- I am a Church business administrator(hearing) of a suburban church which offers two services with deaf intrepretation at both.I am new at this church and have not handled a church with a deaf ministry before. Today I was visited by one of the interpreters and saying to the effect she has not had a raise in over two years.
Secondly, she has paid for her yearly recertification classes out of her own pocket without saying anything.
I called two churches in the areas wityh deaf ministries. The first is the largest area deaf-offering church which has a large deaf ministry. I spoke to the church secretary and she said the interpreters worked gratis(free)and were not reimbursed for yearly recertification.
Secondly, I spoke to another large area church that pays their interpreter(s) $40.00 per service and no reimbursement for recertification.
Do you have any reaction/response to any of this.
I want to do the right thing....within reason.
Several people, including professional interpreters, chimed in with their opinions (selections follow):
eduterp00: Qualified Interpreters should receive appropriate reimbursement. To find out about appropriate rates, contct your local agency for the Deaf and HOH or your state agency to find out rates.
The profession of interpreting will never be recognized as a truely skilled profession if people offer their services for free. Doctors charge, roofers charge, brick layers charge...........these are all chosen occupations that require specific skills and training. No other profession does gratis work. An interpreter who does gratis work could have it on their heart from God to do this; or they could be unskilled and are trying to get thier foot in the door. I recommend that they receive the hourly rate that is your areas average. If they are employed full tiome as an interpreter else where, that place of employment should be compensating them for their certification monies.
serephimluv:i am a seventeen year old senior i have been studing sign language for 5 or 6 years. i now interpret at my church for one service and any special events. i also teach 2 classes a week but i dont get payed anything at all so i guess it would be good to get a raise. It is a lot of work especially with a pastor who changes thoughts in the middle of thoughts and jumps around everywhere.
SumBuny: While I agree with you about interpreters being highly skilled people who should receive just compensation, I would like to point out that many times skilled individuals do not routinely receive such compensation for such work in church services.
I am Hearing (came here as an ASL student a few years back), and would like to compare a Deaf Interpreter at church services to a music director at same service...
I wanted to point out that--while she *is* getting paid a stipend for her work at a church service--the interpreter is likely being treated like other trained professionals--she is receving some compensation for her contribution to the church service that is less than she would receive for doing the same as a career...and that some who are actually receiving the same amount of money are doing more work...
many churches do not have the fundings that businesses do, and the stipends come out of the collection plates. If the parish community is not wealthy, then the stipend is not going to be as high...
KarenEloise: My church has one highly qualified terp and 2 others who are well qualified but have less training. My terps, also my friends see their interpreting as their ministry for God, and it is their donation to His service...
Rockhelper2:When a terp interprets for church they are serving jesus, and they will get their reward form our lord when he reimbursts them...
GracesBaba: An Interpreter can give away their talent as a "tithe" and a ministry. If this is the case, the interpreter's services could be counted as a non-profit donation and could be included in their taxes. On the other hand, certified interpreters are professionals and should be treated as such and compensated. I think this decision is really up to the individual church...
Are the interpreters in your church paid or volunteer? You can add your comments to the discussion.
