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NAACP’s HIV-AIDS Manual for Black Churches

UPDATE on July 28, 2012: We are now concerned  about the intention of the manuals that were put together by the NAACP on black churches and their role in educating the church about HIV/AIDS. At first, we thought of it as a very good idea and we still like the concept. The only issue that remains is why were the manuals created in the first place? We were reminded by Black Christian News, that even though the NAACP is making some effort to keep the community and church informed over the growing epidemic of AIDS and HIV, they do have their hands in some forbidden bowl of fruit. They stand behind gay marriage which in fact promotes in some ways the spread of HIV and AIDS. We agree with BCCN when they wondered how the NAACP could preach both and have some credibility. What it seems to us is this is an attempt to get the black church not only to preach education on the epidemic but to accept same sex marriage as well. Will we fall for this one?

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We are glad to hear people are still pushing the fact that HIV/AIDS is an epidemic and it can’t be pushed under the rug. We are not always in agreement with the NAACP and some of their tactics, but we can see some good use of a manual if it really deals with the issues and real solutions. When dealing with the church on these issues, it can be challenging because people are starting to get to the point they don’t want to hear about it, especially not in church. If many churches can now embrace the subculture of hip hop, prosperity gospel, and sadly, eve homosexuality along with almost everything worldly, (sarcastically stated) then we should have no problem speaking on a disease that kills our people.

Lets read about what the NAACP has to say about the manual:

Transcript:

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

The number of African-Americans contracting HIV and AIDS runs considerably ahead of the rest of the population. And now the NAACP hopes to harness the power of the black church to help. During its annual convention this week, the civil rights group unveiled a new HIV/AIDS manual. As NPR’s Cheryl Corley reports, it’s designed to help ministers talk to their congregations about the problem.

CHERYL CORLEY, BYLINE: The NAACP and churches have long been partners, working together on civil rights and other issues. Evidence of that relationship permeates the annual meeting, whether it’s the sounds of an organ in one of the convention halls or the preacher-like tones of impassioned speakers. Shavon Arline-Bradley, the NAACP’s National Health Director says the AIDS manual will join the church and the NAACP in a new social imperative.

SHAVON ARLINE-BRADLEY: A lot of people are connecting HIV only to personal responsibility. This is your fault that you contracted this virus. And that’s not how the NAACP views it. There are also social issues that affect a person’s ability to be able to transmit this disease, and also, in terms of long term access to care – things like poverty, education.

CORLEY: Although African-Americans make up only about 13 percent of the country’s population, they are disproportionately affected by HIV. The Centers for Disease control says 44 percent of those with the disease are black. Todd Yeary, a pastor at Douglas Memorial Church in Baltimore, says there’s still plenty of myths about the disease – that it’s primarily contracted by gays for one – and ministers have been reluctant to address it.

TODD YEARY: We don’t like talking about sex from the pulpit. Everybody in the church knows it happens. We have stories and scripture that certainly talk about it, and we’ll preach on those.

Read the full transcript at NPR

To get a pastoral brief and download the manual go HERE. We are not promoting this manual but it is a great opportunity to see whether the manual stands up to the job taken or is it fluff.