wfn.org | WCC NEWS: HIV-competent church: global campaign to be launched

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World Council of Churches - News Release

Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

>For immediate release - 06/08/2008 11:02:28

GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE "HIV-COMPETENT" CHURCHES

Representatives of ecumenical organizations meeting in advance of the 17th  International AIDS Conference in Mexico City vowed to launch a global  campaign to help churches become competent in dealing with the HIV and  AIDS pandemic.

A first step will consist of a set of education and advocacy materials  jointly produced in time for the World AIDS Day 2008, to be marked on 1  December. They will be accompanied by a tool-kit aimed at enabling groups  and communities to assess the quantity and quality of their response to  HIV and AIDS.

Partners in the campaign will be the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in  Africa (EHAIA), Churches United Against HIV and AIDS in Southern and  Eastern Africa (CUAHA), and the newly created International Network of  Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS  (INERELA+). Other key church-related agencies are expected to join in.

The agreement was reached during the "Faith in Action Now!" ecumenical  conference sponsored by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. Bringing  together over 500 representatives of church and church-related organization s, it took place in Mexico City immediately before the 3-8 August  International AIDS Conference.

The concept of "HIV-competent church" relates to the ability of a given  faith community to deal with the challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS  pandemic in an appropriate and compassionate manner. An HIV-competent  church staunches the spread of HIV, improves the lives of those living  with and affected by it, mitigates the impact of HIV and ultimately  restores hope and dignity.

HIV-competence encompasses both inner and outer competencies, explains Dr  Sue Parry, EHAIA regional coordinator for Southern Africa. Inner competency  exists when a church becomes aware of the impact and consequences of the  pandemic and accepts the responsibility to respond to it. Outer competency  involves building theological and institutional capacity to do it and  requires leadership, knowledge and resources.

"An HIV-competent church is able to build up a new community of God. A  community that recognizes and responds to the social challenges that  contribute to HIV and has leaders who can break free from unhelpful  traditions and cultures - to overcome HIV," says Bishop Dr Johannes  Ramashapa, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern  Africa.

"We all strive to develop a church fully informed on what HIV and AIDS is;  which acknowledges people living with HIV as an integral and precious part  of the congregation", emphasizes Karuna Roy, coordinator of the Synodical  Board of Health Services in the Church of North India.

The International AIDS Conference in Mexico City is being attended by over  20,000 participants from the academic, scientific and medical communities,  as well as from business, government, faith and civil society organizations , together with positive people's networks. Over 33 million people are  living with HIV worldwide. The 2008 conference theme is "Universal Action  Now".

Ecumenical conference "Faith in Action Now!" website (including video and  audio footage):
http://iac.e-alliance.ch

>Photo gallery:
>http://iac.e-alliance.ch/photos

Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA):
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3131

>WCC work for a HIV-competent church
>http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3418

Additional information:Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363media@wcc -coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness  and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of  churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant,  Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million  Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman  Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from  the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.