wfn.org | ELCA Assembly Receives Disabled and Deaf Ministries Report

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 20, 1999

ELCA CHURCHWIDE ASSEMBLY RECEIVES DISABLED AND DEAF MINISTRIES REPORT
99-CWA-38-LJG

     DENVER (ELCA) -- Policy, presence, and inclusion of people who are
deaf and people with disabilities were highlights of an implementation
plan described to voting members at the Evangelical Lutherran Church in
America (ELCA) Churchwide Assembly by the Rev. Lisa Thogmartin-Cleaver,
newly appointed ELCA Director of Disabilities Ministry and Director of
Deaf Ministry, Chicago.
     A 1998 study and action plan in response to memorials and
resolutions from the 1997 Churchwide Assembly examines aspects of the
church's ministry to these two groups. Lifting up the unique nature and
language of the deaf culture, distinctly separated from disability
ministries, is a major focus as well.
     The churchwide assembly, the chief legislative authority of the
ELCA, is meeting Aug. 16-22 at the Colorado Convention Center.  There
are more than 2,500 people participating, including 1,038 ELCA voting
members.  The theme for the biennial assembly is "Making Christ Known:
Hope for a New Century."
     Timely information about disability ministries and deaf ministries
is available on the ELCA Web site (www.elca.org) as well as in ELCA
publications.  Work with other church bodies includes the "accessible
campaign," which aims to have 2,000 congregations accessible by the year
2000.
     "You'll be happy to know that the ELCA leads in this campaign,"
Cleaver said.
     In the future, disability ministries will seek out opportunities
to work with the ELCA Nominating Committee to make sure that at least
one person with a disability is a member of the ELCA Church Council or
any ELCA board or advisory committee, Cleaver said.
     The ELCA Division for Church in Society's studies staff and
Cleaver will work together on a document to interpret ELCA policies
regarding people with disabilities and people who are deaf, she noted.
     Working with ordained persons with a disability, encouraging
people with disabilities to enter the ministry, and continuing to work
with the Lutheran Youth Organization are also some of the ways in which
Cleaver hopes "that disability ministries and deaf ministry will
continue to act as an advocate for persons who are disabled and persons
who are deaf."
     Bob Radtke, voting member from ELCA Metro Chicago Synod, asked the
assembly to "pray for the deaf ministry on its long and difficult
journey."
     "One of the biggest frustrations is that we are not disabled, we
belong to the culturally deaf culture.  We are discriminated against
because we speak another language.  We belong in the multicultural
commission, so that all people understand we are a different community,
and we are proud of it," said Radtke who served on the committee to
develop the document.
     "If cultural deafness is seen as a disability, the deaf can't grow
as a culture," said Radtke.
     "Sign language is not words.  We are advocating for deaf services,
possibly within a hearing congregation, but with our own pastor because
then it's the deaf running the show.  Most often it's a hearing pastor
who signs who tries to serve a deaf congregation, and it's wonderful
that they try, but it's not the same.  It's like the fact that African
American and Native American ministries want pastors from their own
culture.  We do, too.  We are not talking about being included, but
about having our own culture in a congregation," said Radtke.
     "There has to be a unity through diversity," Radtke said.
     "From what I've heard and what I've seen, this is leading in the
right steps of disability ministries,"  said Brenda Auterman, Youth
Convo delegate from Milwaukee.  Auterman, who uses a wheelchair,  serves
as a small group leader for the Youth Convo and on the definitely-abled
advisory committee for the Lutheran Youth Organization.
     "There will be a lot more coming up:  building accessibility and
creating a disability team in each synod," said Auterman.

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