- Radical Unstoppable Faith
Author’s note: We are traveling to United Women in Faith Assembly this week to gather together in worship, fellowship, justice, leadership, and spiritual formation. May we remember that God still honors courageous faith. See you at the United Women in Faith Assembly! Stop by the…
- Justice Requires More Than Words
From May 5 through May 7, Tennesseans gathered at the State Capitol as lawmakers moved to redraw congressional maps—threatening to eliminate Memphis’ majority-Black 9th Congressional District. By the time you read this, the special session called by Governor Bill Lee will have concluded. But what happened…
- Be a Part of Powerhouse Conversations: Women in Business May 20
The next in Powerhouse Conversations lunch on May 20th will focus on Women in Business and feature 6 dynamic women leaders in a variety of business fields. CEO of MOJO Impact Collective, Mochiere’ Holmes-Jones, will moderate a discussion with Rev. Sondrea Tolbert, Sharon Reynolds, Shannen…
- May 2: Celebrate World Labyrinth Day at Scarritt Bennett!
You are invited! Spend World Labyrinth Day at Scarritt Bennett Center’s Peace Garden and Labyrinth, located on our campus bordering Grand Avenue between 19th and 18th Avenues S. For people from across Nashville’s mid-town community, pausing to walk Scarritt’s labyrinth is a peace practice during…
- UWF Faith Talks Podcast Features Rev. Linda Furtado
“I think a lot of our growth happens in discomfort,” shared Rev. Linda Furtado during a recent guest spot on United Women in Faith (UWF) Faith Talks podcast hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer. “And, if we’re not always working and studying with the same people…
- Scarritt Alumni/ae Reunion: Scarritt Harvest . Seeds of Hope
Save the date and reserve your spot for the Scarritt Reunion, which will be held on October 11-14, 2026 at Scarritt Bennett Center. Scarritt Harvest . Seeds of Hope is the theme for the 2026 gathering and we are excited to gather former students from…
- Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert Showcases Scarritt Bennett on NC5 OpenLine
When our partners at NewsChannel5 (NC5) could not attend the unveiling of Scarritt Bennett’s Centennial Marker, they reached out and invited Scarritt’s Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert to be a part of their live call in show entitled OpenLine. The live show happened at…
- R.I.S.E. Retreat Session Leaders Announced
R.I.S.E. is a sacred two-day retreat created for Black women who are carrying heavy loads—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and communally—and need intentional space to rest. We are thrilled to announce the session leaders for R.I.S.E and share a bit about the gifts they will bring to…
- Legacy Forward: A Spiritual Marker
We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord… so the next generation would know… Then they would put their trust in God.. Psalm 78:4,6-7 Psalm 78 is a communal call to remember, recount,…
- A Century of Divine Design | A Poetic Reflection
Editor’s note: This blog was first published on Ministers Helper, a resourcing hub for clergy designed and curated by Rev. Linda Furtado, who serves as Director of Spirituality and the Arts with Scarritt Bennett Center. It is shared here with Furtado’s permission. Early in the…
- The Mix!
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:17 This powerful moment in Matthew’s Gospel occurs after the resurrection. The disciples have followed the instructions to meet Jesus on the mountain in Galilee. When they see Him, they respond in worship yet…
- Scarritt Bennett & MOJO Impact Present Powerhouse Conversations Series
To say that Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert and Monchiere’ Holmes-Jones are leaders in the Nashville community committed to creating positive impact is a grand understatement. When Tolbert, Executive Director and CEO of Scarritt Bennett Center, and Holmes-Jones, CEO and Chief Impact Office of MOJO Impact,…
- R.I.S.E. Early Bird Pricing ends April 10
R.I.S.E. is a sacred two-day retreat created for Black women who are carrying heavy loads—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and communally—and need intentional space to rest. In a season marked by economic strain, caregiving demands, health disparities, and ongoing spiritual labor, R.I.S.E. offers an invitation to slow…
- Lenten Meditation: The Women Were There… at the Cross and the Tomb
Many women were there, watching from a distance… Matthew 27:55 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:61 During this sacred movement of Holy Week, the Gospel writers make a quiet yet powerful observation…the women were there. When the…
- Rev. Kelli X Moderates Dialogue at Vanderbilt Divinity School
On a clear spring morning, Rev. Kelli X crossed the streets between Scarritt Bennett Center and her alma matter, Vanderbilt Divinity School, to moderate a panel discussion centering on the history of the segregated Christian church in the US. Rev. X pastors The Village Church…
- Poetry of Light: SNAP Opening Reception & Poetry Reading April 15
Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville’s historic mid-town conference and retreat center, will host an artists’ reception and poetry reading on April 15th, in the Laskey Art Gallery. Come celebrate our exhibit of new photographs from the artists of the Society of Nashville Artistic Photographers (SNAP) entitled Poetry of Light,…
- A Tribute to Bernard Lafayette
by Sue Thrasher, Scarritt College Alumna Class of 19663 I met Bernard Lafayette at just the right time in my life. I arrived at Scarritt in the fall of 1961. Nashville had an exceptionally strong Freedom Movement, whose student leadership included Bernard, John Lewis, Diane…
- Lenten Women’s Month Meditation: Here is My Worship
She did what she could. Mark 14:8 In Mark 14:3–9, Jesus declares of the unnamed woman: “She did what she could.” These words are profound in their simplicity and power. She did not wait for perfect timing.She did not wait for approval.She did not measure…
- Clergy Respite: Scarritt Bennett Hosts Ecumenical Women of Faith Breakfast
“I call myself a mutt,” said one of the 40 clergy women gathered in Bennett Hall the morning of March 24th for a moment of community. “I grew up Southern Baptist, was ordained Church of Christ, I’ve served as a Chaplin and now I pastor…
- Experience Holy Week with Scarritt Bennett Center
Rev. Linda Furtado, Scarritt Bennett Director of Spirituality and the Arts, is preparing two special services during Holy Week 2026. Please plan to join us on Good Friday, April 3rd and on Easter Sunday April 5th. On Good Friday we will gather in historic Wightman…
- Lenten Women’s Month Meditation: A Persistent Plea
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Matthew 15:22 NIV emphasis added. Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28; Mark 7:24–30 During this Lenten season, the Gospel accounts in Matthew 15:21–28…
- Hope for a New Song: Scarritt Bennett & TWKUMC Present Healing Blues and Jazz 2026
“Long before therapists called it emotional expression, our ancestors understood something powerful: sometimes healing begins when you let the pain sing.” With these simple words, Rev. Sondrea Tolbert welcomed those gathered for Healing Blues and Jazz 2026 on Sunday, March 15th. Rev. Tolbert, Executive Director…
- Lenten Meditation Women’s Month: A Cry That Echoes Through Time
A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Jeremiah 31:15 Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and remembrance. It is a time when…
- Week 5: Women’s Empowerment Month
During the month of March we are praying together as we celebrate women from across many professions and backgrounds during the month of March. This guide to daily prayer is designed to be simple, accessible, and invites all in the Scarritt Bennett community to prayer…
- Week 4: Women’s Empowerment Month
During the month of March we are praying together as we celebrate women from across many professions and backgrounds during the month of March. This guide to daily prayer is designed to be simple, accessible, and invites all in the Scarritt Bennett community to prayer…
- Week 3: Women’s Empowerment Month
During the month of March we are praying together as we celebrate women from across many professions and backgrounds during the month of March. This guide to daily prayer is designed to be simple, accessible, and invites all in the Scarritt Bennett community to prayer…
- A Lenten Meditation for Women’s Month: Where do you sit?
She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. Luke 10:39 Read Luke 10:38-42 Many women today live in Martha’s world juggling responsibilities, responding to constant demands, and carrying the invisible labor of leadership, caregiving, and community service. The…
- Scarritt Bennett Center & Nashville Black Music Association Host 3rd Annual Black Sacred Music Weekend
Scholars, students, singers and sacred music aficionados gathered in the historic Wightman Chapel and Harambee Auditorium on the Scarritt Bennett Center campus for the 3rd Annual Black Sacred Music Weekend (BSMW). On the evening of Friday March 27th, the W. Crimm Singers kicked off the…
- A Litany of Service . Linda Furtado
By Beth A. StockwellSecretary, TWK Conference United Women in Faith Editor’s note: Rev. Linda Furtado is an integral part of Scarritt Bennett Center where we develop and host programming that educates and activates people to become engaged with women’s empowerment, racial justice, transformative education and…
Author’s note: We are traveling to United Women in Faith Assembly this week to gather together in worship, fellowship, justice, leadership, and spiritual formation. May we remember that God still honors courageous faith. See you at the United Women in Faith Assembly! Stop by the…
From May 5 through May 7, Tennesseans gathered at the State Capitol as lawmakers moved to redraw congressional maps—threatening to eliminate Memphis’ majority-Black 9th Congressional District. By the time you read this, the special session called by Governor Bill Lee will have concluded. But what happened…
The next in Powerhouse Conversations lunch on May 20th will focus on Women in Business and feature 6 dynamic women leaders in a variety of business fields. CEO of MOJO Impact Collective, Mochiere’ Holmes-Jones, will moderate a discussion with Rev. Sondrea Tolbert, Sharon Reynolds, Shannen…
You are invited! Spend World Labyrinth Day at Scarritt Bennett Center’s Peace Garden and Labyrinth, located on our campus bordering Grand Avenue between 19th and 18th Avenues S. For people from across Nashville’s mid-town community, pausing to walk Scarritt’s labyrinth is a peace practice during…
“I think a lot of our growth happens in discomfort,” shared Rev. Linda Furtado during a recent guest spot on United Women in Faith (UWF) Faith Talks podcast hosted by Jennifer R. Farmer. “And, if we’re not always working and studying with the same people…
Save the date and reserve your spot for the Scarritt Reunion, which will be held on October 11-14, 2026 at Scarritt Bennett Center. Scarritt Harvest . Seeds of Hope is the theme for the 2026 gathering and we are excited to gather former students from…
When our partners at NewsChannel5 (NC5) could not attend the unveiling of Scarritt Bennett’s Centennial Marker, they reached out and invited Scarritt’s Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert to be a part of their live call in show entitled OpenLine. The live show happened at…
R.I.S.E. is a sacred two-day retreat created for Black women who are carrying heavy loads—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and communally—and need intentional space to rest. We are thrilled to announce the session leaders for R.I.S.E and share a bit about the gifts they will bring to…
We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord… so the next generation would know… Then they would put their trust in God.. Psalm 78:4,6-7 Psalm 78 is a communal call to remember, recount,…
Editor’s note: This blog was first published on Ministers Helper, a resourcing hub for clergy designed and curated by Rev. Linda Furtado, who serves as Director of Spirituality and the Arts with Scarritt Bennett Center. It is shared here with Furtado’s permission. Early in the…
To say that Rev. Dr. Sondrea Tolbert and Monchiere’ Holmes-Jones are leaders in the Nashville community committed to creating positive impact is a grand understatement. When Tolbert, Executive Director and CEO of Scarritt Bennett Center, and Holmes-Jones, CEO and Chief Impact Office of MOJO Impact,…
R.I.S.E. is a sacred two-day retreat created for Black women who are carrying heavy loads—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and communally—and need intentional space to rest. In a season marked by economic strain, caregiving demands, health disparities, and ongoing spiritual labor, R.I.S.E. offers an invitation to slow…
Many women were there, watching from a distance… Matthew 27:55 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:61 During this sacred movement of Holy Week, the Gospel writers make a quiet yet powerful observation…the women were there. When the…
On a clear spring morning, Rev. Kelli X crossed the streets between Scarritt Bennett Center and her alma matter, Vanderbilt Divinity School, to moderate a panel discussion centering on the history of the segregated Christian church in the US. Rev. X pastors The Village Church…
Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville’s historic mid-town conference and retreat center, will host an artists’ reception and poetry reading on April 15th, in the Laskey Art Gallery. Come celebrate our exhibit of new photographs from the artists of the Society of Nashville Artistic Photographers (SNAP) entitled Poetry of Light,…
by Sue Thrasher, Scarritt College Alumna Class of 19663 I met Bernard Lafayette at just the right time in my life. I arrived at Scarritt in the fall of 1961. Nashville had an exceptionally strong Freedom Movement, whose student leadership included Bernard, John Lewis, Diane…
She did what she could. Mark 14:8 In Mark 14:3–9, Jesus declares of the unnamed woman: “She did what she could.” These words are profound in their simplicity and power. She did not wait for perfect timing.She did not wait for approval.She did not measure…
“I call myself a mutt,” said one of the 40 clergy women gathered in Bennett Hall the morning of March 24th for a moment of community. “I grew up Southern Baptist, was ordained Church of Christ, I’ve served as a Chaplin and now I pastor…
Rev. Linda Furtado, Scarritt Bennett Director of Spirituality and the Arts, is preparing two special services during Holy Week 2026. Please plan to join us on Good Friday, April 3rd and on Easter Sunday April 5th. On Good Friday we will gather in historic Wightman…
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Matthew 15:22 NIV emphasis added. Scripture: Matthew 15:21–28; Mark 7:24–30 During this Lenten season, the Gospel accounts in Matthew 15:21–28…
“Long before therapists called it emotional expression, our ancestors understood something powerful: sometimes healing begins when you let the pain sing.” With these simple words, Rev. Sondrea Tolbert welcomed those gathered for Healing Blues and Jazz 2026 on Sunday, March 15th. Rev. Tolbert, Executive Director…
A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Jeremiah 31:15 Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and remembrance. It is a time when…
During the month of March we are praying together as we celebrate women from across many professions and backgrounds during the month of March. This guide to daily prayer is designed to be simple, accessible, and invites all in the Scarritt Bennett community to prayer…
During the month of March we are praying together as we celebrate women from across many professions and backgrounds during the month of March. This guide to daily prayer is designed to be simple, accessible, and invites all in the Scarritt Bennett community to prayer…
During the month of March we are praying together as we celebrate women from across many professions and backgrounds during the month of March. This guide to daily prayer is designed to be simple, accessible, and invites all in the Scarritt Bennett community to prayer…
Scholars, students, singers and sacred music aficionados gathered in the historic Wightman Chapel and Harambee Auditorium on the Scarritt Bennett Center campus for the 3rd Annual Black Sacred Music Weekend (BSMW). On the evening of Friday March 27th, the W. Crimm Singers kicked off the…
By Beth A. StockwellSecretary, TWK Conference United Women in Faith Editor’s note: Rev. Linda Furtado is an integral part of Scarritt Bennett Center where we develop and host programming that educates and activates people to become engaged with women’s empowerment, racial justice, transformative education and…