"Those who suffer from Aids deserve both compassion and help. The Church, with its message of divine love and its requirement of neighbourly love, should assist in promoting their pastoral care. These guidelines are written to help those in dire need. ..... This booklet, prepared by the Social Policy Committee, deals with pastoral rather than moral aspects of Aids. When people are ill they need help and support. Our prime concern has been this: how can pastoral care best be given to those who suffer from this tragic and as yet incurable illness ?" -- Foreword.
Includes bibliographical references, p.13-14.
Contents: Foreword / Hugh Birmingham i.e. Hugh Montefiore [Bishop of Birmingham], Chairman, Board for Social Responsibility -- Aids: Some Guidelines for Pastoral Care -- The needs of people affected by Aids -- Feelings likely to be experienced by the Aids sufferer -- Difficulties faced by families and friends -- When a person has Aids -- The care of people with Aids -- Conclusion -- Resource List -- Appendix.
"The origins of this volume can be traced back several years to the urgings of friends to write a book on the life and ministry of the very large church. .... The fourth and most intriguing of these six discoveries was the sudden realization one day back in 1988 that the category I had identified simply as 'the very large church' really was a combination of two groups of large congregations. The first, which has become an endangered species, is the Sunday morning church described in chapter 2. The second group, which is increasing in numbers, is the large and rapidly growing parish that offers an expanding seven-day-a-week program. Some of these programs are clearly community outreach or social service-type ministries, directed at people who never will become members. Most of these weekday and evening ministries, however, also represent attractive entry points for potential future members. The most obvious result of that insight was a change in the theme of this book from 'The Life and Ministry of the Very Large Church' to its present title". -- Intro., p. 11-12.
Contents: Introduction -- The Changing Face of American Christianity -- From Sunday Morning to Seven Days a Week -- Why So Large ? -- Staffing the Full-Service Church -- Who Runs That Big Church ? -- Continuity and Succession -- Clouds and Questions -- Notes.