San Francisco Chronicle - May 14, 2005
Jason Johnson, jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.

During a daylong conference at the Los Angeles Forum, participants called on houses of worship to host HIV testing events, distribute education materials and talk openly about the disease during Sunday sermons.

"HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. You need to get over your issues and address (sex) from the pulpit," the Rev. Russell Thornhill, of Unity Fellowship of Christ Church in Los Angeles, told the crowd, drawing applause and some murmurs. "You cannot be afraid to give out a condom."

The event drew more than 80 people of various denominations, including representatives from three Bay Area churches -- Oakland's Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland's Center of Hope Community Church and San Francisco's City of Refuge United Church of Christ.

Among other things, they gave support to legislation drafted by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton (Los Angeles County), that would declare a public health emergency within the black community. The bill is to be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee next week. Participants also signed a covenant outlining their commitment to outreach and education programs.

"I really think it's needed," participant Cynthia Chess, associate pastor of Oakland's Center of Hope, said of the gathering. "I actually can envision this as a massive call to evangelize the nation."

Nationwide, in 2001, AIDS was the leading cause of death among African American women between the ages of 25 and 34 and of African American men between 35 and 44. In California, African Americans account for 18 percent of AIDS cases even though they account for just 7 percent of the overall population, according to state Health Department figures.

"Without a doubt, this is the worst public health crisis that has ever affected African Americans in this country," said MacArthur Flournoy, African American HIV-AIDS specialist with the state Department of Health Services Office of AIDS.

"It's a starting point," Flournoy said of yesterday's conference.

Flournoy and others said many churches still consider AIDS as sinful and don't consider it part of their overall mission. Several speakers urged their fellow clergy not to turn their back on people with HIV and to help warn others how not to contract the deadly virus.

Dr. Clyde Oden Jr., of Bryant Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, said change was going to come one church at a time when it comes to the perceptions people of faith have regarding AIDS.

"We have to look at this as a marathon," said Oden. "AIDS is a disease -- it's not a sin."

Melanie Andrews, who teaches in the black studies department at Cal State Long Beach, told the audience that young people are especially at risk because of their parents' unwillingness to speak honestly with them about sex.

"The parents don't want to admit their kids are (sexually) active," Andrews said. "One thing we do in our church is we pretend there aren't gay people in our church."

The event featured sessions teaching how to apply for grants to establish health and counseling programs. Members plan to wage an aggressive outreach campaign to inform congregations across the state how they can join the effort.

Perry Lang of San Francisco's Black Coalition on AIDS said he welcomed the participation of more religious institutions in the fight against the disease.

"I'm so glad the church leaders are meeting to discuss this," said Lang, who did not attend the conference. "I think we as people of faith need to discuss sexuality beyond moralizing about it."

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