The Grace of Foolishness: What Christians with Dementia can Bring to the Churches

This article explores the place of people with dementia within the Church,moving beyond issues of pastoral challenge to questions of ecclesiological meaning. Three issues in particular are discussed. First, the contribution
to the Church by members who may not understand, behave or communicate in the normal life of the community. Second, the ways in which the church community may receive, value and support such a contribution.And third, the ways in which the distinctive graces brought by those
who are dementing are seen not as disturbance but as enrichment. The ancient Christian tradition of the “Holy Fool” is brought into dialogue with current thinking about dementia.