About 25 youths along with some parents and educators spent their Saturday having a frank and open discussion about HIV/Aids and sexuality.
Even more interesting is that the discussion was among members of the Methodist Church and it was led by a Methodist Reverend. So why was the church touching the still taboo topic of HIV/Aids and sex? Well Reverend Karen Durant says the HIV/Aids situation is out of control and it's about time the church step up to help stem its spread.
Rev. Karen Durant, Methodist Church
"As Christians we believe that we have a responsibility to get involved in the fight against HIV/Aids because Jesus Christ said he came that we may have abundant life and if we going to help people to have the kind of life they should we have to get involved in social issues. So our district's social witness committee has organized this workshop for today."
Keith Swift,
"The church doesn't like to discuss HIV because it leads to sex and the church doesn't like to discuss sex. From what I have heard so far this morning the discussion is pretty sexual. Is this uncomfortable for the church?"
Rev. Karen Durant,
"No it is not because sexuality is a part of how God created us. God created us as sexual beings and so we have a responsibility as a church to discuss it because sex in itself is not dirty, it is something created by God. God has a way that he wants us to use it, it's a part of our, a part of his creation, and it is by no means uncomfortable for us to discuss about sex and sexual issues."
The workshop was held at the Trinity Methodist School.