Guide to ministry

DEAF MINISTRY

The General Assembly in 2003 acknowledged:

"...with appreciation HM Government's announcement of 18 March 2003 of the official recognition of British Sign Language as a language in its own right, and urge congregations to initiate the use of sign language when appropriate, to support initiatives for deaf people to achieve their potential in an environment of greater opportunities for equality, and to provide the resources consequent upon such acknowledgement and recognition."

The Church therefore supports the work of three community ministers who minister among the deaf community in their areas:
The west of Scotland
The east of Scotland
The north of Scotland and the Western Isles

The west of Scotland

The Rev Richard Durno is the minister for the John Ross Memorial Church for Deaf People in Glasgow and is responsible for the ministry amongst deaf people in the west of Scotland.

richard.durno@ntlworld.com

Two members of the deaf community chatting
after a Church of Scotland service

The east of Scotland

The Rev Alastair Kelly is the minister for the Albany Deaf Church in Edinburgh and is responsible for the ministry amongst deaf people in the east of Scotland from Tayside to the Borders and from Edinburgh to Stirling.

Contact Mr Kelly on telephone number 0131 317 9877.

The north of Scotland and the Western Isles

The Rev John Osbeck is the minister for St John's Church for Deaf People and is responsible for the ministry amongst deaf people in the Highlands and Islands (from Laurencekirk to Shetland) and travels widely as a result.

info@aneds.org.uk

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Ministries in the Church
A guide to the range of ministries roles including ministers, deacons, readers and elders

Chaplains
Our representatives in faith to industry, hospitals, prisons, universities and the Armed Forces

First steps to ministries
The 'call' to the ministries of the Church, recruitment, training, support and development

Deaf ministry
Supporting initiatives and providing resource for deaf people in the Church

New charge developments
Building communities of faith specific to the needs of the local area

Area team ministry
Parishes sharing aspects of ministry in a positive, mission-based way

Priority areas
Commitment to the economically poorest parishes of Scotland

The Ministries Council
The administration of the planning, deployment, support and development of the Church's ministries