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Black churches work to stop AIDS
Birmingham (AL) News (Alabama Live) (www)
05.21.01
GREG GARRISON News staff writer
There is a growing movement among Black churches to speak out on AIDS and how
to prevent it, according to a minister who trains fellow clergy in dealing with
the disease.
"What we're trying to do is assist churches in becoming havens of healing
and information on AIDS," said the Rev. Alberta Ware, director of technical
assistance and training at Balm in Gilead, a ministry based in New York.
Balm in Gilead will have its third annual national AIDS Conference for Black
churches from Tuesday through Thursday at Tuskegee University.
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At least 300 clergy and members of Black churches will take part, Ms. Ware
said.
The Balm in Gilead also helps thousands of churches observe a week of prayer
for AIDS in the first week of March, encouraging them to distribute pamphlets
that offer preventive information about AIDS.
"We couldn't keep enough material to handle all the requests," Ms.
Ware said.
Many churches still associate AIDS with homosexuality or intravenous drug use,
which makes them wary of discussing it, she said.
"We don't try to change somebody's theological stance on it," Ms.
Ware said. "We try to remind them of what Jesus did. Jesus was open with
and worked with the disenfranchised. Jesus interacted with everybody. We are called
to do the same thing and to do it from a level of concern and not by judgment."
Ms. Ware said she did an AIDS presentation at one church that asked her to
emphasize abstinence. "I respect that, and I stay within those parameters,"
she said.
Another church she spoke at had a basket of free condoms.
"We don't push condoms," Ms. Ware said. "We push information,
compassion, love, understanding and informed decisions."
Guest speakers at this week's conference include Dr. H. Clifford Lane, director
of the Office of Clinical Research of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases, National Institutes of Health; the Rev. James R. Forbes Jr., senior
pastor of Riverside Church, New York; the Rev. Vashti M. McKenzie, presiding prelate
of the 18th Episcopal District of the AME Church serving Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique
and Swaziland; Dr. Lucille Perez, president-elect of the National Medical Association;
and Dr. Eric Goosby, director of the Office of HIV/AIDS Policy.
Conference registration at the door is $375. For information, check the web
site at www.balmingilead.org.
(c) The Birmingham News. Used with permission.
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