St. John the Evangelist - Ancient Faith, Modern Relevance

St. John's Missions Group is at the very early stages of developing a ministry for the severely hearing impaired. The following is a write-up by the team leader, Jim Cushing. For more details, feel free to talk to Jim directly.

 Introduction

When people think of missionary work they often think of going abroad, being immersed into a new culture, and learning a new language. Fortunately for those less inclined to travel for whatever reason (the very large bugs of a rain forest come to mind), one can remain right in their own community and still engage in mission work that involves immersion into a new culture and learning a new language. Specifically, as I am sure you have guessed, the mission to the deaf community is the domestic mission to which I am alluding. 

Present Ministry Availability

The deaf community is one of the last subgroups of American culture where the Gospel has not made very many significant in roads. Despite being raised in Christian, or at least “religious” households and recognizing Christian concepts (e.g.: Christmas), the average deaf person’s knowledge of, let alone belief in Christianity is astonishingly small.  Less than five (5) percent of deaf attend church regularly; one of the primary reasons for this is the lack of opportunity.

In the vicinity of St. John’s, there is:

1. a single, and nearly dead (and likely spiritually bereft), Episcopal congregation for the deaf known as All Souls in the Germantown area;
2. St. Phillips Lutheran Church (which has no permanent home and virtually no parishioners, indeed according to the ELCA website it has not even submitted an attendance report);
3. Christ the King Lutheran Church all the way out in West Chester (I have no idea if this church is healthy or not as it is too far away to take the time to investigate);
4. First Deaf Mennonite Church in Lancaster (again, I have no idea if this church is healthy or not as it is too far away to take the time to investigate);
5. Bethel Baptist Church in Sellersville;
6. Deaf Roman Catholic Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and,
7. the occasional super-large church that has someone signing at the front of the church (e.g.: Calvary Chapel or Davisville Baptist Church).

A Google search, and review of the telephone book, reveals no other deaf ministry in our area. As you can see, the options for a deaf person to go to church in the St. John’s community area are virtually nil. Is the Christian community’s failure to adequately communicate the Gospel to the deaf the stumbling block God warns of in Leviticus? Perhaps, but we have the opportunity to help make the deaf "hear" the Gospel.

Basic Needs And Assumptions

In order to pursue a ministry to the deaf, some things will be required. Of course, the details can be hammered out as the planning takes place.

First, funds will have to be available for a sign language interpreter and/or classes.  Obviously, as a church, we will likely get a discounted rate for an interpreter, but there may be a cost nonetheless, if only for transportation to the church on Sundays (more details on this below). In the alternative, there is a possible self-renewing grassroots ministry which we could pursue as described below. Obviously, this option, too, will require some funding.

Second, consistency is key to keep the deaf coming back. We need to provide services for the deaf each week else people may lose interest.

Third, the deaf are a subculture and, therefore, essentially require social gathering(s) to be organized for the deaf along with the actual ministry. I can certainly expand on this point personally with you if need be. However, at this juncture I can simply and personally vouch for the fact that when the whole world is shut out from you and virtually no one interacts with you (and those that do generally do so in an uncomfortable and stilted way), gathering with those with whom you can relate and communicate is of the utmost importance. Without this, no matter how nice you are to them, the deaf will continue to feel isolated and not really a part of the church.

Fourth, the congregation will need to be sensitized to the needs and cultural norms for the deaf and how best to interact with them.

Fifth, some basic things to help facilitate their involvement in the Liturgy (e.g.: all seated in the same area near the interpreter; creating a way they can engage in the Anglican-book-juggle and still sign the liturgy).

Sixth, a healthy amount of advertising is needed (details on advertising are below).

Seventh, encouraging any deaf person you know to come attend. 

 Costs

Anticipating your questions about the cost and availability of a paid interpreter, I have done extensive research into what services may be available in this area. Before looking at the rates, please note the following:

1. each has his/her/its own policies for last-minute cancellation (their cancellation or our own) which I have not detailed;
2. each has his/her/its own policy for last minute retention which I have not detailed; and,
3. do not infer that the rates necessarily correspond to quality.

Very often interpreters work both freelance and for an association. If contacted independently of the association the interpreter will charge his/her own rate which is generally lower than that of an association of some sort. However, that same person charges the association’s rate if retained for an assignment by the association itself. Obviously, whether the interpreter goes to the 8:00am Mass or Sunday School or any other event will be determined by demand and financial feasibility. I also suggest that we have a “regular” interpreter but also have at least one other one as back up and to interpret the Sundays the regular one is unable to do so for one reason or another. The best service providers are as follows:

• Language Services Associates (its ASL Manager coordinates the deaf ministry at her church): $80/hr for interpreting, 2hr minimum, $40/hr travel; $0.505/mi for travel (this is discounted from their normal rate by $20/hr and $10/hr for travel);
• Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc.: $102 for 2 hours; $51/hr thereafter;
• Martha Hicks: $25/hr, 2 hour minimum;
• Christina Rutledge: $35/hr; 2hr minimum, $17.50 each 30 minutes over 2 hours; $245 full day; $0.505/mi travel plus tolls.

Regarding advertising, I have a few contacts with which to advertise in the deaf community, but getting the word out other ways is obviously helpful. Personally, I can advertise with the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (this includes people much older than school age as the PSD alumni generally maintain close contact for life), a deaf email listserve I am on, a website or two, and a variety of deaf people I know. I am sure newspaper advertisements would help. I would also think contacting area congregations to alert them of the ministry would help. They may have deaf people to direct to us or resources to offer to help us. Furthermore, individuals in the congregation may have deaf friends or family who can be brought to church. Finally, Silent Word Ministries, a national Christian deaf organization, can hold “Fantastic Saturday” at the church where they contact the deaf community to hold essentially a deaf fair to inform them of the existence of our ministry.

Background Data And Research

In order to present an informed proposal to the Vestry, Ferrell Miller and I did some grassroots research into the viability and logistics of a deaf ministry. At a meeting of the Mission Committee, speakers from Davisville Baptist Church (Ken Weigert) and Our Lady of Ransom (Sr. Kathleen and Norman Smeal) made presentations. Ken Weigert does sign language interpreting at Davisville, whilst Sr. Kathleen helps coordinate the Roman Catholic Deaf Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Norman Smeal is a parishioner at Ransom.

Although Mr. Weigert has not dedicated his ministry to the deaf, he did share his experiences with the deaf. Mr. Weigert believes that a consistently provided sign language interpreter each Sunday is imperative.

Sr. Kathleen made a brief presentation regarding the Roman Catholic Apostolate. The Apostolate has been ministering to the deaf for well over a century. It has established an entire congregation of deaf, which currently has a hard of hearing priest and a nun (St. Kathleen) who are fluent in American Sign Language and celebrate the Mass using sign language as the primary language.

Obviously, the Roman Apostolate is far more large, complex and comprehensive than St. John’s could offer but we can learn a great deal from them. Sr. Kathleen, along with Mr. Smeal, made it clear that a successful deaf ministry must be integrated into the existing congregation. The deaf must feel comfortable and welcome in the congregation. They also mentioned that programs and/or social functions for the deaf are very important to help them become a part of the congregation’s life. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they made it clear that allowing the deaf into leadership and decision making positions for the deaf ministry is vitally important to allow the deaf to take ownership into the ministry and feel like an integral part of our church.

Having such a large number of deaf at the parish allows parishioners to form a sign language “choir” for various musical interludes (e.g.: introit, gradual, anthem, etc). Also, for ease of liturgical worship, a deaf parishioner should stand near or next to the celebrant (or reader, etc) to lead the congregation’s liturgical responses so that all make the appropriate liturgical responses reasonably simultaneously.

On the strength of the presentations of Mr. Weigert, Sr. Kathleen, and Mr. Smeal, Ferrell and I wanted to see a deaf ministry in action. Mr. Weigert informed us of the existence of a thriving deaf ministry at Bethel Baptist Church in Sellersville. To that end, Ferrell and I went on an expedition deep into the wilds of Bucks County to visit Bethel Baptist Church. Fortuitously, Bethel has a nave that is very similar to that at Jesus Focus. The deaf all sit in the same section of pews; a wedge of pews on the side of the nave. In the front of that wedge of pews is a podium with a lectern. Over the course of the Sunday service a series of hearing folks from the congregation went to the podium to interpret the service for the group of deaf. They interpreted every hymn, prayer, and, of course, the entire homily. The interpreter did not interfere with any hearing during the service, nor did s/he obstruct the view of any congregant due to the deaf all sitting in the same section.

After the service Ferrell and I spoke with the coordinator of the deaf ministry. Her passion for the Gospel has led her to take on the ministry as a mission in her life and has twenty (20) plus years of sign language under her belt. She feels that the best way to have a successful, integrated, and effective deaf ministry is to have a homegrown set of interpreters. As a professional interpreter she was able to teach members of her congregation sign language. There seems to especially be an emphasis on teaching the youth as it is something, with practice, the youth can excel and be excited about doing. Although only 1 interpreter is needed per service, Bethel uses as many as 8 congregants who switch off and on for individual hymns or prayers as a way to get as many people involved and practiced as possible.

If employed at St. John’s, such a strategy will create, hopefully, a self-perpetuating ministry within the congregation where parishioners can be active participants. Due to the multiplicity of interpreters, an interpreter can be available for many, if not most, congregation events and services such as Sunday School and socials. Obviously with homegrown interpreters, the cost of the ministry is dramatically decreased as compared to a hired interpreter. Additionally, a Christian interpreter may be more appropriate for a Christian setting than a non-believer.

St. John’s could very well pursue a ministry similar to that of Bethel. While the area community colleges offer courses on sign language, virtually all of the individuals above recommended the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf as a good resource for sign language training. PSD classes are $125 per person for a 5 week, 2 night per week class. There are 3 levels of classes in increasing difficulty. This appears to be a rather small investment for a potentially large return. Members of the congregation could volunteer to go to the classes and increase in sign language fluency until they are ready to interpret. Indeed, we do not know if anyone in the congregation is already fluent enough in sign language as it is, without the need for classes. An Anglican liturgy is easier to interpret than a Baptist one as it is essentially the same each week (save hymns and homily) and the hymns and homily can be known the interpreter ahead of time.

Perhaps a way to start this program is to sponsor interested parishioners to go to classes at PSD. When an interpreter is ready, advertisement of the ministry using the sources and avenues mentioned above will take place. Finally, Silent Word Ministries can hold a Fantastic Saturday at the church to kick off the ministry scheduled for the next day.

Upon starting the ministry, the challenge is keeping it going using the recommendations of the speakers describe above. St. John’s could become known as the local church for deaf ministry and be a crucial part of reaching the deaf with the Gospel. Finally, simple steps could be taken to help instruct the congregation as to how to interact with the deaf to help both the deaf and members of our congregation feel more comfortable with one another with the goal of making the deaf equal members of St. John’s rather than merely a ministry. For example, teaching the congregation a few simple signs could go a long way. Additionally, merely making some suggestions to the congregation for behavior and interaction with the deaf would prove to be very helpful.

I appreciate your taking the time to consider this ministry opportunity.  Thank you and God bless.

Jim Cushing