Donate to ADNet!

Use your credit card to contribute online to ADNet via any of these methods:

Mennonite Church USA

Donate Now Through Network for Good

Or send a check to the address below.

Thank you for supporting the work of ADNet!

Contact ADNet
Anabaptist Disabilities Network
PO Box 959
Goshen, IN 46527-0959
Phone: 574-535-7053
Ph/Fax: 877-214-9838


Churches and MCS

Introductory Resources

How the Church Can Help the Chemically Sensitive by Mary Davis
Ms. Davis is a free-lance writer who focuses primarily on environmental issues. This article appeared in the Christian Century, April 2, 1986.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Accessibility for United Methodist Churches
Useful for churches of other denominations as well.

Canary Sanctuaries. Fragrance free worship registry and related resources.

MCS Tips and Information How can the church respond to the issue of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity? How can the church be supportive of persons who face the challenges of living with this disease? Select a link to browse through the MCS tips and information which will appear below. You can also download a copy of all of these tips. See also the stories and additional information in the right column.


For the church community as a whole:

  • Accept the accommodations persons with MCS must make in order to come to church:
    • Do not be offended if a person with MCS can't hug or get too close. Warn a person with MCS if she wants to hug you and you are wearing fragrance.
    • Don't be surprised if a person with MCS can't come to church, can't stay for the whole service, or must come to church wearing a mask.
  • Keep in contact with persons who can't attend church being aware, however, that some are so sensitive that even visits, phone calls, and emails are difficult.
  • When you visit that person, be sure to be scent-free by taking a shower ahead of time, and refraining from using any chemicals (perfume, cologne, hair spray, hand lotion, fingernail polish, etc.).  Even if you put on scented products hours before, they could still be too much for a person with MCS.  If weather permits, meet the individual outdoors rather than entering their house.
  • Always serve water (rather than only colored punch) at social functions.  Chemicals in food coloring can be toxic to people with MCS. 
  • Encourage insurance companies to work with MCS patients and doctors.
  • Be sensitive to hardships on the whole family due to extra expenses of MCS treatment.  For example, volunteer to take the rest of the family on an all expense paid outing.
  • Make your church building fully accessible by raising awareness of toxic and scented chemicals and establishing a fragrance reduction policy

 Return 
MCS Stories & Info

Many files on ADNet Online require the use of the Adobe Reader. This is available free of charge for all operating systems from Adobe. Click on the icon below to download the latest version.

Get Acrobat Reader Web logo
BibleGateway.com
Google
WWW ADNet
Login Button
ADNet Online 2010/ Site design by Ruth J. Smucker