Formerly the National Deaf Church Conference. (NDCC)

Deaf Anglicans Together was formed in 1963 under the name of the National Deaf Church Conference.  The aim of the NDCC was to form a platform where Deaf Christians could meet and discuss, in their own language (British Sign Language – BSL) topics, which faced the World and Church in the same way that hearing Christians discussed them within their own Deanery, and Diocesan Synods.

For a number of years NDCC/DAT has endeavoured to become equal members of the wider Church and it is only as recently as 2005, that we were granted permission to elect three of our committee members to the General Synod as representatives but without voting rights, having the same status as ecumenical observers ie the right to speak but not to vote or propose motions or ask questions.

The issues that arise from the DAT reps having voting rights are these:
If members of DAT were electing full voting members then they could possibly have two votes since they may have voting rights in their deanery.  
DAT response: This is indeed possible and people would need to relinquish the right to vote in one of the constituencies.  This is similar to those voting for the religious communities reps.

Deaf people should stand for election through “normal” diocesan/deanery processes.
DAT response: As far as we are aware very few Deaf people are on Diocesan/Deanery Synods and these few have not been elected onto Deanery/Diocesan Synods but co-opted, therefore the possibility of them being elected is unlikely.  Should they be elected they would represent their own dioceses and not the Deaf community so DAT would lose their “voice” in Synod.  They would be required to report back to their diocese so DAT could lose this valuable source of information.  The three members representing DAT keep the members fully informed of all that is happening when General Synod meets, they also circulate the news through their ‘SIGNS’ magazine.  

As a linguistic minority within the Church of England, Deaf BSL users need to be represented fully at General Synod.  We are faithful Anglicans and after this faithful journey of 46 years it would be a blessing for DAT to be full members of the General Synod.

DAT Representatives May 2009
ED: see also the Private Member’s Motion asking for this last hope to be granted.