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Tackling HIV and AIDS with Faith-Based Communities: Learning from Attitudes on Gender Relations and Sexual Rights within Local Evangelical Churches in Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, and South Africa

Author: M Marshall and N Taylor
Date: 2006
Size: 12 pages (84 KB)

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Summary

How have local evangelical churches in Africa responded to the AIDS pandemic that is devastating the continent? Are churches tackling issues of sexual activity and behaviour, and if so, are they doing so in an informed and positive manner? This article from Gender and Development, based on research by Tearfund, explores the position of churches in Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe and South Africa in regard to gender relations and sex. Some local evangelical churches were largely silent regarding gender and sex issues, or reinforced traditional values which contribute to HIV infection. The Church has, at times, misunderstood Biblical teaching and, as a result, appeared to contribute to the problem. In the absence of teaching to the contrary, church adherents assume that the church endorses traditional values and practices relating to gender.

Inequalities in gender relations exacerbate the impact HIV and AIDS are having on women and girls in Africa. Local evangelical churches have contributed to and reinforced traditional attitudes to gender:

Churches see talking about sex as inappropriate and believe the Bible requires women to be submissive, preventing women from challenging husbands on sexual issues.
In South Africa, church teaching about sex is unsupportive and judgemental, failing to respond to young people’s need for help dealing with sexual issues.
The church in South Africa fails to lead by example on matters of sex, gender relations and HIV and AIDS.
In rural Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, wives are submissive to husbands, who use biblical texts selectively to justify the way they treat them.
In rural Zimbabwe, even if church leaders understand women’s situations, they have little influence on men, since the adult congregation is almost entirely female.
In Burkina Faso and urban Zimbabwe, there are relatively higher proportions of men within congregations, making it more possible to work with couples.

The position of evangelical churches in Africa - often at the centre of the community and influencing a wide audience - has not been fully exploited. The church can be a catalyst for changes in attitudes and behaviour with respect to gender inequity and the spread of HIV and AIDS.

In Zimbabwe, changing the values of a local community is likely to change individuals’ behaviour. This can take place through local churches in urban areas and through a partnership of agencies throughout society in rural areas.
In Burkina Faso work can take place through church structures in urban and rural areas by means of in-depth contact with particular groups.
Tearfund’s partner organisation, Christian AIDS Taskforce (CAT) in Zimbabwe, has proposed a position for local churches to agree on gender and HIV and AIDS. This asserts that churches should acknowledge and address the implications of gender inequality.
If successful, these activities can be extended to other communities where church leaders recognise the need to address gender relations and HIV and AIDS.

A follow-up case study, 'Gender, HIV and the Church', was published in March 2009. This outlines three years' work in Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe to change attitudes on gender and sexual rights through the local church. See: http://tilz.tearfund.org/Topics/Gender/Research+and+case+studies.htm

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Source: Marshall, M. and Taylor, N., 2006, 'Tackling HIV and AIDS with Faith-Based Communities: Learning from Attitudes on Gender Relations and Sexual Rights within Local Evangelical Churches in Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, and South Africa', Gender and Development, vol. 14, no. 3, November
Author: Mandy Marshall , Amanda.Marshall@tearfund.org