The hearing community controls society and creates a constant power struggle, and the minority communities, like deaf people, have the endure it. They often feel exiled from the rest of society. That’s where religion makes a grand entrance. Religion is a force that has the potential to make deaf people feel at ease and it builds a sense of belonging in this world they have to navigate that is most accommodating. With the faith communities encouraging a sense of self-worth, there is more room to make their voices heard.
So, let’s see how faith is empowering deaf individuals to lead and serve.
Leadership Today
When we think of world leaders, it’s always an image of a certain race or someone who hit the jackpot, like being born into wealth or self-made millionaires. The world is changing, and the walls of inclusion against people of minority backgrounds are falling. There are more individuals from minority backgrounds representing their communities and leading in public office than before.
Leadership comes in various forms, from political to religious leaders, with its fair share of impact from a local level to change the world in one way or another. The skills to be a great leader are invaluable. It makes people trustworthy of that person and motivated to follow by example. A transformational leader also helps a group identify its purpose.
Strong Leadership in the Deaf Community
A strong leader is vital for stability. We see what happens when a government fails its people. Chaos erupts, which causes a society to collapse. For the deaf community, which is marginalized from society, great leaders are crucial to maintaining high morale and a group of people that can move forward.
The impact of a leader is often a positive or negative impact. No matter if it is in the hearing or deaf community. The leaders in the deaf community are responsible for initiating generational changes that have occurred over the years.
Several organizations are leading deaf communities worldwide, like the Congress of the Deaf and the National Association of the Deaf, and others advocating for deaf communities on a local level. The unique thing about these organizations is that they operate with hearing and deaf people communicating and leading together. The bond has the potential to strengthen the two societies for the better.
How Influential Deaf People Impacted the World
We know all the greats from history that impacted the world. We rarely hear about deaf people who need to be more represented by a minority culture.
From the beginning, household names have made their mark on the world. Beethoven’s compositions still ring in our ears, and then Helen Keller, in the 1800s was an activist for the deaf community in a time when they were hidden from society.
More recently, Min Seo Park made strides for the deaf, Catholic community when he is one of the few deaf priests in the world. Park opened the door for deaf worshippers to enjoy the mass. Rather than having an interpreter next to a hearing priest, he transformed the experience by leading and using the language at the hearts of the congregation.
Religion and Leadership
If we look at it through a wider lens, religion has always maintained a powerful grasp on the world. There’s a reason that the masses remain loyal. Religious leaders are highly respected people with good character and judgment. They have the power to influence people’s thoughts and behaviors. If it’s a religion like Christianity or Islam, this can have a major impact on the world.
Sometimes, religion and politics intersect to form movements that eventually become laws or cultural rules. That is the gravity of leadership within the faith community. These leaders have the power to sway thoughts and beliefs. That is why pushing more inclusivity motivates deaf people to take a chance and serve in the faith community.
Deaf Leadership in Religious Worship
The ability to use Sign Language is a crucial part of serving and leading the deaf community. Sign Language is at the core of this community and how deaf people connect. For a leader in the place of worship to be accepted by the followers, they need to inspire them in the language they understand.
In a religious community, people come together to spread the word of their creator. The deaf community has the same values and wants to feel understood by something bigger than their existence. That’s why with religion, there’s a need for something beyond practicing with others. There’s also a want to serve and benefit others.
It is hard enough to find a church that speaks the same language. That also means it’s hard to serve. However, that hurdle doesn’t tell the entire story. As awareness continues to grow in a non-linear way, there are initiatives to connect the deaf with the hearing churches. It could be like having a deaf interpreter work alongside the religious leader during a celebration. That isn’t ideal because it can cause boredom or confusion, but it is a step in the right direction.
Another way is having a deaf leader lead the practice, but that can be far too few. Not many places have that capacity yet. Even if there aren’t resources for a deaf religious head, churches across the United States welcome more deaf deacons to empower deaf participants to be more active in the community. Having deaf people play a small role, like an educator, activities organizer, and other things still creates a positive change to show them that they can be part of leading their people.
Deaf leaders are a driving force in the religious community. They motivate and encourage others with the opportunity to spread the love and the sacred words of their creator.
For more information on how organizations are empowering the voices of the deaf community, visit, unspokenasl.com
Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Matthew Almon Roth
