Trusting that God is up to something new, a group of folks who have been meeting online gathered onsite at Lutheran Church of Our Father, Greensboro to deepen their connection and attune more closely to the Spirit. They have been dreaming about how the North Carolina Synod might better love and serve the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community.

Acting as convener, Wayne Giese (Calvary, Morganton) led an icebreaker and conversation, while the American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters enhanced communication among the participants. The group included those who are Deaf, those who are Hard-of-Hearing, Child(ren) of Deaf Adults (CODA), and those with no hearing impairment. Some are fluent in ASL; others learned some signs years ago. In the group were members of congregations across the synod, pastors, a Synod Authorized Minister, and synod staff member.

Watching a few minutes of the movie Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film (a film about the life of Jesus, which is done completely in sign language with subtitles) inspired more conversation about the ways we might reach out to the Deaf community to share the Lutheran lens of the gospel grounded in grace.

When the discussion turned to online opportunities for worship, Beverly Elwell, who is Deaf, said, “Thankfully, the advancement of technology makes it easier for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing to communicate using things like texting, Facetime, and Zoom. Online options for worship are good, but it means you’re missing out on being in the presence of others, and the church is community.” She encouraged the group to keep working toward in-person opportunities to invite the Deaf community to come be the church together.

Deaf Ministry Team member, Sarah Greene Burleson, who serves on synod staff as administrative assistant to Bishop Tim Smith, has had a passion for meeting the needs of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community since her years as a student in Lenoir-Rhyne’s Sign Troupe. “There’s a desperate need for accessibility to the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community, to people with hearing aids, with hearing loss. That doesn’t really exist with Lutheran churches, at least in the ELCA, and it needs to. I recognize that there is a need for it. Several of us on synod staff have been working to make Synod Gathering and Synod Assembly more accessible by putting captions and subtitles on all of our videos and ensuring that all of our audio materials have transcripts. And, we’re working to have interpreters at Synod Assembly and Synod Gathering as well as our smaller events throughout the year.”

Wayne Geise leads this committed team and Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor CeCee Mills, is the staff liaison. Pastor CeCee shares, “I am most excited about this ministry because it all started as a conversation with Pastor Dan Keck (Kure Memorial, Kure Beach). A member of his congregation from the Deaf community had ASL in their worship. He came with the idea, and it has grown into this community of people. I’m excited that we had our first in-person gathering; I’m really glad it happened!”

If you are interested in dreaming with this group as they gather and receive Spirit’s guidance, please contact Sarah Greene Burleson.

The Deaf Ministry Team is just one group working synodically to support and encourage particular ministries. Your Mission Support giving enables this support. Thank you for sharing generously!