The Deaf and Ministry

- 10% of the general population in Canada and the US has varying degrees of hearing loss, from mild
hearing loss to profound deafness. That includes 50% of those over 65. Perhaps 0.1% of people are
born profoundly deaf or become profoundly deaf early in life (prelingual deafness). Deafness is
often genetic, but deaf parents usually have hearing children.

- The cultural conditions for deaf and hard of hearing people are complex and sensitive. Their main
obstacle is the communication barrier, so they prefer associating with other deaf people. They have
a rich social life. Their nonlingual abilities are usually NOT impaired.

- Both deaf and hard of hearing people make use of sign language become part of a Deaf culture. It is
customary to distinguish between deaf (physical) and Deaf (cultural). In Canada and the US, most
Deaf people use American Sign Language (ASL). In Quebec, they use Quebec Sign Language,
which is different from French Sign Language. ASL is NOT English spoken with hands, it is a
distinct language with its own syntax and grammar.

- NAD is an influential lobby group in the U.S. working for the welfare of deaf people by legislation
and improving access. Advocacy and community needs are often by the Deaf for the Deaf.

- Hearing Aids and Cochlear implants have enabled many deaf. But they retain their ties to the
community and many Deaf are “multicultural”. Some Deaf people are hostile to the use of such
technology because they want to keep sign language and its culture.

- The Internet plays an enormous role for the Deaf, FAX machines, FM systems, captioning also.

- God has blessed LCMS with a major role in ministry among the Deaf beginning in 1894 and has a
well-developed range of services for the Deaf community.

- The synod has 63 Deaf congregations and over 200 congregations with interpreters. About 8000
profoundly deaf people are members of LCMS congregations (a solid representation).

- Both St. Louis and Ft. Wayne have deaf ministry education ranging from basic care giving courses
for everyone all the way to the pastoral ministry. Many Deaf people have been ordained in the
LCMS. Ft. Wayne’s Church Interpreter Training Institute (CITI) offers training to all Christians.

- LCMS Deaf Missions offers devotional, catechetical and sermon material in ASL.

A few useful resources

http://www.lcmsdeaf.org/ (LCMS Deaf Missions)
http://www.chs.ca/ (Canadian Hearing Society)
http://www.nad.org/ (National Association for the Deaf)
CITI recommends: Padden, Carol and Humphries, T., Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. (134 pages) 1988.