Sexuality and the Black Church

Overview

"This book probes the conundrum of black sexuality, especially as it relates to black theological silence about sexuality. Douglas aims to understand why sexuality in general has been a "taboo" subject for the black church and community, attempts to advance "womanist" discourse on black sexuality, and seeks to promote theological discourse that might nurture healthier attitudes and behaviors toward sexually related concerns, especially homophobia/ heterosexism. Douglas, an Episcopal minister and associate professor of theology at Howard University Divinity School, is also the author of The Black Christ (Orbis, 1994). Her discussion offers food for thought. While readers may not concur with some of her broad conclusions, they will likely appreciate the deepened discourse. Recommended for collections seeking to cover issues affecting the black church and community." - A. Leroy Hommerding, in Library Journal

“If a diagnosis is indispensable for a cure then the Black church and the Black community, as well as the church in general and White society, should take seriously this searingly honest yet sympathetic exposé and then perhaps they may be set on the road to healing their ills.”—Archbishop Desmond Tutu

“This book is one of the most important works by an African American theologian in the past decade. . . . One wonders why we have waited so long for such a helpful treatise on this crucial subject.”—Peter J. Paris, Princeton Theological Seminary

“Kelly Brown Douglas’s book is both a challenge and gift.”—Emilie M. Townes

This book tackles the “taboo” subject of sexuality that has long been avoided by the Black church and community. Douglas argues that this view of Black sexuality has interfered with constructive responses to the AIDS crisis and teenage pregnancies, fostered intolerance of sexual diversity, frustrated healthy male/female relationship, and rendered black and womanist theologians silent on sexual issues.

Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas is Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral and Director of the Religion Program at Goucher College, Baltimore, MD, where she holds the Susan D. Morgan Professorship of Religion. Prior to coming to Goucher College she was Associate Professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, DC, and served as Assistant Professor of Religion at Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, FL.

A native of Dayton, OH, Dr. Douglas was ordained in 1985 at Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church—the first black woman to be ordained an Episcopal priest in the Southern Ohio Diocese, and one of only five nationwide at the time. In 2012 she was the first to receive the Anna Julia Cooper Award by the Union of Black Episcopalians for her “literary boldness and leadership in the development of a womanist theology and discussing the complexities of Christian faith in African-American contexts." Essence magazine counts her “among this country’s most distinguished religious thinkers, teachers, ministers, and counselors."

She is widely published in national and international journals. Her other books include The Black Christ, What’s Faith Got to Do with It? (both from Orbis Books) as well as Black Bodies/Christian Souls, and Black Bodies and the Black Church: A Blues Slant. She is also co-editor of Sexuality and the Sacred: Sources for Theological Reflection.

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