The closing plenary of the EAA Interfaith Preconference of the 20th International AIDS Conference featured young adult voices in the fight against HIV from different contexts around the world. Panelists included a young woman from India who is living openly with HIV and a young man from Togo who is an actor and peer educator in the reduction of HIV in young men who have sex with men (MSM). I had the pleasure of joining them as a representative of the United States context where I talked about the tasks of the Christian Church in equipping ourselves for the HIV/AIDS journey beyond 2015.
If the Church is to remain relevant in the fight against HIV in the United States and in the world, the Church must improve its outreach to youth and young adults. It’s no secret that Millennials are all but absent from the Church, not because young people don’t believe in God or don’t desire a connection with something or Someone higher than themselves, but because the traditional Church has failed to reconcile its 2000 year old theology with the present day context and realities that Millennials struggle to navigate. The inclusion of youth and young adults in the Church not only is imperative for the survival of an aging institution, but it’s paramount in the Church’s efforts to end AIDS because HIV is reality for young people in the United States and in the world.
In 2014, HIV and AIDS is a reality for 1 in 4 young person’s age 13-24; expand the age range to 29 and the number increases to 1 in 3. Young people are at particularly high risk of HIV infection for a number of reasons including but not limited to: sexual discovery, drug and alcohol experimentation, unprotected sex, and lack of sex education. The equation of immature sexuality under the influence of state altering substances with insufficient education on how to protect one’s self = increased susceptibility to HIV infection. The Church can be and should be a first responder in addressing these challenges in the development of young people, however the Church cannot minister to or intercede on the behalf of a generation of people it does not have access to. So, if the Christian Church is to continue to have a foothold in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States and in the world, the Church much address its antiquated presence in the present day context of youth and young adults, especially as it relates to sex and sexuality.
Sex and sexuality have long been taboo topics within the Church, yet both are inextricably linked to HIV/AIDS. Therefore the Church must engage in healthy dialogue about sex and sexuality if it is to endure in the HIV and AIDS journey beyond 2015. The Rev. James B. Nelson explains in his book ‘Between Two Gardens’ that, “Sexuality and spirituality are inseparable elements of full personhood…” One cannot exist without the other and qualify as the wholeness of the body of Christ. Sexuality is a gift from God. Likewise one cannot discuss HIV and AIDS without discussing sex and sexuality because both/and make up the wholeness of the epidemic. The gift of HIV to the Church is that it has forced us to deal with the deafening silence on sex and sexuality in communities of faith. If HIV was cured today, the Church would still be mute on sex and sexuality, tomorrow. The Church must utilize this opportunity that HIV has given, to discuss the theology of homosexuality, for example, by studying the history of our religious texts, understanding the context under which the text was written and the people the text was written for; then use that bible study to inform conversations around homosexuality in today’s context. Such dialogue allows the Church to equip the next generation of theologians for the HIV and AIDS journey beyond 2015.
The Church would then be in a better position to minister to the demographic most affected and infected by HIV in the U.S.: men who have sex with men, specifically young MSM of color. Many mainline denominations in the States have a long standing history in delivering HIV services internationally, however domestic provisions have been few and far between. Black Churches in particular have been limited in the HIV/AIDS domestic response largely due to stigma and lack of resources. Unfortunately, the few inclusive Black led faith based HIV/AIDS capacity building organizations that had resources have been shut out for the next 5 years, as no Black led ASO or CBO was funded by the Centers for Disease Control for the next cycle. Considering the rate of HIV infection among Black Americans, and understanding the importance of cultural competency when providing services to a target population, Black Churches and faith based organizations are left to depend on each other for assistance. If the Church is to maintain a meaningful presence in the HIV response, it must truly become “Church;” collaborating and participating in ecumenical resource sharing that recognizes the value in community healing, and ignores the differences in denominational doctrine.
Someday HIV will be eradicated in the United States and in the world, and the question will be asked: Where was the Church in all of this? Will they say we were failing to reach youth who desperately needed guidance and grace? Will they say we were too busy arguing over how God feels about homosexuality, while millions of people died? Will the story be that we had all the resources and skills necessary to reach those most impacted by the disease, but failed to work together as one Holy Communion? Or will they say people of faith were there from the beginning to end? I choose the latter. The end of AIDS is in front of us, and I believe the faith community will be a key role player in its finale; so long as we can leave behind our collective differences, and get behind our united front: life, and life abundantly. End AIDS.
ELCA Young Adult Cohort AIDS2014 