Sexuality and The Black Church: Shedding New Light on Old Truths


This 7-week course designed to accompany Black faith leaders and predominantly Black churches as we explore historical, cultural, and theological challenges around fully embracing all expressions of Black Sexuality. This struggle has shaped how the Black church addressed the AIDS crisis in the 1980’s and is at the heart of the theological, spiritual, psychological, and practical struggles that many Black congregations face today. The curriculum is designed to be culturally relevant and to address the crux of the issues with which Black congregations struggle. What does it mean to ask racially marginalized communities to fully embrace, love, and affirm people who bring intersectionally marginalized identities to a community that often seeks out the Church to avoid or escape feeling disenfranchised?

This curriculum is divided into seven units:

  • September 6: How Do We Study the Bible
  • September 13: Essence of God
  • September 20: Human Sexuality
  • September 27: Black Church History & Sexuality
  • October 4: Honor & Shame
  • October 11: Reframing Biblical Texts & The Body of Christ
  • October 18: Questions & Dialogue 


Hosted by: Ministers for Racial, Social, and Economic Justice (MRSEJ) and United Black Christians (UBC)

Course Curriculum


  About the course
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  Introduction to Sexuality and The Black Church
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  1. How Do We Study the Bible
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  2. Essence of God
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  3. Human Sexuality
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  4. Black Church History & Sexuality
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  5. Honor & Shame
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  6. Reframing Biblical Texts & The Body of Christ
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