Hi, my name is Wendela Whitcomb Marsh, but you can call me Wendy, or Pastor Wendy if you prefer. I’m an ordained minister and I hold a religious studies doctorate in pastoral counseling, with a specialization in autism. I was raised in the Protestant Christian faith, and both of my grandfathers were Nazarene ministers. Over the years, I’ve  worshipped with Methodists, Lutherans, and Quakers.  My late husband, David, was an autistic pastor, and of our 3 disabled adult children, two of them are both autistic and transgender. In 2016 I retired from a career in special education and psychology, and now I love writing books, and my group practice, Adult Autism Assessment & Services.

I felt called to start The SWAN Church as a resource for anyone who is seeking acceptance, especially people who have been marginalized and those who no longer feel safe or welcome in traditional churches. Because a lot of the neurodivergent folk I know struggle with time management, there are no set times for worship here, so you’ll never be late.

I love the rich breadth and depth of human experience and worship traditions from around the world, and I find all beliefs fascinating and valuable. At The SWAN Church we draw from many faith backgrounds and scriptures. It is not intended to be your only church option, but it could supplement your own faith and worship. You choose which videos speak to your condition, as the Quakers say, and ignore the rest. If there is a particular kind of message you want to hear, let me know in the comments and I’ll do my best to meet your worship needs.

I’m glad you found us. You belong here, and we love you just the way you are, no mask required.