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DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004104-1855332000-1855337400@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2028-10-16/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20281120T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20281120T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004105-1858356000-1858361400@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2028-11-20/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20281218T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20281218T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004106-1860775200-1860780600@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2028-12-18/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290115T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290115T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004107-1863194400-1863199800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-01-15/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290219T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290219T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004108-1866218400-1866223800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-02-19/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290319T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290319T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004109-1868637600-1868643000@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-03-19/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290416T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290416T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004110-1871056800-1871062200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-04-16/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290521T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290521T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004111-1874080800-1874086200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-05-21/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290618T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290618T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004112-1876500000-1876505400@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-06-18/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290716T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290716T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004113-1878919200-1878924600@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-07-16/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290820T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290820T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004114-1881943200-1881948600@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-08-20/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20290917T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20290917T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004115-1884362400-1884367800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-09-17/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20291015T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20291015T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004116-1886781600-1886787000@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-10-15/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20291119T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20291119T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004117-1889805600-1889811000@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-11-19/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20291217T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20291217T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004118-1892224800-1892230200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2029-12-17/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300121T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300121T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004119-1895248800-1895254200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-01-21/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300218T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300218T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004120-1897668000-1897673400@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-02-18/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300318T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300318T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004121-1900087200-1900092600@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-03-18/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300415T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300415T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004122-1902506400-1902511800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-04-15/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300520T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300520T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004123-1905530400-1905535800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-05-20/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300617T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300617T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004124-1907949600-1907955000@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-06-17/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300715T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300715T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004125-1910368800-1910374200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-07-15/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300819T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300819T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004126-1913392800-1913398200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-08-19/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20300916T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20300916T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004127-1915812000-1915817400@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-09-16/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20301021T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20301021T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004128-1918836000-1918841400@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-10-21/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20301118T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20301118T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004129-1921255200-1921260600@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-11-18/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20301216T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20301216T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004130-1923674400-1923679800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2030-12-16/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20310120T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20310120T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004131-1926698400-1926703800@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2031-01-20/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20310217T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20310217T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004132-1929117600-1929123000@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2031-02-17/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20310317T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20310317T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004133-1931536800-1931542200@scarrittbennett.org
SUMMARY:The Clearing: A Place for Black Queer Spiritual Discovery and Exploration
DESCRIPTION:Where do Black Queer people go to explore God\, spirituality\, and the sacred when traditional religious spaces have not always made room for the fullness of who we are? \nScarritt Bennett Center’s Racial Justice Ministries\, in partnership with MashUp Nashville\, presents The Clearing\, a monthly spiritual gathering created for and centered on Black Queer people. \nThe Clearing offers Black Queer people intentional space outside of traditional religious structures to encounter the Divine\, explore our relationships to and with God\, ask questions\, wrestle with faith\, and discover spiritual practices and wisdom that honor the fullness of our identities and lived experiences. \nFor generations\, Black people have encountered the Divine far beyond the walls of churches and traditional religious institutions—in literature and music\, around kitchen tables\, through movement and storytelling\, in nature\, through ancestral wisdom\, and in community. Black Queer people are part of that sacred tradition. The Clearing draws upon that inheritance while making room for the particular experiences\, questions\, wisdom\, creativity\, and spiritual lives of Black Queer people. \nEach month\, we will gather around a selected work of mass media—literature\, film\, television\, music\, visual art\, and other cultural texts—and use it as a doorway into deeper conversations about God\, spirituality\, identity\, liberation\, healing\, embodiment\, love\, and wholeness. Rather than beginning with doctrine or asking participants to conform to a particular religious tradition\, we begin with Black Queer lives and experiences and explore what they reveal about the sacred. \nOur First Clearing: Toni Morrison’s Beloved \nOn Monday\, September 21\, we begin with Toni Morrison’s Beloved and “The Sermon in the Clearing\,” the powerful passage in which Baby Suggs calls Black people to love their flesh—their hands\, mouths\, hearts\, bodies\, and very selves. \nTogether\, we will consider what Morrison’s words offer Black Queer people seeking to reclaim our bodies\, nurture our spirits\, practice radical self-love\, pursue wholeness\, and deepen our relationships with the Divine. \nThe Clearing is for Black Queer people. You do not need to belong to a church\, practice a particular religion\, have certainty about what you believe\, or even know exactly what you believe about God. Bring your questions\, your experiences\, your curiosity\, and your whole self. \nMonday\, September 21\, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 p.m.\nScarritt Bennett Center\n1027 18th Avenue South\, Nashville\nLight fare and childcare provided. \nRegister for The Clearing
URL:https://scarrittbennett.org/event/the-clearing-a-place-for-black-queer-spiritual-discovery-and-exploration/2031-03-17/
LOCATION:Laskey Welcome Center\, Laskey C\, Scarritt Bennett Center
CATEGORIES:Racial Justice Ministries
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://scarrittbennett.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/The-Clearing-2.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR