The history of the Deaf caucus goes back many decades. Informally, the group of members of Deaf ministries across the United Methodist connection gathered to support one another, to network, to spread Deaf ministries and collaborate since the early days of Deaf Ministries thanks to Rev. Philip Hasenstab (1890) and Rev. Daniel Moylan (1894). Following the 1968 merger and new denomination of The United Methodist Church, racial-ethnic caucuses were officially recognized in the denomination. Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, and hearing allies of United Methodist churches and Deaf ministries felt they too should become a caucus. In 1972, at Trinity College in Washington, DC, Rev. LeRoy Schauer planned UMCD’s first meeting to create this Deaf caucus (UMCD). Roy White, Dan Kenyon, Francene Kenyon, and others attended. Also invited was Rev. Otto Berg, a Deaf priest from St Barnabas Episcopal Deaf Church in Chevy Chase, MD, as Rev. Berg was there to advise on how to start UMCD based on how Episcopal Conference of the Deaf (ECD) was structured since ECD was already established. UMCD began meeting more formally with annual gatherings and meetings that included having a Board.

According to the original caucus bylaws, UMCD sought its non-profit status as a 501(c)3 in 1981 that included a partnership with Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church and having its address located with the General Commission on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of The United Methodist Church. The UMCD board recognizes that we currently stand on the shoulders on the leaders such as Rev. Louis Foxwell, Holly Elliott, Rev. LeRoy Schauer, Franceine Kenyon, Dan Kenyon, Rev. Tom Compton, Roy White, John Tubergen, Rev. Dr. Kathy Black, Doris Greve, Bishop Peggy Johnson, Rev. Dr. Kirk VanGilder, Rev. Dr. Tom Hudspeth, and many more. Part of the work of UMCD was advocating for the passing of the Church and Deaf Ministries Steering Committee at the 1992 General Conference – the denomination’s commitment to Deaf Ministries.

Some UMCD-related literature are provided.

• A 1999 history book on UMCD
• A 2000 UMC article about the history of the Whatcoat Black Deaf Mission
• A UMCD-related 1984 article from the New World Outlook Magazine
• The History of Christ Church of the Deaf written by Bishop Peggy Johnson, Ruth Foxwell, and Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, Jr. also gives unique insight to early leaders in Deaf Ministries from the beginning of the 20th century
• The 50th anniversary booklet for Magothy Deaf Church
• An interest article about the Whatcoat Black Deaf Mission
• An interest article about Christ Church of the Deaf

Special Awards

The Philip J. Hasenstab Award – an individual who has exemplified excellence in Deaf ministry evangelism and mission. The award is named after Rev. Philip Hasenstab, who is the first known Deaf Methodist minister who served at the Chicago Temple Mission for the Deaf in the Illinois Annual Conference, starting in 1890.
The Daniel E. Moylan Award – a church or Deaf ministry that has exemplified excellence in evangelism and mission. The award is named after Rev. Daniel Moylan who was the founding pastor for both the Christ United Methodist Church of the Deaf in 1895 (the first Deaf Methodist Church in the connection) and the Whatcoat Black Deaf Mission in 1905 (& another article).
The Deaf Light Award – goes to individuals, ministries or churches who have made a recent significant contribution in Deaf ministry in their local area or to Deaf ministries in general.

Past Award Recipients

Previous Hasenstab Award recipients were Peggy Johnson (2014), Carol Stevens (2016), LaSaunder Sanders (2018), Tom Hudspeth (2023).
Previous Moylan Award recipients were Hilltop UMC, St James and King Solomon UMC in the Mutare District, East Zimbabwe Conference (2018). Christ Church for the Deaf (2014), Lovers Lane (2016), and Yatosha Deaf Ministry in the Tanzania Annual Conference (2023).
Previous Deaf Light Award recipients in 2023 were (1) Billy Deters & Mary Ann Deters of Titusville, FL, (2) Norton East Inclusive Deaf Ministry, Zimbabwe West Annual Conference, (3) the Rev. Dr. Peter Mageto, Vice Chancellor, Africa University, (4) Karen Miller, for Deaf evangelism in the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference, (5) Roz McKelvey, founder of 25-year Germantown Deaf Ministries Fellowship, (6) Rev. Collins Prempeh, first Deaf graduate of theology Africa University in 2023, (7) Martin Sichone, Deaf teacher of the Deaf, Itezhi Tezhi, Zambia and project director of the Kabwe UMC Deaf ministry project, the first such project in the Zambia Annual Conference, (8) Rev. Dr. Kirk VanGilder, for Deaf mission work in Africa, (9) Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, Jr, in the Baltimore-Washington Conference, (10) Grace UMC, Wilmington, Delaware has for the past 14 years supported the Deaf Ministry, and (11) Magothy Church of the Deaf for its 50 plus years of Deaf Ministry.

Episcopal – Lutheran – Methodist (ELM) Deaf Ministries

The Deaf caucuses of the Episcopal Conference of the Deaf, the Evangelical Lutheran Deaf Association, and the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf have a join collaboration where they periodically participate in joint conferences, missions, and support of one another’s Deaf ministries. Read their joint statement.