Black Clergy Members Declare War on AIDS, Take Virus Test

Saying that churches have been too quiet about AIDS for too long, a coalition of San Diego-area black ministers launched an initiative last week in the battle against the deadly virus. In a well-organized publicity effort aimed at raising awareness of the prevalence of AIDS among blacks, clergymen from a handful of San Diego churches took AIDS tests outside St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Art Cribbs of Christian Fellowship United Church of Christ in Emerald Hills was joined by a number of other ministers in lining up outside the church for county-administered swab tests that will determine whether they have HIV. Calling themselves the Concerned African-American Clergy and Laity, they promised to push their congregations to do the same.

"We don't have to go to Africa to see how AIDS is ravaging the community," said St. Paul's United Methodist Church's John Greene. "We can simply look around us." The San Diego ministers said AIDS is affecting too many lives for area churches to ignore. They plan to start collecting AIDS statistics from black communities in San Diego to compare with national trends. They also pledged to begin including calls for confidential AIDS testing in their sermons and to start promoting the variety of services now available to patients and their families.

On Nov. 16, families living with AIDS will be the subject of the weekly Catfish Club luncheon organized by the Rev. George Walker Smith, who recently retired from Christ United Presbyterian Church. On Nov. 17 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Cribbs will hold a daylong seminar promoting AIDS awareness in the community. For information about confidential AIDS tests or other public health services, contact the county Office of AIDS Coordination at 619-296-2120.

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