Somebody's Knocking at Your Door: AIDS and the African-American Church

Description

Examining the black church’s response to AIDS, Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door: AIDS and the African-American Church analyzes sexual ethics and homophobia in the black church to provide pastors, social workers, and health professionals with intervention strategies for parishioners or members of the community who have AIDS. By discussing the church’s historic and successful activism and its... Read more

Examining the black church’s response to AIDS, Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door: AIDS and the African-American Church analyzes sexual ethics and homophobia in the black church to provide pastors, social workers, and health professionals with intervention strategies for parishioners or members of the community who have AIDS. By discussing the church’s historic and successful activism and its relationship to the community, along with AIDS statistics, relevant theologies, and other AIDS ministries, this book suggests the benefits of increased church involvement versus other agencies or organizations. Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door will help you develop prevention education and pastoral care programs that will alert individuals to the risks of AIDS and will offer people with AIDS the comfort and assistance they need in coping with the disease.

Through the voices of leading clergy, AIDS advocates, and people living with AIDS (PLWAs), this book calls on the African-American church to become more involved in helping communities deal with the disease. Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door offers you ideas on how to improve the lives of individuals with AIDS through the church, including:

welcoming PLWAs into the church through announcements by local media, church newsletters, and Sunday bulletins
offering AIDS support groups at the church or loaning office space, equipment, or clerical assistance to AIDS organizations
recognizing the power of intercessory prayer for PLWAs
caring for PLWAs by delivering meals to their homes, preparing meals at the church, and developing a transportation network that will take parishioners to doctor appointments, church, or on recreational outings
preparing meals, running errands, housekeeping, handling paperwork, negotiating legal issues, and offering friendship-- possible components of volunteer “buddy programs” for homebound PLWAs
training pastors, clergy, and Sunday school teachers to educate ministries on AIDS in the African- American community, sexual intimacy, intravenous drug use and needle sharing, monogamy, community resources, and condom use

Since some clergy still believe that AIDS is a “gay” disease, Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door discusses the issue of homosexuality within the church. By analyzing passages from the Bible, the authors refute the belief that homosexuals were neglected by God and undeserving of care and love. This belief, according to the authors, inhibits some churches and individuals from discussing HIV/AIDS because of fear they would also be acknowledging homosexuality. Highlighting AIDS ministries throughout the United States, Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door encourages the African-American church to confront the issue of AIDS and understand that the disease can affect anyone. This book will give you the necessary strategies for starting and implementing AIDS ministries and intervention programs that will educate and support your community.

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Preface
Chapter 1: Why the African-American Church?
Power in the Pews
Power in the Pulpit
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen
Chapter 2: Two in Five: AIDS Statistics in the African-American Community
Naming a New Plague
AIDS Doesn’t Discriminate
HIV/AIDS Risk Factors and Transmission Modes
HIV/AIDS Rates Rising Among African Americans
Chapter 3: Sex-- A Hang-Up in the African-American Church
In Pursuit of Purity
Bible Unclear on Homosexuality
Jesus Never Bashed Gays
Some Denominational Views on Homosexuality and AIDS
African Americans’ Attitudes About AIDS
Religion, Politics, Race, and Sexual Orientation
Chapter 4: Theology in the Time of AIDS
A Theology for Healing
A Theology That Responds to Suffering
Toward a Theology of Sexuality
The Big Tent
Chapter 5: What the Church Can Do
Approaches to AIDS Ministry
Chapter 6: Teaching What We Preach: AIDS Prevention Education
To Teach or Not To Teach ?
Who Needs to Know?
What Should the Church Teach?
Chapter 7: Pastoral Care for People Living with AIDS
Between the Lines of Sermons
Common Sense and Uncommon Love
Who Needs Pastoral Care?
The Dangers of Denial
Chapter 8: In the Trenches: African-American AIDS Ministries
Ecumenicals Take the Lead
Model AIDS Ministries
Chapter 9: The Spirit of Cooperation
The Wisdom of Partnerships
Model Partnerships
Chapter 10: Africa: From Cradle to Grave
Epicenter of the Global Epidemic
African Faces of Aids
A New African Mission
Chapter 11: A Sense of Loss, A Sense of Purpose
Family Funerals
Friends for Life
Crusade Against AIDS
Appendix A: Why the African-American Church Must Liberate the Community from AIDS
Appendix B: First Steps to Forming AIDS Ministries
Appendix C: Major Obstacles to Involvement
Appendix D: Directory of AIDS Resources
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Author(s)

Biography

Harold G Koenig, Carole B Weatherford, Ronald J Weatherford

Somebody's Knocking at Your Door AIDS and the African-American Church

Description

Table of Contents

Author(s)

Biography

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