a woman wearing a surgical mask worships at church.

Autoimmune Conditions

It is estimated that between 15 and 24 million people in the US have at least one autoimmune condition, and that women are impacted more than men, making up between 63-80% of those affected.[i] People with autoimmune conditions often face challenges that limit their ability to participate in church life, including: fatigue, frequent illness from a compromised immune system, period flares when symptoms are worse, and an unknown future due to complication from the disease. These challenges can greatly impact a person’s emotional and spiritual wellbeing, and congregations should work to provide a supportive and safe place for people with autoimmune conditions. Conditions include: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, Chron’s disease, and more.

[i] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11827834/

Tips for Caring for those with Autoimmune Conditions

For Congregations

  • Encourage congregants who are sick to stay home. Many people with autoimmune conditions are immunocompromised because of the medication used to treat them, making them more susceptible to illness and more likely to experience severe illness than others.
  • Create a mask-friendly culture. Work to create a nonjudgemental environment where people can feel comfortable wearing masks if they choose. Consider creating a mask-only section in your worship space where immunocompromised congregants can sit without fear of contracting illness.
  • Encourage basic hygiene practices. Provide hand sanitizer in public areas and encourage hand-washing before shared meals to prevent the spread of disease.
  • Accommodate food allergies and other dietary needs. Many people with autoimmune conditions also have food allergies. For example, those with celiac disease have a severe allergy to gluten. Provide allergy labels for potlucks and other shared meals and consider having a separate area where gluten-free food can be served without the risk of cross-contamination. Provide gluten-free and nut-free bread for communion services.
  • Emphasize Sabbath practices. We live in a culture that values people based on their productivity and work. Even in congregations we too often focus on “doing” at the expense of “being.” Remind congregants that they are welcome just as they are, regardless of their ability to fill a volunteer role or contribute monetarily to the congregation.

For Individuals

  • Check in regularly if you know someone in the congregation with an autoimmune condition.
  • If someone is experiencing a flare or other period of difficulty, offer practical support as you are able, such as: bringing them a meal, offering to clean their house, providing rides to appointments, offering to grocery shop or run errands.
  • Provide an attentive listening ear to the person without offering suggestions of cures or judgment that they are not getting better.
  • If you interact with someone at church who is masked, ask before shaking hands or touching them.