The Oxford Diocesan Council for the Deaf

The Council is a registered charity (No. 203428) and works with Deaf and hard of hearing people to meet their spiritual, social and general needs, and to give them a voice and full participation in church and society. Though Social Services now undertake the social case work, their resources are strictly limited, and there remains the vital need for informal pastoral care in a world where the Deaf community is in a state of transition, where Deaf people still experience isolation because they are more dispersed and less focused on the Deaf clubs and centres of former years, and therefore less accessible.

Profoundly deaf people can still experience major hindrances in communication in spite of advances in modern technology. A voluntary team led by the Chaplain works in close conjunction with the established centres for Deaf people, Deaf congregations scattered throughout the diocese, and Social services, to reduce isolation and promote community, to arrange informal visiting and to provide opportunities for worship, pastoral care and social recreation, and where necessary to help with advocacy to get needs met and services provided.

There are an estimated 2000 people in the Oxford Diocese with total or severe hearing loss and up to 200 of these are active members of the Deaf worshipping communities. One in seven members of the population is reckoned to have a significant hearing loss, and their needs and potential contribution are not generally recognised in the hearing communities.

The Council administers charitable funds, and can in certain circumstances help with the cost of transport, rental of premises, training, interpreting, loop systems and special needs.

The Council meets three of four times a year to support the work of the chaplainry team, (in addition to the chaplains there are some Lay ministers and two local clergy with signing skills). To monitor the ministry among Deaf and hard of hearing people, to promote it, represent its interests to the wider church and community, and to increase the awareness of hearing churches to the needs of the Deaf and the potential contribution they can make to local churches and communities. For example, how often are local churches proactive in anticipating that there may be Deaf people in a baptism, wedding or funeral party, and in drawing on the skills of the chaplain to Deaf people or one of his assistants? How often are intercessions taken from the back of the church, so isolating those dependent on lip-reading? How often is the amplification system switched off, denying access to a loop system? How often is there a loop system?

There is a continuing need for more people to learn to sign and to know how best to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing people, and for more people to join local pastoral teams.