NAACP develops HIV manual for black churches

WASHINGTON - Houston-area pastor Timothy Sloan has long felt the need to talk about HIV and AIDS with his congregation.
  
But he worried the 3,000 mostly African-American parishioners at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Humble, Texas, could be offended and leave the church or curtail their giving.
  
Then, a year and a half ago, he joined a group of pastors organized by the NAACP to write a manual for church leaders like himself on talking to their congregations about a disease that has a disproportionate effect on the black community.
  
Sloan spoke to his congregation about the issue soon after. They surprised him with a standing ovation.
  
Now Sloan hopes others can use the manual he helped create to talk to their congregations. The NAACP this month released it and a 61-page activity manual at the group's convention in Texas.