wfn.org | United Methodists get CDC grant for HIV/AIDS work

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Oct. 25, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-31-32-34-71B{489}

By United Methodist News Service

The United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is among 11 faith-based
organizations receiving grants of $10,000 each from the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control (CDC).

Aimed at HIV/AIDS education and prevention, the board's grant will be used
to produce three new focus papers highlighting programs found in African
American, Hispanic American and Native American congregations, according to
Betty Gittens, an executive in the Health and Welfare Ministries unit.

Health and Welfare Ministries published the first focus paper for its
HIV/AIDS Ministries Network in 1989. In the first year, the papers were
distributed on an almost monthly basis, but later were published three to
four times a year. During the past three years, one focus paper has been
produced annually for World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

The Rev. Nancy Carter, a board consultant who has been involved with the
HIV/AIDS Ministries Network, said the new papers would be distributed free
of charge by mail or the Internet. "The papers would present models of what
churches are doing as well as 'how-tos' for prevention."
 
Using the CDC funds, the Health and Welfare Ministries unit will hire a
writer/editor to coordinate the project. Consultation with members of
African American, Hispanic and Native American congregations will be an
important part of the development process, Gittens said.

After publication, the information collected will be kept in a database for
future use, Carter said.

People with information to contribute can write to Gittens at the Board of
Global Ministries, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115, or send
an e-mail to aidsmin@gbgm-umc.org. Past focus papers also are available on
the board's Web site at http://gbgm-umc.org/resources/hivfocus.

Donations for the HIV/AIDS work can be made to the Mutti Fund, administered
by Health and Welfare Ministries. 
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United Methodist News Service
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