Online Technical Assistance is available for Breaking the Silence
Please email us for help conducting the program. Our staff is available to assist you with running an effective, adult-friendly program. We can provide help with conducting activities, planning graduations ceremonies, organizing clergy forums/prayer breakfasts and more.

The Plan

"Breaking the Silence" is a faith-based sexuality education model developed to assist local congregations, parents, guardians, and clergy address sex and sexuality to assist teens in making healthy life choices. The model, a project of the Black Church Initiative of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, is designed to engage African American Christian Educators and congregations in a biblical, theological, and ethnological exploration of human sexuality. At the end of the 5 sessions, participants should have a greater level of comfort talking about sex with teens.

The Purpose

Most African American churches have been stigmatized as old fashioned, outdated and behind the times when discussing, teaching, or preaching about sexuality. The Church is accused of using an eight track method in a CD-ROM age. "Breaking the Silence" challenges the Church to move from a state of denial to a standard of healthy, inclusive faith based dialogue.

In 2 Kings 7:9 four men said, "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves..." There is the sin of silence, and now it is being broken. Congregations should not fear open and honest study of human sexuality. God created humankind with reason and the privilege of choice as established in the first book of Genesis, during the first days.

"Breaking the Silence" recognizes that sexuality is an extensive and influential force in the lives of humans. It further recognizes that most African American church members are unclear about its meaning and where it fits in their lives as believers. Quite often the only time the Church responds to the subject of sexuality is when judging and or condemning individuals. "Breaking the Silence" will encourage critical thinking and reflection by adults about how to meet youth where they are in their journey of "choice" regarding sexual activity.

For More Information

To learn more about how your church can get involved with the Black Church Initiative of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, contact:

Multicultural Programs Department
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 1130
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 202-628-7700
Fax: 202-628-7716
bciinfo@rcrc.org