Amazon.com description: Product Description: Often perceived as conservative and rigid, Christian churches have oftentimes been barriers to people's claiming their sexuality. Yet, in their response to the crisis posed by AIDS and HIV, churches have also often challenged harmful cultural practices and surmounted that stereotype. Focusing on sexual and reproductive health rights, especially in African settings, this book seeks to identify and cultivate the positive - indeed liberating - role that churches must play. Bringing the power of religion to bear on the social and religious attitudes that lead to silence, stigma, repression, and even gender violence, the book critically appraises and reappropriates received biblical, pastoral, and theological sources to offer a new vision to those persons most often denied their rights, including women, the young, sexual minorities, and the disabled. Published by the World Council of Churches, the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy (EHAIA) series has proven to be a theological and pastoral wellspring for churches in Africa and beyond. This volume will enlighten and inform church leaders and pastoral caregivers everywhere on how the churches can enable all people to enjoy abundant life. (Series: Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy / EHAIA) [Subject: Religious Studies, Christianity, African Studies]