Celebration Series: Deacon Dorothy Sparks

Sometimes church leaders are obvious: pastors, council members, the regular volunteers, etc. Sometimes our leaders are Lutherans living out their values in their daily lives: their vocation, their community roles, etc. We want to use this year to lift up and honor the many diverse and exceptional leaders in our synod. Follow along with us to celebrate some of the remarkable members of the body of Christ! – Brenda Blackhawk, Congregational Organizer for Racial Justice

This edition of the Celebration Series celebrates Deacon Dorothy Sparks. Read more about her contributions to this community and beyond.

What role(s) do you take on (in the synod and beyond)? Which, if any, congregation do you belong to?

• I am a Deacon at Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. 

What identities are important to you to highlight?

• I am Deaf. I was born to a Deaf family. My first language was American Sign Language. I can’t describe what it is like to live with a Deaf family because I always felt normal. I had a good childhood.  In America, only 10 percent of Deaf children have Deaf parents. When I was a high school student, a Deaf girl asked me if my parents are Deaf.  I said, “Yes”!  She said, “You are lucky.” I did not understand what she meant. After I graduated from the Deaf school I attended, I enter the real world. I finally realized that she felt frustrated with her family because her family was not willing to learn ASL, which caused a communication gap.
• My parents, brother and I attended the Deaf church. I watched the pastor’s sermon.  I found that I did not understand him. I really thought something is wrong with my brain. I accepted it.   One day, I read the Bible.  I did not understand it.  I thought, “What should I do?” I had an idea.  I looked at the Bible with pictures.  It REALLY helped me to understand the Bible’s story better. I began to try reading the Bible with no pictures again. I found that it improved my reading skills. I understand the Bible better now.  Then, I watched my pastor’s sermon.  I still did not understand him. I realized his sign language was not clear. I looked at the Deaf people in the pews.  I wondered, “Do they understand him?”  It made my spirit Restless.  I had to make the Bible’s story clearer for those like me. I realized that I strongly depend on visuals. Now, my passion is to make God’s word CLEAR thru American Sign Language, face expression, and body language.  

Thinking about the ELCA or the Minneapolis Area Synod, what part of its mission resonates the most with you/your work?

• I am so pleased that Norma Malfatti from Minneapolis Area Synod was at the Bread of Life Deaf Lutheran Church for the meetings and the annual meetings. She is willing to learn about the Deaf Culture. She shared the information with us. It is HELPFUL. 

Is there anything else you want to add or emphasize?

• We know that humans have five senses.  Researchers have found facts about the senses.  Just because some people have four senses or less, it does not mean that their senses become vulnerable. All four senses depend on each other. It makes the person strong in a new way. For example, I am Deaf. I depend on my eyes a lot. It makes my visual strong.  I am creative through visuals. A person who is a DeafBlind can feel more through touching.