Minister to deaf signs in
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Rev Mary Whittaker (left), was ordained as auxiliary minister to the deaf community in the North of Scotland.
WITH A flock scattered from Laurencekirk to Shetland and every-where in between, the North of Scotland’s new auxiliary minister to the deaf community knows she has her work cut out.
But Mary Whittaker is determined to break down barriers to church life for people who, like her, rely on British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate.
At a service held at St James’ Church, Lossiemouth, the Rev Whittaker (51) was ordained into the Church of Scotland.
She will now hold regular Sunday worship for deaf people in Moray and beyond; as well as making pastoral visits to an immense area which takes in the Inner and Outer Hebrides as well as the Northern Isles.
“It is true from my own experiences that the deaf are strangers in our own country. We are too often misunderstood and ignored, or people are afraid of us,” Ms Whittaker said.
“Too often, even from my own experiences, deaf BSL users are excluded from churches. Of course, the churches work hard to minister to a wide range of marginalised groups, but the ministry is delivered verbally and the recipients can hear. Deaf people are different due to a different way of thinking – different culture, different language (the Government officially recognised BSL as a language in its own right in 2003) and a different view of life.
“So my aim is to develop further the ministry among deaf people – especially young people and children,” she said.
As part of her duties, Ms Whittaker will lead regular Sunday worship for deaf people to take place: once a month at the North East Sensory Services (formerly Grampian Society for the Blind) in Elgin; once or twice a month at St Mark’s Church in Aberdeen; and possibly once a month at Peterhead.
“The deaf church is different to hearing churches in many ways, for example deaf people do not stand during hymns as they need to be able to see the signing of the leader; we always keep our eyes open for prayers; communication is with hands and no voice; and the preaching needs to be delivered in their own language,” she said.
Ms Whittaker, who runs her own business, Deaf HaVoC (Hands Voice Communication), teaching BSL from basic up to interpreting levels, said raising awareness of BSL issues in hearing churches is also firmly on her agenda.
“Most hearing people do not realise that English language is second (or third) language for deaf people, even if they are born in this country,” she said.
Having gained a certificate in Christian Studies from the University of Aberdeen, Ms Whittaker went on to complete a number of training courses run by the kirk.
A placement was completed alongside community minister among deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Glasgow and the West, the Rev Richard Durno, while his counterpart in Aberdeen and North Scotland, the Rev John Osbeck, will act as mentor.
Though born in Yorkshire, Ms Whittaker’s mother’s family are originally from Scotland, descended from a minister who came over from Norway many generations ago.
“In a way, this feels like coming full circle,” she said.
