Introducing Gill Behenna

• Hearing! • Working in the Deaf community from

choice • Chaplain with the Deaf Community,

Diocese of Bristol (C. of E.) • National Deaf Ministry Adviser

for the Ministry Division of the C. of E. • Freelance interpreter and trainer

Introducing Susan Myatt

• Deaf • First Deaf Baptist Minister • Rising Brook Baptist Church • Heart of England Baptist Association • Deaf Adviser for Lichfield Diocese • Tutor British Sign Language and Deaf

Awareness

Why a ministry with Deaf people?

• A cultural linguistic model • Respecting difference • Valuing diversity • Learning from a different culture.

But today is about all and any Deaf/Deaf/hearing impaired/deafened

• You belong in the Church! • You are not someone to be “fixed”

• You are not a victim to be cared for

• You are not a hero to be applauded

• You are not lacking! • You are just YOU! (and God loves

you!)

Dear Hearing Church

• We called today “dear church” after a letter that was written by a Deaf friend of mine.

Dear Hearing Church, First of all I want to say I love you. I love the family you are which is where God has placed me at this time in my life. But, just like my biological hearing family, relationship isn’t easy. Just now I feel really, really lonely and the more I am with you the lonelier I feel. So I wanted to write to make sense of why things are so difficult...

As churches go, you are quite small. Yet at the same time you have done a great deal to make the services as ‘deaf friendly’ as you can for me. I use hearing aids and the loop is excellent. If there’s a problem someone will try and sort it immediately. People try and remember to speak (or repeat) from the front so I can lipread and if they know something is happening I can’t see there are several of you who will spontaneously start to lipspeak if they see I’m floundering, so that I know what is going on.

The services aren’t the problem… I can usually follow very well. But church is more than services. Church is about relationship and fellowship and that involves communication. • What are some of the times you find hard? • Coffee after the service? • Prayer meetings • Business meetings • Bring and share meals (eating and

lipreading!!)

What are we doing about it?

What are we doing about it?

Deaf Cafe

Penkridge CofE Deaf church monthly service

Stafford Deaf Coffee Morning

Hearing Advice for You Peer Support Group

Deaf social worker and Deaf rehabilitation officer for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf Blind Adult Social care

Deaf Charter

Baptist Thursday Hearing Church monthly Deaf led Worship

Alpha course BSL

Bible study in BSL

NEW Deaf Ladies craft group Deaf Men's allotments

6 week taster course in signing

Brief training Deaf Awareness

What are we doing about it?Heart of England Baptist Association and

Baptist Union

• Website • Resources • BSL stories, prays and testimony • Deaf ministry webpage • Links

Vision for Penkridge

• Develop Deaf pastoral group

• Develop Deaf leaders group

• Develop Deaf worship group

Vision for Rising Brook church

• Deaf Church Community people to lead an annual church at Rising Brook Baptist Church

• 20 weeks course for members to learn BSL and Christian signs delivered in BSL

What are we doing about it?

• Church of England has been working in the Deaf community for over 100 years but that work is getting less and less as dioceses are financially under pressure

• Nationally, my job used to be full-time. It’s now one day a week. (today is the day!!)

• Some good news…

What are we doing about it?• Last year, a Deaf man was ordained in the

Church of England. He is working as a curate and Chaplain with Deaf people in Salisbury

• This year, one Deaf person, a deafened person, and at least one severely hard of hearing person will start training for ordination

What are we doing about it?• We have been collecting interviews from

Deaf people involved in the Church so that they can appear in social media and on the Church of England Website

What are we doing about it?• Chaplains work in approx half the dioceses

of the Church of England, providing direct ministry with Deaf people

What are we doing about it?• We are encouraging on-line debate and

publicity via Social Media • Jesus, the Bible and real life stuff • Deaf Anglicans Together • Deaf Ministry UK • And local Deaf congregations • Bristol Deaf Church

What are we doing about it?• Where are no chaplains, we try to make

sure that Deaf people still have access to interpreters for the important times ceremonies in the church such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals.

Sometimes we work together!

Today’s event – and, perhaps future events Deaf Anglicans Together Anglican/Baptist support Groups Signs of God – an ecumenical organisation

Sometimes we work together!

The best way!