Black church coalition names health equity as a priority

WASHINGTON (RNS)—The Conference of National Black Churches has called on African American congregations to embrace a list of priorities—from “government-sponsored reparations” to improved access to health care—as they move out of a pandemic era and into an election year. “We believe Black life must be valued and the humanity of all descendants of African descent must be affirmed,” said the conference’s board in a statement approved Dec. 12. The listed priorities also call for a constitutional amendment to protect and guarantee the right to vote and for community policing policies that will prevent “stop and frisk” activities. Approval of the statement highlighted the opening day of the organization’s national consultation, titled “Coming Out of Darkness, Finding Light: The Black Church Responding to the Continuing Pain of the Pandemic.” “The Conference of National Black Churches presents ‘Ten Black Faith and Justice Ideals’ for uniting and mobilizing to push for reparative justice, freedom, global healing, empowerment and flourishing,” the statement said. The consultation, held in Orlando, Fla., included speeches from Mandy Cohen, director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Brandi Waters, senior director of African American studies in the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program. About 300 people attended. The...