wfn.org | Seminary project focusing on sexuality issues in black churches

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Dec. 21, 2000 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.     10-31-71B{584}

By United Methodist News Service*

"Spirituality and sexuality in the African American Church" is the title of
a program that will be offered at United Methodist-related United
Theological Seminary (UTS) in Dayton, Ohio, beginning in January.

The program is part of a seminary project being launched by the Religious
Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), 40 national organizations from
major denomination and faith traditions, including the United Methodist
Church.  

Seminaries in the program will offer a course of study to prepare African
American clergy to discuss sexuality issues within the black religious
experience.  Seminary Project Fellows will be do research and produce a
doctoral project that will be implemented in their ministry settings.  Six
doctor of ministry students at United will be named fellows.

The Rev. Kendall McCabe, UTS vice president for academic affairs, said
population issues are important, "especially in helping individuals in
deprived conditions have greater control over their lives.

"Reproductive health is one area where people need to make responsible
choices, and they need training and support to do so," he said.  Clinton D.
McNair, dean of doctoral studies at UTS, will be the academic advisor of the
program.

At kick-off ceremonies in Washington Dec. 20, RCRC president and chief
executive officer, the Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, praised the project.
""African American and other seminaries often do not address sexuality
issues such as teen pregnancy, sexuality education, HIV/AIDS prevention and
education, and youth and sex," he said, "and African American churches are
also often silent on these subjects."

Veazey said the seminary project is intended to prepare clergy to deal with
issues that are having a major impact in African American communities.  "As
a result, clergy and congregations will be better able to help young people
make healthy, responsible decisions as spiritual and sexual beings," he
said.

The seminary project fellows will work with RCRC for three years following
the receipt of their degrees, giving lectures, participating in workshops
and forums, and engaging in other activities to promote dialogue on
sexuality issues in the African American religious community.

The project, part of RCRC's black church initiative launched in 1997,
features annual National Black Religious Summits on Sexuality.  The seminary
project was initiated in February 1999 at a gathering of deans of
predominantly African American seminaries who agreed that education in
sexuality issues was needed in seminaries.   .

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*Information for this story was provided by Marjorie Signer of the Religious
Coalition for Reproductive Choice.

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United Methodist News Service
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