United Methodist Deaf Ministries

United Methodist Congress of the Deaf

The United Methodist Congress of the Deaf (UMCD) represents the interests of Deaf, late-deafened, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind members of The United Methodist Church. It advocates for accessibility which includes all persons who live with various degrees and dimensions of hearing challenges. The UMCD supports ministries that empower deaf, late-deafened, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind persons to contribute their talents, gifts, and personhood in Christian community within the church and in communities beyond the church.

National Committee on Ministries with Deaf, Late-Deafened, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind People

The National Committee on Ministries with Deaf, Late-Deafened, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind People (formerly the National Committee on Deaf Ministries) was established as a mission initiative by the 1992 General Conference. The committee affirms -- as a foundational Christian belief -- that the ministry of God's people should be experienced without barriers. Committed to an inclusive Gospel, The United Methodist Church is compelled to reach out to persons who are Deaf, deafened or hard-of-hearing, using the most effective mode of communication, whether it be sign language by pastors, sign language and/or oral interpreting, and/or assistive technologies. It seeks to be faithful to the task of exploring how United Methodists have been and can be in ministry together with persons who are Deaf, deafened or hard-of-hearing.

Elected Members of the 2001-2004 Committee

Vae Rose Fultz, IL; Jill Grimshaw, FL; Wineva Hankamer, TX; Tom Hudspeth, TX; Peggy Johnson, MD; LaSander Saunders, MD; Candis Shannon, AK; Kirk VanGilder, MD; Elizabeth Walker, VA; Robert Walker, WA.

Resources

• Annotated Bibliographies (Disability Concerns)
• Breaking the Sound Barrier in Your Church: Ministry and Mission with People Who Are Hard of Hearing or Late-Deafened. This document is also available in PDF format.
  God is calling the church to engage in ministry and mission with hard of hearing and late-deafened people. This booklet is provided to encourage and enable obedience to God's call in every agency, general board, conference, district and local body of The United Methodist Church.
• Deaf Shalom Zone Provides Many Services, Program Description of a Ministry of Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf.
• Signs of Solidarity: New Book on the Hearing-Accessible Church.
• United Methodist Congress of the Deaf.
• Worship, Music and Deaf Ministries, Central Texas Annual Conference Resource Page.

News

• Disability Concerns News
• Report on Deaf Mission Team to Zimbabwe: 2003, GBGM, September 22, 2003.
• In Turkey, Hearing Impaired Students Give Major Performance, UMCOR, August 5, 2003.
• Silence on HIV/AIDS Spells Death, Church Leaders Warn, UMNS, December 10, 2002.
• The Right Gift to Meet the Need: 10-10-10 Missionary Assists in Deaf Shalom Zone by Carol Stevens, GBGM, September 26, 2002.
• Report from Deaf-Blind Camp 2002, West River United Methodist Camping Center, Maryland by Noemi Fuentes, GBGM, July 2, 2002.
Deaf Women Form District UMW Unit
• National Deaf Ministry Maps Out Strategy for 2001-2004 by Rebecca C. Asedillo, November 1, 2000

Contributions

For United Methodists: Make your check payable to your local church. Write the name of the project and the Advance code number on the check (National Committee on Ministries to People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late-Deafened and Deaf-Blind, Advance #982562-7). Give your gift to your church treasurer, so that your local church and Annual Conference will get Advance credit.

For anyone: Make your check payable to ADVANCE GCFA. Write the name of the project and the Advance code number on the check. Send your check to Advance GCFA, P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY 10087-9068. To use a credit card, call 888-252-6174.

One hundred percent of your gift will go to the project you choose!