Faith-Based Sexuality Education Gains Momentum
Close to 1,000 Attend National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality
(PRWEB) August 21, 2003
Washington, DC – Determined to “break the silence” about sex and sexuality, nearly 1,000 people from interfaith communities across the country assembled recently at Howard University’s School of Divinity for inspirational worship, self-reflection, and dialogue on faith based sexual education during the National Black Religious Summit VII on Sexuality.
For the past seven years, the Black Church Initiative of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) has hosted the three-day Summit to empower clergy, congregations, parents and guardians, with the skills to dialogue with teens about sex and sexuality.
“Faith communities must address the critical health issues that impact the lives of young men and women and help them to make sound choices when faced with life-threatening, life altering sexual decisions,” said Reverend Carlton W. Veazey, President and CEO of the RCRC.
Each morning worship services in HowardÂ’s Thurman Chapel were broadcast, with sermons from Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Rev. Mary Moore of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, and Rev. Dr. Alvin O Jackson of National City Christian Church in Washington, DC, setting the tone for a spirit-filled day.
With the theme “Breaking the Silence: In Times Like These,” the Summit addressed teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, sexual addition, and other reproductive health issues within the context of African American religion and culture. Workshops took a critical look at sexuality in the scriptures, and explored issues like homophobia, depression, and effective family planning methods. A workshop was also conducted in Spanish for Latino/Hispanic congregations.
Youth sessions, first established in 1999, gave teens the opportunity to dialogue about peer-to-peer conflict resolution, responsible sexual behavior, and effectively communicating with adults. They also developed a Vision Statement for their peers and pre-teens about how their faith is preparing them for the plans that God has for their lives.
“It was great to be able to speak openly with adults about the pressures we experience daily and talk about what the Bible says about issues we are confronted with,” said a 15-year-old youth from Victory Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. “It also helps to meet so many like-minded people, it let’s me know that I’m on the right track,” she adds.
The RCRC launched the Black Church Initiative in 1997 to “break the silence” about sex in African American churches. Many of the Summit participants have implemented programs of Black Church Initiative for their local congregations. Programs include, “Keeping It Real!,” a seven week sexuality education dialogue model for teens, “Breaking the Silence,” a five week dialogue model for adults focused on strengthening relationships between teens and adults, and “Now We Can Talk,” an intergenerational dialogue model for teens and adults.
Celebrating 30 years, the RCRC is a national interfaith organization that brings the moral power of religious communities to ensure reproductive choice through education and advocacy. For more information on the RCRC call (202) 628-7700 or visit www. rcrc. org.
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