the health of all of us.

Fragrances aren't the only consideration. Chemicals in photocopied bulletins, petroleum-based candles, scented/ harsh cleaning products, and weed killer or pesticide applications can trigger symptoms in people who are sensitive. A fragrance-free policy must involve the trustees, custodian, church school teachers, kitchen committee, office manager, and anyone else who has authority to purchase or who uses chemical products. Success comes only when all parties understand and contribute to this ministry. 

Churches that go the extra length to accommodate people with allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivity have found they attract worshipers from a variety of backgrounds who are delighted to finally be able to worship in community without getting sick.  Pastor Rich Edwards from Moose Lake, where four of the 30 regular worshipers have a sensitivity or severe allergies, said "The people with these sensitivities are extremely grateful to find a church that welcomes them and accommodates them." 
      

When a grade school boy developed anaphylactic shock and was hospitalized after touching a church door handle that had a bit of nut oil on it, Anderson UMC in Cincinnati, OH realized the need to develop a nut-free policy. Their Nut-Free Campus procedures have attracted more families with children with such allergies. The church website spells out the policy and lists many items to be avoided which contain nut products, but also notes that it is impossible to guarantee full compliance. Signs throughout the church remind people to avoid bringing food with nuts, and members instruct others new to the church in allergy-safe procedures. 

 
A child with a severe nut allergy motivated Central UMC in Endicott, NY, to develop an Allergy Aware program and policy. Parents of children with such allergies are required to provide an emergency plan with details on emergency treatment. The form is kept in the church kitchen as well as the child's classroom. The church also has a general food allergy emergency procedure. This church found some resistance to eliminating nuts, and realized the importance of providing alternative foods for people who need protein rather than sweet snacks who had relied on peanuts in the past. Once members understood the reason for the restrictions and the life-threatening nature of nut allergies they began to accept the changes.
 

The Arkansas Annual Conference considers food allergy safety a part of creating Safe Sanctuaries and has a policy and forms that can be adapted for local church use. An incident in a local church where a child had a severe allergic reaction stimulated a district superintendent to make allergy safety a priority. The policy was endorsed and issued by the bishop and cabinet, which led many churches to adopt an Allergy Awareness Policy and Action Plan. Karen Swales, conference Children's Ministries Coordinator emphasizes the need for food allergy planning when she gives workshops on vacation Bible School, and provides attendees with a list of generally safe snack foods in addition to teaching which foods to avoid. 

 
Most adults can advocate for themselves and select safe foods if provided with ingredient information. Manito UMC in Spokane, WA, developed the "Potluck Alert" program with a series of wipe-off cards that clip to dishes to alert people of potential allergens. There are four different types of labels. In addition to Allergy Alert cards, which list the most common food allergens, there are Meat Alert labels helpful for vegetarians, Diet Alert cards to label items that are low-fat or gluten or dairy-free, and Special Alert cards for additional information or to attach the recipe. The biggest challenge is remembering to use the labels consistently. Several churches have realized the need for one or two individuals who assume ownership of the program and ensure that the food labels are available and visible for each event. Please download the Potluck Alert program instructions and labels, which are free for use by any church.

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