A controversial mass based around the music and messages of pop-icon Beyoncé Knowles-Carter drew as many as 900 people to an Episcopal cathedral in San Francisco last week, up from around the 50 who usually attend weekday services.
The Rev. Yolanda Norton, a San Francisco Theological Seminary assistant professor who specializes in the Old Testament, told the San Francisco Chronicle last week that the service, held at Grace Cathedral on Wednesday, was inspired from a desire to explore female-centric interpretations of the Bible.
“When we talk about womanist biblical interpretation, Beyoncé felt like a natural fit,” Norton said. “If we look at the trajectory of her person and her relationships, we can see so many issues black women face and how it can affect how we interpret the text.”
The Rev. Jude Harmon of Grace Cathedral explained that the mass was part of a three-part series on Grace, titled “Speaking Truth: The Power of Story in Community,” which seeks to focus on marginalized elements in the Christian community, such as women and people of color.
Harmon admitted that there has been controversy surrounding the mass,…
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