Language as a barrier to ministry of the Word with special reference to sign language in ministry: Human dignity perspective

Leepo J Modise

doi:10.4102/ve.v37i1.1596

Abstract

This article is born out of my participation in the General Synod Ministerial Formation for theological training of Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), when a decision was taken to license a student with a disability to be a minister of the Word in URCSA. Furthermore, my experience and observation of the licensing of the two candidates with hearing impairments to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament in URCSA and Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (DRCSA) has encouraged me to conduct this research. This article is made up of four important parts: Firstly, the researcher will discuss Belhar Confession as the confession that emphasises unity (inclusivity), reconciliation and justice. Secondly, Belhar Confession and disability from the human dignity perspective will be discussed. Thirdly, the ecclesiological practices and shortcomings from the human dignity perspective will be highlighted. Fourthly, pastoral care as the affirmation of human dignity will be discussed.Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The fields involved in this article are Systematic Theology, Sociology and Psychology. The author challenges classification of people with a disability under the category of limited competence by the Dutch Reformed Church when they license the ministerial candidates. The future results will reveal the inclusivity in terms of licensing and calling of ministers in the Dutch Reformed Church Family. This research calls for the change in the traditional discourse within ecclesiological, sociological and psychological fields, which exclude the people with a disability from the ministry of the Word and Sacraments.

Highlights

BackgroundMy involvement and participation in the decision-making process regarding the licensing of a student that has a hearing and speaking challenge has influenced me to write this article
The language of human dignity that is utilised in this article is a compelling means to challenge the way the church perceives people with hearing and speaking challenges with special reference to DRCSA and URCSA regarding the licensing of two students
In terms of the Belhar Confession, URCSA is a church that identifies itself with the destitute, oppressed and down-trodden, which include the people with a disability

Summary

Background

My involvement and participation in the decision-making process regarding the licensing of a student that has a hearing and speaking challenge has influenced me to write this article. The language of human dignity that is utilised in this article is a compelling means to challenge the way the church perceives people with hearing and speaking challenges with special reference to DRCSA and URCSA regarding the licensing of two students. Perhaps one might argue against this comparison on the grounds that since hearing people can learn to use the dominant language effectively, they are not condemned to the exclusive use of their mother tongue (Brand 2013:70) In this sense, the question that needs to be addressed is the question of inclusion. The point of departure from this experience, the researcher raises the following research questions that are based on the main research question: Should the church license people with a disability, with special reference to students with a hearing impairment, with limited competence (special licensing) to serve the church of God. The following are subquestions:. Which practical circumstances need to be changed to include disabled people in ministry with special references to people with hearing impairments?

Aims of this study

Findings, recommendations and conclusion