Speak Out!
The Black Church and AIDS
Sun, 10/14/2007 - 19:59 | HealthReligion
A USA Today article reported on a conference of African American clergy, medical professionals and lawmakers gathered to map a plan to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Black community:
Although African-Americans make up only 13.5% of the U.S. population, blacks were 49% of the new HIV diagnoses in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some religious leaders and AIDS activists say that many black churches have not done enough to address the crisis. "We have a time bomb on our hands," says Debra Fraser-Howze, the commission's president. "I think that the black church will openly admit that they have not done enough in regard to HIV and AIDS, and yes, there are still churches and pastors in the black community and white community who refuse to deal with this issue because of homophobia, because it deals with sex and because it deals with drug use. … This is the time for them to come together to use their collective influence to make a national statement on what needs to happen."Why has the Black church been reluctant to tackle the HIV/AIDS issue?
The Covenant with Black America
Comments
As a people who has worked
As a people who has worked with people living with HIV for 28 years (yes when I started they did not even have a name for the disease), I am glad to see that some of the more prominent pastors are finally addressing the issue. I must say that there are churches have have been addressing the issue for a while but because many of them are small churches they have not been recognized. I believe the church came and should play a major role in addressing the crisis and they can do it without going against what they believe in.
Over the years I have worked with many Christians who would not vote for gay rights and/or gay marriage but would be willing to assist those people living with HIV. I know that whenever I would call on some of the sisters, they would not even ask what the person's sexual orientation was, they would just assist my clients in whatever way they could.
I believe if the church had addressed other issues like substance abuse, mental health, domestic abuse and childhood trauma (sexual, physical and emotional), HIV would not have affected our community as much.
I would like to see some of the myths around HIV be addressed once and for all. Church can and should play a significant part in that.
Tavis, I heard your
Tavis, I heard your commentary on TJMS this morning (11/29/2007) concerning Worlds Aids Day. I too agree that we need to galvanize the black community regarding our health. Since the last two marches have inspired so many of us to get involved, a march concerning the health of us would be well received and would so much to open the discussion on HIV/AIDS. I suggest that you continue to urge leaders to get a march together because we know people listen when you speak.
Should sex-ed for teens be
Should sex-ed for teens be abstinence-only or include teaching them about birth control, diseases and safe sex?
The black church should definitely have a role in the following suggestion:
Just a suggestion: How about considering returning to or creating some kind of tradition, ceremonies and rites of passage. Let’s celebrate the different development stages of passing through adolescence into adulthood. Where each milestone, each turning point, represents preparedness and readiness to accept the responsibilities of your choices and your behavior. Let’s celebrate the fact that you have been taught and it has been explained to you the importance of acceptable sexual behavior.
Pastors and members that have
Pastors and members that have committed their lives to Christ must be willing to reach out to others in the community that need help. "How can they hear without a preacher and how can he preach except he be sent". We need God-sent pastors to be able to help others overcome their sins.
God bless you for the work
God bless you for the work you do for the people, I pray that God's grace guide you and keep you on your journey.
The dilemma that faces the church is moving beyond assigning condemnation to enlighten the people about HIV/AIDS, while maintaining its biblical beliefs and principles. Having worked in a homeless shelter several years, in addition to a drug treatment facility, I observed a vast amount of suffering. When we come to those forks in the road of life we all have to make choices. Many times we pay a high price for our choices as well as our children bearing the fallout. However, if you believe, God always provides warning and a way of escape, this is our dilemma, and we have all fell prey. Thank God for mercy and grace. If we believe in a Love that abhors suffering, that just doesn't sit back and idly watch it unfold, we are going to have to make a concerted effort to work together to fight our common adversary. Is it possible to work together despite our theological differences? I know that it can be done with mutual acceptance of one's beliefs.
Next year, I will work in Africa w/ orphans who number in the millions across the continent as a result of HIV/AIDS, and they are not bible toting christians. This is not the imperative, and I don't believe they will care about my spiritual beliefs either. What people do care about and can observe is a love that transforms time, space, and culture. I still believe in miracles, and I hope and pray these babies have a future to look forward to; I also hope we can provide the model for victory here at home.
Peace be with you
I refuse to believe that AIDS
I refuse to believe that AIDS is a punishment from God. If so...are all viruses and diseases, known to man, God's broom? This is utter nonsense and I'm not surprised Black churches preach this kind of stuff. I recognize the Black community hasn't done enough to educate its congregations and communities and should be ashamed. They should be teaching...that homosexuality is not a sin and pregnancy and HIV prevention is as simple as a condom. Nancy Reagan's failed "Just Say No!" anti-drug campaign proves such a policy is not realistic or effective and cannot be aimed at the issue of monogamy as this NUT has.
The success of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement started in the black churches of the South and grew to an international voice of all colors and races. This is one proven route we have to reclaim our communities from drugs, unplanned pregnancy, gangs, and AIDS. The church, itself, is hindering this from happening. Have you ever seen a church-sponsored anonymous HIV TESTING in your community? Does your church offer meeting space for Sexual Addict's 12 step programs, Narcotics Anonymous or AA? How about free couples and family counseling? What about safe sex classes or pamphlets with condoms in them. I mean a society where you can hear a man tellin' a bitch to sit on his #*@& on the radio (whole families bobbing their heads in sync).....is a society where you can pass condoms out at church....right?
As a black gay man I personally know people who work on the front lines in the battle against AIDS and HIV related illness. They work for national, county, and non-profit organizations and have thrown their hands up in frustration with the Black communities' unwillingness to offer something the congregations can really identify with. They speak of doors being slammed in their faces, being left to voicemail hell, and even being told not to contact them again. The key to their success that the Black church has failed at miserably is that they meet their audience "where they are at". Meaning if the target is homeless addicts...they point them to community services and outline every way he or she may be at risk and educate them without condemnation. If the target is sexually active high school girls...they provide information regarding free services and educate them on their risks without judgment.
If the Black community is not embracing, or even accepting that there are gay men, women, and adulterers amongst them and attempting to educate them on how to protect themselves ..... the battle is lost before it is begun. Discrimination, self righteousness and condemnation of any sort is only pushing them deeper into the closet and into the dark. They are like boogie men waiting to endanger your family or the one in the pew next to you.
I volunteer as a driver for a local "meals on wheels" non-profit organization serving HIV and AIDS inflicted people. I see the faces of these men, women, and families...this ain't a gay thing any longer. Hasn't been for a long time.
Go educate yourself, go volunteer for an AIDS organization, go make a difference and take your kids and someone you know with you!
db
I understand that the church
I understand that the church has to educate their members about Aids and that it shouldn’t be a taboo subject, but we also need to realize that the majority of the people infected are not the ones going to church. We, as a black community, just need to be more responsible and take ownership and pride in living. We tend to live for this immediate gratification; we reap what we sow, and whatever we do now that’s what the generation that follows will reap. Between the high mortality of Aids and the black on black crimes, as well as the high incarceration rate amongst blacks, we are on the brink of extinction. It’s not enough to just blame one group, or say it’s a way of life, we need to wake up and love ourselves and take care of our bodies, our lives, if not for ourselves for the generation that follows.
The church can do more to
The church can do more to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic as Bishop T. D. Jakes has suggested. The church has been asleep on this issue, homophobia, ignorance of how the disease is transmitted, and pure disdain for homosexuals are all culprits in maintaing the silence. The church (we who make up the church) need to seriously examine whether or not we are living up to fundamental spiritual principles if we are reluctant to embrace all of humanity. Are we all not worthy of love and compassion? Many of know that if we are truthful, it is only by the grace of Good we have not succumbed to this disease. There are also the innocent who have been victimized through no act of their own, living with stigmatization, victimized over and over again by society. I had a first cousin, a gorgeous, black woman (whose beauty was equally skin deep) die at 29 with AIDS, sadly, for most of her young life she was plagued with severe depression and drug use. She left three beautiful children in this world, a 2, 4 and 6 year old who never had the opportunity to share those fleeting moments in life many of us take for granted. Another friend, outstanding Historian, loving, sensitive man died at 38. He was w/o a doubt, one of the brightest and greatest humanitarians to honor this planet w/ his presence, and gay, his choices never diminished his value as a man of excellence in my sight. Since I'm being real here, let me assert that while my personal beliefs oppose homosexuality, this does not forfeit the love I share for all of Gods creatures, straight, gay, struggling w/ drug use, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, agnostic, etc... It's time we extend open arms to each other and take personal responsibility in controlling our emotional, physical and spiritual life with Love. Let's show our children what it really means to love. Personal accountability requires we ascribe to sound relationship principles, we know what these are, now lets commit to doing what's right. If not, it's a good thing the church is reaching out to remind us. We can win this battle. Lets also remember that the fight against this deadly disease goes beyond our shores, Africa is being devastated as well. Lets all pray for divine / humane intervention and healing.
Peace be with you.
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It’s hard to believe that all
It’s hard to believe that all black church leaders are not educating their people on important issues as HIV/AIDS-that’s just not so. We can’t afford to lump the entire black churches into a small pool of black church’s that are not talking about HIV aids…
First and foremost we must remember that the church is a building-not people. When we hear of these studies done across the nation I believe that within those researches there are people that are members of the body of Christ… There are some many of us that take what we learn in the house of the lord- back out into the world to spread the word and education on important issues.
Why has the Black church been reluctant to tackle the HIV/AIDS issue? This question is definitely not a question that should suggest that all black churches refuse to tackle HIV/AIDS ISSUES…
There are ministries within the Black Churches that have these kinds of discussion/educational classes regularly... There are so many ministries within the church walls that are doing excellent work …
Across the nation the Black Church’s are the only Church’s on the face of the earth that get so much criticism and over half of it is accusation is certainly not true... This kind of attacks certainly sends a darkening message to the world. If the church can’t get it right what’s the point of going? “Is there anything good -one could report about the Black Church’s?
Within the Christian’s world the black churches are crucified triple times over than any other religious group in the Nation…The church is where we come to get things right-if we were so perfect before then why would we need God’s help… Maybe there are churches within the black community that shy away from important issues that plague Black America-but all of the black churches? No way…
There’s not a single person that can say that in doing their research they have visited every Black Church in America and beyond a shadow of a doubt this report is a scientific fact… “Give me a break grasshopper”...
What are these reports based on? I think it would be safe for me to say that out of every report done on the welfare of the black community the results come back zero negative... Please can someone just say “bull crap”...? Can Black America trust these reportings based off on injustice here in America?
The rise in HIV/AIDS in black America is a percentage of lack of education and the other percentage of this comes from irresponsibility-feeding the fleshly desires…Black men and their hidden sexual desires to sleep with men/woman is the cause of this epidemic… I don’t believe that education is a strong factor in this. I think that black men are well educated of the risk of sleeping with another man. HIV/AIDS has been around for quite sometime now and to link this to the Black Churches is just far fetch… It’s like grasping for invisible straws… Let’s put the blame where it should go...
If I go out into the world and become Jezebel-who then shall I blame, my church? Why would I blame them for my action-knowing very well I know the consequences? Same with the rise in HIV/AIDS cases… For every black man that sleeps with another man I’m willing to bet he knows the risk…. HIV/AIDS are taught in schools/churches… So I’m not so willingly/eagerly to embrace the reportings from USA TODAY blaming black churches…We need to take more responsibilities for our mistakes than we do... We can’t keep searching for scapegoats…If we get the knowledge and still remain naïve-then who shall we blame? Could it be a secrets desire/lustful nature that make us naïve about sex? By the way where does condom play its role?