Introducing the Branch Concept

Signs of Grace Deaf Church is the legal organization as far as the federal and state governments are concerned. All members belong to Signs of Grace Deaf Church, not the local branch that they attend. Together, we serve God in different locations, but as members of one body. Together, we approve elders and deacons to lead us, the church as a whole, to accomplish our purposes to minister to the deaf and hard of hearing communities and their families. Our Board oversees all the branches of our church (administrative and ministry). The Board includes representation from each branch.

The administrative branch is responsible for handling the majority of the administrative work for the ministry branches of the church. This includes rent, utilities, phone, internet (web and email), salaries, hearing church relations, etc. This allows our ministry branches to focus on ministry instead of administrative details. Our ministry branches only handle what is necessary to keep the ministries of the branch going.

This also gives is a way to coordinate the resources of our church to work together to reach our deaf and hard of hearing communities and their families with the good news of Jesus. Sometimes, that may mean that we use some of our money to support a branch that is just getting started and does not have a lot of resources. Sometimes it means other branches supporting a pilot project that one branch develops. There are just different ways that we can work together and the administrative branch provides that kind of coordination.

Each branch focuses on a specific city or location to serve the deaf and hard of hearing communities and their families in that location. Each ministry branch will select a Branch Council who will oversee that branch. The branch council will coordinate the ministries and activities for that branch with the members. This allows each branch to have local control to fit the needs of their location. At the same time, each branch follows the statement of faith and statement of ministry of Signs of Grace Deaf Church.

Specific information is available about each branch of our church.

If you have questions about our branch concept or if you are interested in possibly becoming a branch of SGDC, please use the Contact Us button on the menu at the top of the page.