wfn.org | Metropolitan Community Churches Participate in XVII International AIDS Conference

["Jim Birkitt" <JimBirkitt@mccchurch.net>]

N E W S   R E L E A S E  from Metropolitan Community Churches

>For Immediate Release: August 1, 2008

>Contact:
>Joshua Love, Program Director
>MCC Global HIV/AIDS Ministry
>Tel. (213) 321-3975
>E-mail: JoshuaLove@MCCchurch.net

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES PARTICIPATE IN XVII INTERNATIONAL AIDS

>CONFERENCE

AUGUST 1, 2008 (Los Angeles) -- Former President Bill Clinton and other
world renowned government and business key influencers, along with
leading HIV/AIDS experts, will be among 25,000 people from around the
globe gathering August 2-8, 2008, at the XVII International AIDS
Conference (AIDS 2008) in Mexico City.

Joining the participants will be Joshua Love, director of the Global
HIV/AIDS Ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) and producer
of the documentary film, "We Who Are One Body," about a group of 200
children and their caretakers in an orphanage in Zimbabwe. Members and
partners of MCC in Latin America, Africa, Europe, the United States, and
Asia will participate.

Love will represent Metropolitan Community Churches at AIDS 2008 as well
as the Ecumenical Pre-Conference facilitated by The Ecumenical Advocacy
Alliance, a broad international network of churches and Christian
organizations cooperating in advocacy on global trade and HIV and AIDS.

Love will also speak on a panel moderated by Donald Messer of The Center
for the Church and Global AIDS and author of Breaking the Conspiracy of
Silence: Christian Churches and the Global AIDS Crisis. Love, a survivor
of addiction and HIV, has created curriculum and programs used by local
churches dealing with HIV/AIDS and the intersections of drug use and
addictions.

>Love says:

"Metropolitan Community Churches stands at the intersection of healing
and justice in the global effort to end new HIV infections, support
people living with HIV/AIDS, and develop spiritual models of healing and
awareness for all who are impacted by this pandemic.

"In the early 1980s, Metropolitan Community Churches was among the first
churches to open its doors to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS -- at a
time when the US government refused to acknowledge them, many doctors
would not treat them, most hospitals would not admit them and too many
families would not care for them.

"In those early years, MCC conducted the funerals of more than 6000
people who died of HIV complications. Out of that, we developed
international grassroots support networks of survivors and allies.
During the past three years, Metropolitan Community Churches has
extended our commitment to global HIV ministry, including efforts to end
homophobic violence, racism, classism, and religious oppression, all of
which contribute to marginalization, a key factor in new HIV infections.

"Our goal is to mobilize the world's largest volunteer base, churches,
to respond to HIV/AIDS with the same urgency Jesus showed to people in
need. Everywhere we go, we address the still-too-prevalent stigma of
HIV, including religion-based stigma, by asking, "Would Jesus
discriminate? Today, 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV.
When churches and faith communities of every kind truly practice
justice, mercy and compassion, people affected with HIV/AIDS will have
what they need."

The AIDS 2008 conference theme of Universal Action Now emphasizes the
need for continued urgency in the worldwide response to HIV/AIDS, and
for action on the part of all stakeholders (www.aids2008.org).

Plenary sessions over the three days focus on key obstacles and
opportunities to reaching the goal of universal access to prevention,
care and treatment. They include leadership, prevention, violence,
vulnerability of children and stigma and discrimination.

AIDS 2008 is convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS), the
world's leading independent association of HIV professionals.

Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) is the world's
largest and oldest Christian denomination with a primary, affirming
ministry to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons, along
with their families and friends. Often referred to as "The Human Rights
Church," Metropolitan Community Churches has members and adherents in 28
countries. To learn more about MCC's international ministry, visit
www.MCCchurch.org.

>(END)

To Arrange Press Interviews or For Photos, Contact:
Jim Birkitt, Communications Director
Metropolitan Community Churches
E-mail: info@MCCchurch.net