About The Episcopal Church
to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing,
and Late Deafened
Commission on Ministry to the Deaf
Updated: 07/29/2003
St. Peter's reaches out to the Deaf
by Sheila Shuford
Clifford Rowley, longtime advocate for the deaf community and vestry member of St. Peter's, Mountain Lakes, was recently honored when a collection at the Morris County Library was dedicated as "The Clifford. R. Rowley American Sign Language Video Collection." Cliff and his wife Nancy are active members of the Deaf Ministry program at St. Peter's, the first church in the Diocese of Newark to establish such an outreach. They are also members of the newly created Commission to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late Deafened. St. Peter's Deaf Ministry began in 1984 when the church accepted a proposal from the deaf community. Its mission is to create an understanding of Jesus Christ in the lives of deaf people, a goal met by providing an interpreter for Sunday services and for educational and social events. A welcome is extended to families that combine deaf and hearing members, and a young child is mainstreamed into the Sunday School program. Other accomplishments are the providing of interpreting access to Education for Ministry and to Disciples of Christ in Community. In addition, St. Peter's initiated the first Cursillo in the diocese that was available to deaf particpants
In 1994 Sheila Shuford became the first deaf vestry member at St. Peter's and in the diocese. She has served as director of The Bible Club for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children for the past nine years. The Club began in 1987 when the Rev. Betsy Smylie, mother of a deaf son, searched for religious education for children. The Bible Club draws children who attend the Lake Drive School for the Hearing Impaired which is across the street from St. Peter's. Children are taught in creative ways using total communication, videos, drama, and crafts. In 1998 a resolution from St. Peter's and All Saints', Bergenfield was submitted to Diocesan Convention, creating a Task Force on Deaf Ministry with Sheila Shuford and the Rev. Cathy Deats as co-chairs. This task force surveyed the churches of the diocese concerning the needs of deaf and hard of hearing members, producing a "Deaf Ministry Resource Directory." The study proved the need for more work and further outreach.
In 2000 Bishop Croneberger established the Commission on Ministry to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened, with Shuford and Deats as co-chairs. Several members of St. Peter's Deaf Ministry are active with the commission, and other members come from churches throughout the diocese. The commission sees its current task as making its work better known and helping churches minister in ways that are accessible and meaningful to every member.
The Rev. Henry
Buzzard, a deaf person who is vicar of St. Ann's Church for the Deaf in
New York City has said, "Years ago the deaf community wanted only
to worship with other deaf people, but now they want to worship at their
"home church." This is what St. Peter's has allowed its deaf
members to do and what the commission hopes to encourage in the diocese.
Sheila Shuford is a member of St. Peter's, Mountain Lakes.