BLACK CHURCH INITIATIVE (BCI)
In 1998, we launched the National Religious
Coalition’s Black Church Initiative in Ohio. The purpose
of the Black Church Initiative is to encourage and assist African
American religious leaders and the African American community
to address reproductive health issues within the context of African
American Christian religion and culture. The initiative addresses
the traditional silence in African American churches around issues
of sexuality by affirming religious institutions as a sanctuary
for safe, confidential discussions on sexuality.
BCI Activities:
National Black Religious Summit
on Sexuality:
Breaking the Silence. Every July for the
past six years, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
has held a Summit at Howard University School of Divinity in
Washington, D.C. Each year for five years, our affiliate has
recruited and helped to pay the costs of religious leaders and
young people from Ohio to attend this event which offers participants
a unique opportunity to become empowered with knowledge and information.
Religious Coalition CEO Rev. Carlton Veazey,
a Baptist minister, initiated the annual Summit as a part of
the BCI when he started his work at RCRC. Recently he wrote that
the Summit is dedicated to the proposition that we all have a
role in breaking the silence, and that, with faithful hearts
and strong minds, we will reduce teen pregnancy, stop the spread
of HIV/AIDS, address the growing problem of domestic violence,
develop serious dialogue on sexual orientation and learn to accept
each other in caring ways.
Workshops and worship services in both
adult and youth tracks at the Summit are designed to educate
and motivate attendees to meet these challenges in their home
churches
To receive early notice and learn more
about Summit VII, to be held in July 2003, please call the Ohio
RCRC office at 614-221-3636 (from Central Ohio) or 800-587-2330
(from anywhere in Ohio) and leave a request with your name, address,
telephone number, email address, (if any) and your church affiliation
and church position (if applicable). You may also send a request
with this information to our email address: ohiorcrc@sbcglobal.net.
Faith-based Dialogues on Sexuality
for teens, adults, and congregations:
The Religious Coalition has developed faith-based
sexuality education dialogue models to be used in churches by
trained facilitators:
African American Clergy Forums
on Religion and Sexuality:
BCO Clergy Forums were created to provide
opportunities for small gatherings of African American clergy
and faith leaders where information and dialogue can be provided
on issues related to sex, sexuality, and reproductive health.
How to learn more:
To learn more about starting any of these
BCI activities in your church or religious community, please
call the Ohio Religious Coalition at either (614) 221-3636 (from
Central Ohio) or (800) 587-2330 (from anywhere in Ohio) and leave
a specific request. We can put you in touch with facilitators
who have successfully implemented the faith-based adult and teen
dialogues on sexuality in their churches, or help arrange a training
in your community. We can also help to organize a BCI Clergy
Forum, with assistance and scheduling provided by our national
office.
You may also send a request for information
to our email address: ohiorcrc@sbcglobal.net.
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