Church & MCS - Anabaptist Disabilities Network

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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 persons with MCS

For persons with MCS (and all of us to consider)

For persons in charge of church maintenance

For persons being sensitive to those around them with MCS

For the church community as a whole

For persons with MCS:

Join a support group if possible. It helps to know others experiencing the same strange symptoms.
Take a positive attitude toward adjustments in lifestyle and appearance (i.e. needing to wear 100% cotton clothing, avoiding makeup and hair permanents, etc.)
Get a face mask or respirator and don't be afraid to wear it in public. Wash your hands before taking off the mask, especially if you shake hands with others.
Arrive at church at a different time than others. Crossing a busy parking lot can make a person with MCS too sick to function before even getting to the building.
Change clothes and/or take a shower right after church. Scents of which you are not aware can be transferred to your clothes, hair, and skin.
Make your home a scent and chemical free sanctuary. Anyone who enters the home at any time must respect this.
Assist doctors with an assertive but friendly spirit in getting information about MCS. (Many are uninformed about this illness and its symptoms.)

MCS Stories & Info

MCS Story - Mariann Martin

MCS Story - Peter J. Neufeld

MCS story - Pat Becker

MCS story - Roberta Krehbiel

MCS Tips

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