Faith in the Facts : Black churches courageously break with AIDS taboo

Nine predominantly black churches--led by the 7,500-member First African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles--have decided that AIDS requires more than compassion. Despite a historical lack of acceptance of homosexuality by conservative black worshipers, these churches refused to let ideology or ambivalence get in the way of saving lives.

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is killing a disproportionate percentage of African-Americans. Black ministers can track that high incidence through the increasing number of funerals for men, women and children who had tested positive for the virus. In response to the growing toll, nine courageous congregations are providing AIDS prevention kits--complete with condoms--to thousands of worshipers.

About 12,500 kits were passed out to adult worshipers who attended Sunday services at FAME, Price Chapel AME, Walker Temple AME, Ward AME, Faithful Central Baptist Church, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church and Wesley United Methodist Church. These churches are in minority neighborhoods but draw members from throughout the county.

The kits, which were paid for with a $10,000 grant from the city’s Community Development Department, contained basic information on AIDS and its prevention. The white envelopes also contained a condom treated with spermicide, plus lubricant and information on how to use the protection to reduce exposure to AIDS.

Reducing the exposure is important in minority communities. In Los Angeles County, 36% of the men and the rapidly growing number of women who test positive for AIDS are black or Latino. In all good conscience those statistics cannot be ignored anywhere, including where people worship.