A woManist worship service
HOW BLACK WOMEN FIND THEIR VOICE, REPRESENT THE IMAGE OF GOD,
AND CREATE SPACES FOR LIBERATION
What is Beyoncé Mass?
What if “Flaws and All” was a song about a complicated relationship with God?
And “Survivor” spoke to how Black women thrive even as they’re undervalued and underestimated?
Beyoncé Mass is a womanist worship service that uses the music and personal life of Beyoncé as a tool to foster an empowering conversation about Black women—their lives, their bodies, and their voices.
Curated by Rev. Yolanda Norton, this groundbreaking spiritual experience has gathered thousands of people at worship services from Southern California to Portugal.
GOT MORE QUESTIONS? READ OUR FAQs.
2023 mASS
RIVERSIDE CHURCH (SEPTEMBER 29)
2022 Masses
STANFORD UNIVERSITY (FEBRUARY 23)
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE (APRIL 13)
SEATTLE (MAY 6)
MINNEAPOLIS (MAY 13 &14)
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (OCTOBER 8)
2020 Masses
STANFORD: ONLINE (NOVEMBER 7)
MERRIMACK COLLEGE: ONLINE (OCTOBER 13)
BAYLOR/MCCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY/MERRIMACK/MORAVIAN COLLEGE/
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY/VANDERBILT: ONLINE (SEPTEMBER 15)
THE BEYONCÉ MASS: ONLINE (JUNE 5)
THE KENNEDY CENTER-WASHINGTON, DC (MARCH 8)
SPELMAN COLLEGE (MARCH 2)
CLAREMONT COLLEGES (JANUARY 26)
2019 Masses
HARLEM-ST. JAMES PCUSA (OCTOBER 23)
BROOKLYN-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BROOKLYN (OCTOBER 23)
LOS ANGELES-MCCARTY MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH (MAY 17)
LISBON, PORTUGAL (MARCH 29 &30)
UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS (JANUARY 21)
2018 Masses
SAN FRANCISCO-GRACE CATHEDRAL (APRIL 26)
SAN ANSELMO-SAN FRANCISCO THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (MARCH 1)
THE TEAM
REV. YOLANDA M NORTON
Rev. Yolanda M. Norton is a the Executive Director of the Global Arts and Theology Experience (GATE) and Visiting Scholar at Moravian Theological Seminary. Prior to her current positions she served as a Visiting Professor at the Seminary of the Southwest as well as Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible and H. Eugene Farlough Chair of Black Church Studies at San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Her womanist scholarship explores how Scripture treats foreign women and how this has led to the oppression of Black women who encounter the Bible today. She is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel and Theology and Practice Fellow at Vanderbilt University. Rev. Norton is also ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and she holds a Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Syracuse University.
LUISA (SOPRANO)
Luisa is a former contestant on The Voice Portugal. She has a fierce determination, unlimited talent and skill, and a deep love of God. She sang lead vocals on Halo for the Lisbon mass. It seems an appropriate song for someone with the voice of an angel.
MELITSSA (SOPRANO)
Quiet though, she may be in life, if you close your eyes and listen to Melitssa sing, you might think Beyoncé was in the room. Melitssa was a contestant on Portugal’s Idol.
CARLA (ALTO)
Carla is always paying attention to what is happening in the world around her. She has a heart for justice and a love of life, and you can feel those two things in the soulfulness of every note that she sings.
YAFENI (ALTO)
A woman of many talents, Yafeni has an entrepreneurial spirit and an inquisitive mind. You should never underestimate Yafeni’s voice, her many abilities, or her persistent pursuit to the world.
CELISE (TENOR)
has a big spirit and the voice to match. She loves God and people, and it shows in everything she does. Celise has an unparalleled passion for seeing what the world and the music have to offer. If ever you need a hug that heals, find Celise.
ANDY (BASS GUITAR)
Andy is a gifted musician with a deep commitment to learning and a heart for justice. Andy was in the original Bey Mass at SFTS, and has been on this ride ever since.
MEDIA
HBO VICE News | Broadly
“Vice’s Broadly recently attended a jam-packed Beyoncé Mass held at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, which was organized by reverend and theologian Yolanda Norton, who teaches a class on Beyoncé and the Hebrew Bible where she uses the pop idol's songs to interpret biblical scripture through a black feminist lens.”
NEW YORK TIMES
San Francisco’s Spiritual Bastion Gets Behind Its Beyoncé Mass
“We use ‘Flaws and All,’” a song maybe she wrote for her fans or for Jay-Z,” she said.
“But if you listen to the words in an ecclesiastical context, it’s a very faithful, honest, raw acknowledgment of the imperfect relationship we have with God.”
ESSENCE MAGAZINE
San Francisco Church To Observe Beyoncé Mass To Lift Up The Marginalized Voices Of Black Women
“This is a service that uses Beyoncé’s music as a tool to engender positive, empowering conversation about Black women. The premise of this work is that if we look at the personal life, career trajectory, music and public persona of Beyoncé, so much of her life reflects aspects of Black women’s stories.”
11 ALIVE
'Beysus?' Church mass inspired by pop singer Beyoncé coming to Spelman
Beyoncé Mass was created by Rev. Yolanda Norton. She says it's a way to highlight how African American women encounter the Bible, but she's faced criticism from people who've called it insensitive.
Spelman is looking forward to it. In a statement, the Dean of Sisters Chapel at Spelman says "We're honored to host the mass."
• BBC News | Why a US church held a 'Beyoncé Mass'
• San Francisco Chronicle | Beyoncé Mass draws faithful crowd of 900-plus
FAQs
ARE YOU WORSHIPING BEYONCÉ?
No. Beyoncé Mass is a Christian worship service that is open to all. It does not deify Beyoncé. The worship service uses Beyoncé’s life and music as a tool to engender positive, empowering conversations about Black women.
WHAT IS WOMANISM?
Beyoncé Mass is a womanist worship service. Womanism recognizes and celebrates the lives, beauty, culture, spirituality, and experiences of Black women and is committed to the survival, well-being, and wholeness of all people.
WHERE DID THE BEYONCÉ MASS START?
Beyoncé Mass evolved out of a chapel service developed by students in Rev. Yolanda Norton’s class “Beyoncé and the Hebrew Bible” at San Francisco Theological Seminary. The class explored female-centric interpretations of the Bible and how Scripture reflects Black female identity. Like the worship service, the class explored how Beyonce’s personal life, career trajectory, music and public persona reflects aspects of Black women’s stories.
WHEN WAS THE FIRST BEYONCÉ MASS?
The inaugural Beyoncé Mass took place on April 25, 2018 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and gathered over 1000 people.
CAN I HOST A BEYONCÉ MASS AT MY CHURCH, SEMINARY, OR ORGANIZATION?
Yes! Contact us using the booking form below to discuss how we can bring the service to your community.
BOOKING
Are you interested in hosting the Beyoncé Mass with your faith community, seminary, nonprofit, or community organization? We’re always looking for new partnerships.