What is IVSS / Churchear
International Federation for Pastoral Care of Hearing Impaired Persons

(IVSS = Internationaler Verband für Schwerhörigen-Seelsorge)

The IVSS was founded in 1979 with the purpose of improving the pastoral care of hard of hearing and late deafened persons. The intention of IVSS is that hard of hearing and late deafened persons have an access to pastoral care and active Church membership equal to persons with a normal hearing. IVSS is ecumenical, open to all Christian denominations.

This goal is pursued with different means in different countries. The task of IVSS is to bring together individuals, organizations and Churches, dealing with pastoral care of hearing impaired persons, so that they can inspire and learn from each other, respecting their right to be different.

Thus the IVSS is not a mission society, but an instrument of integration.

The IVSS works mainly in three ways:
1. being a network of persons and organizations with a shared concern
2. arranging international conferences, normally every two years
3. publishing news and information materials on the Internet in various languages. Right here where you are now.

Membership is possible for individuals as well as for Churches and organizations. Individual membership fee is 20 German Marks a year (12 US$). Corporate membership fee is 200 German Marks a year (120 US$).

IVSS International Conferences and Congresses have been held in many European cities. Until now there has been little interest in hearing impaired persons from Churches in Southern Europe and America. But especially in Germany and Scandinavia there is a strong tradition of educating clergy to understand and communicate with the severely hard of hearing and late deafened persons. Though the IVSS is ecumenical, the Lutheran Church of Germany has been our main sponsor. Accordingly the official name of the federation is in German.

In some countries this work is closely connected with the ministry for the culturally deaf. In other countries there is no connection at all.

The latest International IVSS Congress took place in Vienna, September 18th - 22nd 2000.