Sermons and Condoms: Should We Get Both at Church?

HIV/AIDS continues to be a taboo disease in both the church and in the African American community. Despite awareness and prevention, new cases of HIV/AIDS continue to rise. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections in 2009 despite the fact that they represented only 14% of the US population in 2009.

The CDC also proclaims that challenges to prevention include lack of awareness of HIV status, negative perceptions about HIV testing and socioeconomic issues (poverty, lack of health care, housing, etc.)

The very reason that this issue is often not addressed in the church community and among people of faith is because of its association with sex. The Bible makes it very clear that fornication and adultery are not permitted and that one should be under a marriage covenant to indulge. In spite of this fact, knowing this truth is not preventing many to stop having sex.

Of all races in America, African Americans are the most religious and live with the most traditional Christian beliefs and practices. While we believe that abstinence is what God has called us to, we all are not practicing that belief in our everyday lives.

What role should the church play in HIV/AIDS prevention? Should we get condoms with the communion elements? Should the Pastor preach safe sex?

“You can’t remix the Bible,” said Hyedia Broadbent, HIV/AIDs activist. “I wouldn’t want my Pastor to tell me to use condoms because that’s a contradiction to the Bible. I do think they should talk about the disease and promote awareness.”

When I was in college in DC, my Pastor, Bishop Alfred Owens,  allowed someone to speak to us about HIV/AIDSawareness during service. It was a brief speech, but she made it clear that we all needed to be tested and she told us we could pick up brochures from her table after church. I thought this was an excellent way for a Pastor to address the HIV/AIDS issue.

You may have seen Hyedia Broadbent. She has made it her life’s passion to spread the news of prevention and awareness. She began her quest at the tender age of six years old and has continued since. Broadbent was abandoned at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas where she was eventually adopted as an infant. She was born with HIV and it advance d to AIDS by the time she was three years old.

Her story is proof of why awareness and even assistance is needed in our community. Children are being born with the disease and without treatment they may not survive. “Because of the recession, there have been a lot of cut backs in programs to help people like me,” said Broadbent. “Taking the medication daily is the only way to live and that’s been harder in this economic climate.”

So maybe the answer is not to pass out condoms at church or preach safe sex, but we do need information. Churches in our community can take simple steps like having health fairs for people to find out their status or pass out brochures along with the bulletins.

We have got to shed this weight of shame surrounding HIV/AIDS. Most of us have been affected by the disease in some way. We’ve had aunts and uncles, friends and co-workers diagnosed.

While abstinence is God’s best, we cannot turn a deaf ear to the issues in our community. If people are having sex, HIV/AIDS and STD’s in general, have to be talked about. It’s time to remove the veil and be honest about where we are.

To find out where you can be tested for HIV/AIDS visit http://www.hivtest.org.  For more information on HIV/AIDS http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/. For more information on Hydeia Broadbent visit http://www.hydeiabroadbent.com/.

Sources:
Chang, P. African Americans ‘Most Christian’ in Lifestyle and Beliefs. Christian Post. 12 Aug 2004.

HIV among African Americans. CDC.gov