Support, worship, fellowship and mission among deaf people in Wakefield Diocese.

The main aim of ministry among deaf people is to provide opportunities for worship, the occasional and special services (such as baptisms, weddings and funerals), pastoral care, nurture in faith, mission, and the fostering of vocations among the deaf community.

Click here for details of services.

The deaf community is defined as people for whom British Sign Language (BSL) is their first or preferred language.

Holy Communion, baptisms, weddings and funerals

An important aspect of this provision for deaf people involves support for, and the leading of, various services and Christian fellowship opportunities. For further information about Holy Communion, baptism, weddings and funeral, click here.

Support from the Chaplaincy team

The Chaplain and his team will visit deaf people in their homes, or in hospital, and they can provide home communion, if required. They will also visit deaf children and young people in schools and colleges, and deaf people in prison.

Regular information

Together with Bradford and Ripon and Leeds dioceses a newsletter - 3 in 1 - is published three times a year in March, July and November. Please contact the Chaplain if you would like to be placed on the mailing list for 3 in 1 (contact details below). Members also receive copies of Signs, the magazine of the NDCC, twice a year.

 

Support and advice

For hearing-impaired or hard of hearing people who do not use sign language a support and advisory service is provided, to them and to clergy and church members. This is offered to improve access, and further the inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing people in mainstream churches, especially with respect to the Disability Discrimination Act. Some hard of hearing people attend the sign language services, where they are made very welcome, and every effort is made to include them.

Awareness

The Chaplain and his team are committed to partnership between deaf and hearing people in the Church, and are continually exploring ways for deaf and hearing people to meet together.

• Invitations that promote awareness of the needs and abilities of deaf and hearing-impaired people are welcomed.
• Attending parish churches at their main Sunday services, to preach, to celebrate the Eucharist in sign language, or to provide other input, like drama
• To arrange awareness sessions or workshops for various groups, like Deanery Chapters, Continuing Ministerial Education (CME), Readers and Ordained Local Ministers (OLMs) in training, and Hospital Chaplaincy volunteers.

For further information about any of the above, and for inclusion in our mailing list, contact the Chaplain among deaf people, Revd Bob Shrine, 10 Field Close, Halifax, HX3 5LS bob.shrine@tiscali.co.uk
Textphone 01422 300511
Voice 18002 01422 300511
Fax 01422 300718
SMS 07721 655161

Useful links:

Catholic Deaf Association
Christian Deaf Link UK
Deafchurch web site
Signs of God (sign language)