What is Quaker Meeting like when you’re deaf? For Jane Fernandes, it is profound. And, she says, it’s a rare experience to find a group of hearing people who value silence.
Resources:
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- Read Friends Journal to see how other Friends describe the substance of Quaker spirituality
Discussion Questions:
- Jane Fernandes says, “As a deaf person, it’s rare when a group of people wants to cherish silence.” What does it mean for people to “cherish silence”? Why do you think that it’s so rare?
- For Jane, learning about Quakerism was a prerequisite for her job and it turned out that the religion spoke to her. Why did you first explore Quakerism? How did your exploration change as you began to understand it more deeply?
Transcript:
The silence of the meeting is in concert with my natural state, and it doesn’t happen often. So it’s rare that’s it’s a good thing—that it’s a wonderful thing—to be silent and everyone in the room is working toward that silence. The deeper we reach silence, the more profound our meeting is. So it’s different. Outside and inside are different. In the meeting is a more holy place.
Profound Silence
My name is Jane Fernandes. I worship at Friendship Friends Meeting here in Greensboro, North Carolina. I am president of Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina.
When I first learned about Quakerism, probably, was in school. I learned a little bit about Quakerism. I probably learned a little bit about the Underground Railroad. That’s the main way I learned what it means to be a Quaker, and probably not much else has happened to me since then—until I applied to be the president of Guilford College.
When I had the interview, they had a lot of questions, but one of the main questions we were asked to speak to the community about is how and if, we would uphold Quaker heritage, and what would that look like to us.
So obviously at that time I was already saying “yes, I would do that, and I would have to learn”. But on some level, I just felt it fit me. There was no question about it. I dove in. I was already there, ready to dive in. So I’m very blessed that I had the chance to find out about Guilford College.
Attending Meeting for the First Time
[My husband] Jim and I moved here. On Sunday morning of the first week, we woke up and he said, “Let’s go to a Friends Meeting.” And later, he told me that he picked this meeting because he knew it was “unprogrammed,” and that meant that he would not have to interpret.
We were born and raised as Catholics. So when we went to church, we sat in the pew and he interpreted the whole time, every mass. Every ceremony. Every celebration. Every service. But the first time I worshiped here, I loved it, because for me, as a deaf person, it’s rare when a group of people wants to cherish silence. It is rare. It’s rare. And that opportunity to just sit there and think, pray very deeply, that’s a wonderful thing. I enjoyed that very much.
Experiencing Silent Worship as a Deaf Person
In terms of my life, I was born deaf, and my mother was also born deaf. What I learned in my life was that I was expected to take in all the sounds, all the noises. That sounds are very important. I must learn them even if I can’t hear them. It’s very important. But those are very superficial things, and they’re really not me. So in the meeting, it’s one place where if I don’t say anything, if I don’t hear anything, that’s good. It’s fine. It’s good. Not that it doesn’t matter, it’s good. It’s a positive state.
Because I’m centering in myself, and I’m connecting with God, in the only way that I can, the only way a human being can do that. So it’s great for me. I’ve not been in a group of people that understands that, and a group of hearing people who strive to be in that state that I was born in. So it’s a wonderful thing for me.
The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.
Wonderful! Thank you Jane! I’m so glad you found us. I never would have thought of a deaf person finding our silent worship so good. God bless you. In love and friendship, Noël. Cambridgeshire Area Meeting, UK.
Powerful. Thank you.
I LOVED this video, and was ready to share it on my facebook page for my non-Quaker friends and family members, until…… you included a fund-raiser request at the end. Although it is good to raise funds, it is so much more important to raise awareness of what it is to worship God in a Quaker Meeting. In the end, I did not post this video on fb, as I do not want to appear to be promoting fund raising rather than educating.
Hi Carol!
Thanks for watching! We loved this one too.
About the outro: it is common practice for a YouTube channel to include a short advertisement or reminder at the end of each video. Without this support, many of these channels would not be able to continue to exist.
That said, we know it can be distracting from the content and that’s why we put it at the end. Just as a savvy television viewer knows how to skip ads, folks who watch videos online know that if they aren’t in the mood to hear an ad, they can navigate elsewhere as the outro begins.
Hope that helps. Thanks again for watching!
-Jon
FABULOUS!!!! Loved meeting the new President of Guilford this way!
Is there a version of this where all of her signing is visible? I was excited to share this video with a Deaf friend, but then not all of her interview is accessible – why?
Hi Lisa! Thanks for your comment.
Jane did not sign throughout the entirety of her interview. The only times we used the close angle of her was when she was not actively signing.
We provide transcripts and closed captioning for every video we release. We work hard to make sure they are accurate, and we are always learning new ways to make our videos more accessible. If your friend has any additional feedback, please do pass it along! Thanks
An absolutely wonderful piece, ‘Profound Silence’. It makes sense and she communicates her reasons just the way I also feel. Language is not necessary in worship and silence speaks to us all. I think this will be one of my favorites. Thank you.
Very moving and affirming! May God continue to bless you , the college,and the community as you minister there. Thank you for sharing.
So pleased that Jane Fernandes found that Quakerism spoke to her, as it did for me as a Deaf person. I was 20 years old at that time and the religious experience has stayed with me as profound as it did then. There are Quakers by philosophy, and Quakers by association, Jane, and the former is a much longer and much more deep growth journey. May it continue to be as moving and profound as it is for you now.
I was profoundly moved by my first viewing of Caroline’s sharing. I am a member of a very remote meeting in Albany, Weatern Australia. We have approximately 8 members and attenders. The concept that you have enabled me to have face to face contact with other Quakers around the world is just so liberating and moving. Thank you.
Suggest that your Patreon page offer an open option for pledging a one-time amount. I saw a video that moved me to want to make a small donation to your project. I don’t want a subscription, I just wanted to help a little. Unless I missed it, I don’t see such an option on this page or the Patreon page.
Hi Peter!
Thanks for your message and your interest in contributing to the project. Here are 3 ways you can give a small contribution:
Thanks again for your support!
-Jon