The National Black Church Initiative – A Coalition of 150,00 Black Churches – Under An abundance of Care of the COVID-19 Pandemic Urges ALL African Americans aged 60 and Over with Underlying Conditions Not to attend Church in the Foreseeable Future
The Black Community Must Follow CDC Guidelines
The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI), a faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches comprised of 37 denominations and 26.7 million African Americans with an additional 116,000 sister churches, is urging all of our church leaders to respect the science regarding COVID-19 and allow and encourage all of its members who are at least 60 years old and have underlying conditions to forgo church for the foreseeable future. This extraordinary moral move by NBCI is to protect us all from this extraordinarily dangerous virus and is in accordance with guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Anthony Fauci, of the National Institute of Health, expressed that COVID-19 (coronavirus) “… is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu.” Additionally, health experts have expressed that those with underlying conditions who are age 60 and over are particularly vulnerable to this disease.
The Reverend Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative, strongly urges “We must follow all of the CDC’s guidelines pertaining to those who are at least 60, especially those with underlying health conditions and compromised immunities. We are taking this extraordinary action in light of the fact that we must show moral leadership here in order to get everyone singing the same song – God will take care of us if we listen and obey those who he was empowered to help us protect ourselves, our families, and our communities.”
Ministers are not doctors. I know that there are some churches and ministers who are going to defy this moral declaration. If you do so, you must be willing to institute the principles of social distancing as an extra measure to protect all those in your congregation.
The Bible is clear about using sound, moral judgment in light of our faith in Christ Jesus. In this case, both the scripture and God want us to heed the sound judgment of scientists, doctors, and government officials who are trying to keep us safe. Our faith in Christ relies not only on our faith in God, but also those individuals who God has empowered as scientists, doctors, and those who are in the government at this time.
The Black community should step away from the politics of the hour and focus on those who are trying to keep us safe.
About NBCI
The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is a coalition of 34,000 African American and Latino Churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare, technology, education, housing, and the environment. NBCI’s mission is to provide critical wellness information to all of its members, congregants, Churches and the public. Our methodology is utilizing faith and sound health science.
NBCI’s purpose is to partner with major organizations and officials whose main mission is to reduce racial disparities in the variety of areas cited above. NBCI offers faith-based, out-of-the-box and cutting-edge solutions to stubborn economic and social issues. NBCI’s programs are governed by credible statistical analysis, science-based strategies and techniques, and methods that work. Visit our website at www.naltBlackChurch.com.