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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261019T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261019T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004080-1792432800-1792438200@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/2026-10-19/
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:20261116T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261116T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004081-1794852000-1794857400@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/2026-11-16/
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:20261221T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261221T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004082-1797876000-1797881400@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/2026-12-21/
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:20270118T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270118T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004083-1800295200-1800300600@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/2027-01-18/
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:20270215T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270215T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004084-1802714400-1802719800@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/2027-02-15/
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:20270315T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270315T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004085-1805133600-1805139000@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/2027-03-15/
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:20270419T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270419T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004086-1808157600-1808163000@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/2027-04-19/
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:20270517T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270517T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004087-1810576800-1810582200@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/2027-05-17/
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:20270621T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270621T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004088-1813600800-1813606200@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/2027-06-21/
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:20270719T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270719T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004089-1816020000-1816025400@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/2027-07-19/
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:20270816T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270816T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004090-1818439200-1818444600@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/2027-08-16/
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:20270920T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20270920T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004091-1821463200-1821468600@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/2027-09-20/
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:20271018T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20271018T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004092-1823882400-1823887800@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/2027-10-18/
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:20271115T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20271115T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004093-1826301600-1826307000@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/2027-11-15/
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:20271220T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20271220T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004094-1829325600-1829331000@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/2027-12-20/
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:20280117T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280117T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004095-1831744800-1831750200@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/2028-01-17/
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:20280221T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280221T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004096-1834768800-1834774200@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/2028-02-21/
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:20280320T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280320T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004097-1837188000-1837193400@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/2028-03-20/
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:20280417T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280417T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004098-1839607200-1839612600@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/2028-04-17/
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:20280515T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280515T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004099-1842026400-1842031800@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/2028-05-15/
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:20280619T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280619T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004100-1845050400-1845055800@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/2028-06-19/
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:20280717T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280717T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004101-1847469600-1847475000@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/2028-07-17/
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:20280821T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280821T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004102-1850493600-1850499000@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/2028-08-21/
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:20280918T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20280918T193000
DTSTAMP:20261012T171320Z
CREATED:20260911T175039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T171320Z
UID:10004103-1852912800-1852918200@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/2028-09-18/
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:20281016T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20281016T193000
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
END:VCALENDAR