National Council of Churches
Deaf Ministries Committee
For 2000-2003

1. Complete the "Time to Listen" videotape

This brochure was distributed in late 1994 to the leaders of many denominations and has been sent out by the Reformed Church in America, United Church of Canada, Church of the Brethren, National Catholic Office for the Deaf, Evangelical Lutheran Deaf Association, Presbyterian Church USA, Mennonite church/Anabaptist Deaf Ministries, and the American Baptist Churches, USA.

Rough videotape of this brochure must be edited with captioning and voicing added.

A manual will be developed for discussion purposes.

 

2. Continue the annual ecumenical consultation

This means that the Deaf Ministry Committee will continue to have an annual meeting/conference with invited persons from different denominations and Christian organizations who are leaders in their Deaf ministry programs. We will continue the format of following the business session with workshops open to the Deaf Community in the area where the annual meeting is held. An effort will be made to move the location periodically.

 

3. Plan for general fund raising for the Deaf Ministry Committee

Participants in the 1995 DMC annual meeting agreed that funding must be raised by the Deaf people of participating denominations to help fund various projects such as the curriculum and expenses of the DMC. This is necessary as major hearing denomination report a decrease in members and funding that supported the DMC in the past.

4. Plan and implement an ecumenical Deaf Christian youth conference

Participants in the 1998 DMC annual meeting agreed that a focus on Deaf youth and young adults was vital to faith development and growth of the Church. Informative workshops at an annual meeting (200) will be used to pave the way for coordinating an ecumenical Deaf youth conference.

5. Continue the NCC Deaf Ministry Committee newsletter

The newsletter serves as a resource to be sent out to participants in the annual meeting and others on our mailing list as a way to keep in touch with relevant programs, resources and news among various Deaf Ministries.

6. Update and expand "Together in Ministry" (resource booklet)

This resource directory was updated and sent out in the spring of 1995 and the end of 1999. This directory is now on a computer disc and will be expanded as needed to include electronic mail addresses, fax numbers, Deaf camps, and the like.

7. Investigate the establishment of our own we site or expand current web site under NCCC.

Because of the growing trend of the Internet and web sites and the public relations associated with this tool, our Committee will investigate the pros and cons of developing and maintaining such a site as well as updating the current information provided by NCCC's site.

 

8. Develop ways and means of promoting cultural diversity among Deaf Ministries Committee and its associated communions.

Within Deaf ministries, we are missing some valuable cultural groups both within and without denominations that we would like to see represented. This could include the Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Latinos, and Pacific Islanders among others. The Deaf and hard of hearing community is encouraged to include the learn form the gifts of every people. Our annual meeting in 2001 will focus on racial and ethnic divisions.

 

9. Continue to develop and investigate use of our Deaf Lay Leadership curriculum draft.