PROGRAMS  |  CLEARINGHOUSE

Clearing House and Resource Center
Webinar: Sexuality and the Black Church

The Clearinghouse of the National Black Church Initiative, a program of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, recently presented a three part series on the “Sexuality and the Black Church” with Reverend Deborah Mullen, Associate Professor of Ministry and Historical Studies and Director of the Center for African American Ministries and Black Church Studies at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL.
  
Summary: According to some of the earliest writings of the ancient Church Fathers, most importantly, St. Augustine, the North African Bishop of Hippo, sexuality has been a problem for Christianity from the beginning of time.  This “problem” seems to be particularly acute within the Black church tradition for reasons that are both historical and theological.  

The purpose of the webinar on “Sexuality and the Black Church” is to create an open space for honest and informed conversation about sexuality from a black church perspective. Participants will be challenged to think positively about Black sexuality and faith, not as constructed “dualisms” but rather as spiritually related life-energies that God created for good and as a gift to foster relationships among God’s people.  

Session One:  Understanding Sexuality in Black Church experience
• The African Factor
• The African American Experience
• The Bible and the Body

Session Two:  Sexualities, Power, and Gender Justice in the Black Church
• Sexism
• Fears and Phobias
• The faith factor

Session Three:   A generative, Faith-positive, Love-centered, Justice-based Spirituality and Ethic of Black Sexuality
• Identifying Allies
• Removing Obstacles
• Resources and Strategies for transformation

The MultiCultural Programs Department Clearing House and Resource Center features a collection of theological books, sermons, speeches,  workshop presentations, youth and adult sexuality curriculums. The Clearing House and Resource Center serves as a resource to clergy, seminarians, health and human service educators, parents and youth. Resources are available for loan. For more information, contact bciinfo@rcrc.org or call 202-628-7700.

For more information on the Black Church Initiative, please call 202-628-7700 or email bciinfo@rcrc.org.