Faith Through Hearing: Auditory Accessibility for Worship
Please note that the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the ELCA is not endorsing or recommending any specific product for assistive listening services. The text below is for informational and educational purposes only.
About two years ago, Linda Delk-Hoveskeland and her husband moved to a retirement community. She estimates that over half of the residents have some degree of hearing loss—and that includes her. In fact, Linda’s own career background ties into deafness: she has been a teacher of deaf and HOH (Hard of Hearing) children and teachers-in-training and worked at Gallaudet University as an internal program evaluator for their preK-to-12 national demonstration programs. It led her to think about how worship at church could be more accessible to people with hearing loss.
While houses of worship are exempt from ADA requirements to provide accommodations to persons with disabilities, many faith communities see it as part of their mission of welcome and inclusion to do so, through such accommodations as assistive listening systems, large print bulletins, quiet rooms, and accessible bathrooms. Churches need guidance on making decisions about what kind of assistive listening system to choose for their community, what kind of products for that system would be best for their needs and circumstances, how to install the system, and how to assist their congregation in utilizing the system.
Linda, who is a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandra, VA, and Andrew Tlusty, Peace’s “AV Guru,” led the effort to secure church council approval for an Auracast assistive listening system in the sanctuary. Auracast Broadcast Audio is a kind of Bluetooth that utilizes low frequency radio signals. They found a local integrator through Listen Technologies’ East coast rep and worked with them on the installation. The result? Worship at Peace is now more accessible to people with hearing loss. You can read more in Linda’s report that was included in Peace’s 2025 Annual Report.
Greg Hickey is no stranger to Auracast technology. A member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Manassas, VA, Greg worked with a team of volunteers to install an assistive listening system. He partnered with Bob Shon (also at Bethel), Mark VerMurlen of Gloria Dei in Lynnwood, WA and Andrew Bellavia and Bill Nattress of Grace Lutheran in Woodstock, IL to create an in-depth manual (please note that it’s constantly evolving) that documents their churches’ experiences in standing up low-cost audio broadcast systems, covering everything from why assisted listening ministry matters to lessons learned along their journey. Bellavia’s church was featured in an article in the Chicago Tribune (unfortunately it sits behind a paywall) and he also wrote a piece for Living Lutheran (which you can read).
Assistive listening technology ensures that participation in and enjoyment of worship, concerts, church meetings, etc. is more inclusive. Greg, Bob, Mark, Andrew Bellavia, Bill, and Linda have formed an informal group with the aim of informing ELCA churches on the benefits and tips and tricks of installing cost-effective assisted listening systems so that people with hearing loss can participate fully in church life. They will meet with ELCA Disability Ministries to explore ways this effort can be supported—and they’re eager to help support other churches in their endeavors. User feedback has been very positive, enhanced quality is affordable and available, and it all underscores Paul’s letter to the Romans (10:17): “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”