We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Black Church and Adolescent Sexuality.
- Authors
Rubin, Roger H.; Billingsley, Andrew; Caldwell, Cleopatra Howard
- Abstract
The Black Church Family Project surveyed 635 Northern Black churches, 320 in the North Central and 315 in the Northeastern United States, regarding the existence of family-oriented community outreach programs. Two thirds of these churches were found to engage in a wide range of outreach programs. One hundred and seventy-six churches reported having at least one program directed at adolescent members of the community. This paper focuses on problems related to adolescent sexuality, including pregnancy, out of wedlock births, homosexuality and sexually transmitted diseases. Relatively few churches reported being actively engaged in these types of programs. One reason is the church's historical reticence regarding sexual issues. However, the omnipresence of the church, community linkages, its history of service, and the traditional religiosity of Black youth provide opportunities for the church to involve Black youth in programs which address sexual behavior. Through such cooperation the church may anticipate with community organizations, public health officials, policymakers, and social services regarding adolescent sexuality without compromising its own tenets on sexuality.
- Subjects
UNITED States; TEENAGERS' sexual behavior; AFRICAN American churches; FAMILIES; AFRICAN American religions; MEDICAL care of African Americans
- Publication
National Journal of Sociology, 1994, Vol 8, Issue 1/2, p131
- ISSN
0892-4287
- Publication type
Article