Clague
Road United Church of Christ and the
Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee on Human Rights,
North Olmsted, OH
Both Rev. Cathy Stentzel of the Clague Road United Church of Christ and
Heather West of the Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee on Human Rights, refer to their joining
forces as part of God’s plan. The Deaf Committee was eagerly looking for regular
meeting space in a location convenient for their members that travel from all over
Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties in Ohio. Cathy and Jim Stentzel are co-pastors of a church
right near the intersection of two highways, a perfect location for the Deaf
Committee’s needs. In an earlier period in Cathy and Jim’s life, they were
members of the Sojourners Fellowship in Washington, DC, a church which had deaf people and
deaf interpreters in attendance. At that time, Jim also worked for Gallaudet (the only
University in the World for Deaf students) in their publications division. Heather and the
Stentzels met at a meeting of the Church in the World Department of the Western Reserve
Association of the United Church of Christ. Heather and Kent Nemeth of the Deaf Committee
were there to offer a presentation on their work and the needs of their organization.
Cathy explains that as she heard Kent and Heather describe their need for meeting space
she felt like the Holy Spirit was raising her hand to offer it. That
was nearly a year ago and since then the Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee has met at
Clague Road UCC on a weekly basis. The space has worked out wonderfully – it is a
well-lighted space which is helpful when signing. The Deaf Committee attributes their
marked increase in membership in part to the consistent and central meeting location they
have found at Clague Road. Their membership has grown from about 65 to over 100 in less
than a year. The Deaf Committee has felt incredibly welcomed by the congregation, most of
whom were taught by Jim and Cathy how to sign, “welcome to our church.”
When the Deaf Committee kicked off their most recent campaign
last May with a candlelight vigil to demand the right to health care, Jim
Stentzel was there offering the opening prayer. The Deaf Committee was holding the vigil
outside a local hospital because of its consistent negligence in providing interpreters
for deaf patients. There were at least three cases within a short time frame in which deaf
patients were either denied an interpreter, only sporadically provided with an interpreter
or offered poor interpretation. After they received no response from the hospital, the
Deaf Committee held a public meeting and invited the hospital administration to attend.
Over 80 people came to the meeting and the hospital sent five administrators including one
of their Vice Presidents. Members of the Deaf Committee were able to share their concerns
directly with the administration. The Deaf Committee came up with four demands for the
hospital, including registering deaf people for their interpretation preference as they
arrive at the hospital; hiring more freelance interpreters willing to work nightshifts and
offering them more pay; training EMT and ambulance staff to radio the emergency room that
a deaf patient is en route; and training nursing supervisors and staff in deaf culture. As
of mid-February, 2003, the hospital is on track to meet all four demands.
Clague Road UCC is an active place just about everyday of the
week, including Boy Scouts meetings, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Recovery
meetings, STD support group meetings and now the Deaf Committee meetings. Cathy explains
that a special relationship is developing between the church and the Deaf Committee. The
congregation prays for the Deaf Committee on Sundays. The Deaf Committee meetings are so
open and informative that Cathy is aware that several people from the AA meetings have
even attended meetings of the Deaf Committee to learn about SSI benefits and related
issues. Cathy would love to have members of the Deaf Committee attend church on Sunday but
is happy to know that many have found church homes elsewhere, including deaf churches. The
Deaf Committee is so grateful to the church that they make regular donations. And, members
of the Deaf Committee joined in celebrating Clague Road UCC’s 80th
anniversary.
In November of 2002, the Deaf Committee and Clague Road UCC
jointly hosted the New Freedom Bus Tour sponsored by the Kensington Welfare Rights Union
and the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. Over 100 freedom riders slept
at and were fed by a handful of North Olmstead churches through the organizational gifts
of Cathy Stentzel. Heather explains that the program which the Deaf Committee offered to
the Freedom Riders was a success primarily because Clague Road UCC and other North
Olmstead churches played a vital role in organizing the food and housing logistics,
leaving the Deaf Committee plenty of time to focus on the content of their program. Both
Clague Road UCC and the Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee for Human Rights look forward to
another productive year of working together side by side, determined to secure economic
and social rights for all people.
Contact points:
Rev. Cathy Stentzel
Clague Road United Church of Christ
3650 Clague Road
North Olmsted, OH 44070
e-mail: clagueroaducc.oh@netzero.net
440-734-1040 Phone
Heather West
Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee on Human Rights
1875 N. Ridge Rd., Suite A
Lorain, OH 44055
Voice Phone: 440-277-8642
TTY: 440-277-4889
Fax: 440-277-7946
E-mail: DDBCHR1@cs.com
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