December 01, 2009 - An interview with the Rev. Patricia Sawo, a church leader and mother living with HIV in Kenya inspired Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to entitle his World Aids Day Message A Space for Hope. Patricia says of her church "My congregation knows about my status and people in my church know that this is a place where, if they come with HIV, they can be loved." The Archbishop says "when the Church is doing its job, it is providing space for people to face themselves, to be themselves, and to cope with the future."
On my trip to Burundi in February, I saw numerous examples of that kind of space. Let me cite just two. In the heart of the city of Bujumbura there is an HIV/AIDS clinic. Above the main entrance of the administration building is a sign stating that the building was renovated though a gift of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) of the Anglican Church of Canada. That gift inspired other churches in the city to make contributions to expand the services of this clinic which serves teens and young adults who have been orphaned through AIDS. Most of them live on the street and their life is very rough. The clinic is a haven where they can learn about HIV/AIDS, get tested and if necessary receive treatment and counseling. As the Archbishop says, they can "face themselves, be themselves, and cope with the future."
Up in the hills, "in the bush" as Burundians say, in the village of Bitare, I and Cheryl Curtis (Executive Director of PWRDF) and Maureen Bailey (Youth Council, PWRDF) were invited to assist local people in laying the foundation stone for a new HIV/AIDS clinic. It was very humbling to kneel down and share in that work as hundreds of people looked on and sang and prayed for God's blessing on this project. The building is now complete and providing services to hundreds of people in Bitare and a number of surrounding villages. Individuals and families are feeling support and care. Lives are being changed and hope is rising like the glory of a new day.
This coming Sunday, the second in Advent, I ask that throughout the Church, prayers of special intent for those living with HIV/AIDS be included in the Prayers of the People. Pray for their caregivers and for their doctors and nurses and clergy. Pray especially for the work of the Mother's Union in Africa and their deep and steadfast commitment to helping those who are living with AIDS and those who have been widowed and orphaned through AIDS, and those who are caring for their grandchildren. Pray for those engaged in education about healthy sexuality and the prevention of AIDS. And as we pray for the eradication of the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, pray also for that "space" the Church is called to provide where people can be welcomed and free to face themselves and be themselves without fear of rejection; where through loving care and support they can cope with their future. This calling is after the very example of Our Lord who reached out and "touched" (Mark 1: 40-41) the sick with love and mercy.
I encourage one and all to pray, to support the continuing work with HIV/AIDS, and to stand with all those who are pressuring world leaders, in the words of one of the Millennium Development Goals, "to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases." I issue this call in the name of him whose Advent sets us free, whose love brings healing and hope to all.
"About 140 Circle members from 25 countries met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from August 4th to August 8th 2002. This publication is one of a series of books that were generated by the research papers presented at that conference. The Conference theme was`Sex: Stigma and HIV/AIDS: African Women Challenging Religion, Culture and Social Practices'."-- Preface, p. xi.
"This book is the beginning of a series of Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians books published by Cluster Publications. The series is on HIV/AIDS and African Women". -- verso of half title-page.
Contents: Preface : Breaking the Silence on HIV/AIDS : The Lament of Women of Africa / Musimbi Kanyoro -- African Women of Faith Speak Out in an HIV/AIDS Era / Isabel Apawo Phiri -- Lessons on Healing from Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-27): An African-American Perspective / Cheryl Barbara Anderson -- "The Mother's Cow" : A Study of Old Testament References to Virginity in the Context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa / Patricia Frances Bruce -- Talitha Cum ! Calling the Girl-Child and Women to Life in the HIV/AIDS and Globalization Era / Musa Dube -- The Attitude of Jesus to the `Anointing Prostitute' : A Model for Contemporary Churches in the Face of HIV/AIDS in Africa / Dorcas Olubanke Akintunde -- Trapped Between Two `Canons' : African-South African Christian Women in the HIV/AIDS Era / Madipoane Masenya (ngwana' Mphahlele) -- Theological Challenges and Ecclesiological Responses to Women Experiencing HIV/AIDS : A South Eastern Zimbabwe Context / Elesinah Chauke -- Choosing to Remain Silent : Links Between Gender Violence, HIV/AIDS and the South African Church / Beverley Haddad -- South African Jewish Women and HIV/AIDS / Azila Talit Reisenberger -- Spiritual Care-giving to Women Affected by HIV/AIDS / Christina Landman -- HIV and AIDS Curriculum for Theological Institutions in Africa / Musa Dube -- Utilization of Distance Learning Methods on Combating HIV/AIDS among Rural Christian Women in Africa / Lucy Kasyoka Kithome -- "This is My Body Broken for You" : Liturgical Resources for Dealing with HIV/AIDS / Devarakshanam Betty Govinden.
Anglican contributors include Devarakshanam Betty Govinden and Beverley Haddad.
"Moving towards life without AIDS is possible, but there is much to do. As we seek to follow Christ, let us work together so that one day we can all rejoice that we live in a world without AIDS. Our church supports partners around the world working for life without AIDS. Let us follow the lead of all who struggle with HIV/AIDS and support partners by using this worship service to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in corporate prayer and worship. This worship service has been produced ecumenically by The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and The United Church of Canada." -- Intro., p. 4.
Contents: Introduction to Worship Service -- Partnership for Life Worship Service -- Prayer of Intercession -- Reflection : Towards Life Without AIDS.
Originally published in German as: AIDS : Eine Krankheit verander die Welt : Daten, Fakten, Hintergrunde. Frankfurt: Verlag Otto Lembeck, 2003.
Includes bibliography: p. 110-118.
This book "is an offering to churches and the world -- a significant and vital addition to the continuum of knowledge -- that will greatly assist churches to be effective and efficient in the struggle to overcome HIV/AIDS. It is a compilation of historical, scientific and statistical material aimed at providing churches and their partners with a better understanding of the dynamics of HIV/AIDS as well as current information to aid in collaborative efforts at answering the challenge of the disease. .... On a practical level this response is deliberately multi-faceted and interactive, encouraging churches and Christian service organizations to build and support coalitions dedicated to overcoming this epidemic". -- Preface.
Contents: Preface / Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of Churches -- Introduction / Sonja Weinreich and Christoph Benn --.Natural history and HIV transmission -- Global, regional and country-specific spread of HIV/AIDS -- Vulnerable population groups -- Gender equity -- Children -- Young people -- Socio-economic context -- Stigma and discrimination --Human rights -- People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) -- Prevention -- Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) -- Care -- Antiretroviral therapy -- HIV/AIDS on the international agenda -- Advocacy and lobbying -- Culture and tradition -- Churches, theology and HIV/AIDS -- Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS -- Literature.
"This book comprises the 2005 Massey Lectures, `Race Against Time', broadcast in November 2005 as part of CBC Radio's `Ideas' series".
Contents: Preface -- Acknowledgements -- I: Context: It Shames and Diminishes Us All -- II: Pandemic: My Country is On Its Knees -- III: Education: An Avalanche of Studies, Little Studying -- IV: Women: Half the World, Barely Represented -- V: Solutions: A Gallery of Alternatives in Good Faith -- Glossary.
Author is Canadian and the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, a commissioner on the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Determinants of Health, and director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [183]-187).
"On the afternoon of a hot southern African summer day in the capital city of Zimbabwe, some 1000 participants at the eighth assembly of the World Council of Churches engaged in a deliberative session on `Ubuntu and the African kairos'. It was 8 December 1998, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the WCC. A local Zimbabwean theatre group enacted a powerful political drama entitled `A Journey of Hope'. This was the beginning -- or launch -- of a pilgrimage of conversion, commitment, and above all accompaniment. It was agreed that the focus on Africa would be one of wholehearted support for the churches and peoples of the continent. There would be an emphasis on transformation of Africa's social, political and economic systems in order to create a just society in which women and young people, too, would participate fully. Peace and reconciliation would be sought between people and communities. Everything within the church's power would be devoted to help contain and overcome the scourge of HIV and AIDS. Good governance, ethical values and stewardship would be emphasized. And the churches affirmed the rights of African children to hope for a bright future which, with all their strength and ability, they would help to create". -- back cover.
Contents: Dedication [to Dr. Aaron Tolen] -- Preface / Samuel Kobia -- A Letter to My Ancestors / Mercy Amba Oduyoye -- Journey of Hope to a New Africa -- The Origins of Pan-African Ecumenism -- Forgiveness and Healing of Memories -- Reconstruction of Africa -- Health and Spirituality of Africa -- The Quest for Justice and Human Dignity -- Renewing African Ecumenism -- New Ecumenical Thresholds -- The Gift of African Women -- Appendix One: African Ecumenical Covenants -- Appendix Two: Statements on Africa from WCC Central and Executive Committees -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations and acronyms -- Bibliography.
"Mercy Amba Oduyoye, from Ghana, founded the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians and is the first African woman from south of the Sahara to have served as deputy general secretary of the World Council of Churches. The essays in this volume describe the key contributions she has made to African theology in our time, and then apply her insights to issues of scripture, health and poverty, and women as peacemakers". -- back cover.
Contents divided into five main parts: Celebrating Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye -- African Women, the Bible and Health -- Women as Traditional Healers in Africa -- African Women's Experiences of Health and Healing, Endurance and Peacemaking -- Postscript.
Contents: Acknowledgements -- Preface / Elizabeth Amoah -- Introduction : "Treading Softly but Firmly": African Women, Religion and Health / Isabel Apawo Phiri and Sarojini Nadar -- Part I: Celebrating Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye -- 1. Beads and Strands: Threading More Beads in the Story of the Circle / Musimbi R.A. Kanyoro -- 2. Mercy Amba Oduyoye: Wise Woman Bearing Gifts / Letty M. Russell -- 3. Let's Celebrate the Power of Naming / Nyambura J. Njoroge -- Part II: African Women, the Bible and Health -- 4. "Texts of Terror": The Conspiracy of Rape in the Bible, Church, and Society: The Case of Esther 2:1-8 / Sarojini Nadar -- 5. Women and Health in Ghana and the Trokosi Practice: An Issue of Women's and Children's Rights in 2 Kings 4:1-7 / Dorothy B.E.A. Akoto -- Part III: Women as Traditional Healers in Africa -- 6. Dealing with the Trauma of Sexual Abuse: A Gender-based Analysis of the Testimonies of Female Traditional Healers in KwaZulu-Natal / Isabel Apawo Phiri -- 7. Adinkra !: Four Hearts Joined Together: On Becoming Healing-Teachers of African Indigenous Religion/s in HIV and AIDS Prevention / Musa W. Dube -- 8. Women as Healers: The Nigerian (Yoruba) Example / Dorcas Olubanke Akintunde -- Part IV: African Women's Experiences of Health and Healing, Endurance and Peacemaking -- 9. Women, Poverty, and HIV in Zimbabwe: An Exploration of Inequalities in Health Care / Sophia Chirongoma -- 10. Women and Peacemaking: The Challenge of a Non-Violent Life / Susan Rakoczy -- 11. Stand Up and Walk, Daughter of My People: Consecrated Sisters of the Church / Sr. M. Bernadette Mbuy Beya -- 12. From Mere Existence to Tenacious Endurance: Stigma, HIV/AIDS and a Feminist Theology of Praxis / Denise M. Ackermann -- 13. Navigating Experiences of Healing: A Narrative Theology of Eschatological Hope as Healing / Fulata Lusungu Moyo -- Part V: Postscript -- 14. Daughters of Ethiopia: Constructing a Feminist Discourse in Ebony Strokes / Ogbu U. Kalu -- Contributors.
"This book is the first of a two-part series which deals with the African churches and HIV/AIDS. The second part, 'Acting in Hope: African Churches and HIV/AIDS 2', is also published as a Risk Book". -- Acknowledgements.
"The church in Africa is called upon to live out the positive attitude toward travellers that is found in African societies. It must express solidarity with people living with HIV. It must engage in accompaniment. It must travel with people living with HIV and be sensitive to their rights and needs. Crucially, it must break down barriers between 'us' and 'them'. A church 'with friendly feet' walks alongside those affected by HIV. It courageously proclaims that it is a church living with HIV and AIDS. It refuses to throw stones (John 8:1-11) and recognizes that the gospel compels us Christians to love without limits". -- Intro.
Contents: Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- The Church in Africa: An Overview -- A Weakened Response to HIV/AIDS -- Churches with Friendly Feet -- Churches with Anointed Hands -- Conclusion.
Author "serves as Theology Consultant for the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA)." -- back cover.
Proceedings of a conference held July 8-11, 2006 in Padua, Italy.
"In June 2006 [sic i.e. 8-12 July 2006] over four hundred Catholic moral theologians from all over the world gathered in Padua, Italy, to take part in the first international, cross-cultural conversation on theological ethics. .... In this collection our focus us on the field of applied ethics. From the 120 papers from around the world originally presented at this conference, all focused on issues of critical global, social, political, and economic concern, we present 30 that represent the key challenges that lie ahead". -- Intro.
Includes bibliographical references.
Contents divided into seven main parts: Globalization, Justice, and Environment -- Gender -- War and Peace -- HIV/AIDS -- Bioethics and Social Justice -- Sexuality and Marriage -- Challenges to Method in Moral Theology.
Contents: Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Introduction: Cross-cultural Conversations: Applied Ethics in a World Church / Linda Hogan -- Opting for the Poor in the Face of Growing Poverty / Humberto Miguel Yanez -- An Ethical Analysis of Globalization from an Indian Perspective / John Chathanatt -- Globalization and African Economic Reform / Aquiline Tarimo -- Globalization and Free Trade Agreements: Ethical Analysis and Alternatives / Kenneth M. Weare -- Setting Aside Some Economic Paradigms / Alejandro C. Llorente -- A Ringing Endorsement of Capitalism ? The Influence of the Neo-liberal Agenda on Official Catholic Social Teaching / Johan Verstraeten -- Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church and the Ethic of the Environment / Karl Golser -- Reflections on the Relationship between Ecology and Theological Ethics / Simon Morandini -- Becoming Better Samaritans: The Quest for New Models of Doing Social-economic Justice in Africa / Teresia Hinga -- Women's Perspectives in Bioethics: A Case Study from Tribal India / Pushpa Joseph -- Gendered Identity Formation and Moral Theology / Christine E. Gudorf -- A Tale of Two Presumptions: The Development of Roman Catholic Just War Theory / William Werpehowski -- A New 'Casus Belli' ? Counterproliferation in an Age of Terrorism / Kenneth R. Himes -- AIDS, Africa, and the "Age of Miraculous Medicine": Naming the Silences / Emmanuel Katongole -- Ethics of HIV/AIDS Prevention: Paradigms of a New Discourse from an African Perspective / Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator -- HIV/AIDS in Africa: An Urgent Task for an Inculturated Theological Ethic / Paul Chummar -- Who Sinned ? AIDS-Related Stigma and the Church / Gillian Paterson -- Religion in the AIDS Crisis: Irrelevance, Adversary, or Ally ? The Case of the Catholic Church / Bertrand Lebouche, Jean-Francois Malherbe, Christian Trepo, and Raymond Lemieux -- The Contribution of Theology to Bioethical Discussion / Jose Roque Junges -- Multinational Biomedical Research in Impoverished Communities Toward a Theory of Global Social Justice / Jorge Jose Ferrer -- Embryo Adoption: Expanding the Terms of the Debate / Darlene Fozard Weaver -- Nutrition and Hydration in the Care of Terminally Ill Patients: Ethical and Theological Challenges / Marie-Jo Thiel -- A Contextual Approach to the Practical Tradition of Hospital Care / Catherine Fino -- The Fragility of Marriage: Concerning Methodology in Christian Ethics / Philippe Bordeyne -- "What God Has Joined Together": The Specifically Christian Quality of Conjugal Love / Aristide Fumagalli -- The Truly Human Sexual Act and Complementarity: Proposing a Reconstruction / Todd A. Saltzman and Michael G. Lawler -- The Use of Sociological Studies to Confirm or Critique Roman Catholic Sexual Ethics / Michael J. Hartwig -- Contraception: Is Dialogue Possible between Proportionalism and the Ethic of Virtue ? / Gustavo Irrazabal -- Benedict XVI's 'Deus Caritas Est': An Ethical Analysis / Stephen J. Pope -- Tolerance, Pluralism, and Religious Truth / Johan De Tavernier.
The Advent 1996 issue of the International Anglican Family Network "tells of just a few of the projects, linked with churches, which are trying to alleviate the suffering and halt the spread of the disease. In this terrible situation there are signs of hope." Article includes reports from 12 different countries.
"As late as the 1988 Lambeth Conference, bishops from Africa were denying that there was a disease called AIDS". The situation has changed now and the Cape Town joint meeting passed a resolution "that calls for a universal response to AIDS". Several African churches, including those of Uganda and Tanzania have developed AIDS education and prevention programs.
Archbishop Ndungane was commissioned at the recent Primates' Meeting to facilitate a workshop on AIDS "in order that a strategic plan for sub-Saharan Africa may be developed". The Primates Meeting resolved "that the church's first priority is to adopt a holistic and effective approach to HIV/AIDS". This statement announces that the workshop will take place in Gauteng, South Africa, 13-16 August 2001 and outlines the eight objectives in developing an integrated strategic plan.
The author describes the actions of Anglicans in Africa to break the silence surrounding AIDS. In August 2001 the All African Anglican AIDS Workshop met in South Africa. The Conference of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) has endorsed the Action Plan from the Workshop and announced plans to hire a Coordinator to work within CAPA on "AIDS-related programmes by pursuing strategic planning, collaborative partnerships and the implementation of responses to develop the capacity of the Provinces". Provinces are urged to remember those who have died from AIDS on November 2nd, All Saints Day. A Conference for Church Leaders, living with HIV/AIDS is planned for Zimbabwe in 17-25 November 2001, led by the Rev. Gideon Byamugisha, from Uganda, who is himself living with AIDS. The secular world, increasingly hosted by churches and other religious institutions observes World AIDS Day on 1 December.
Twenty-two members of the Commission from every corner of the Anglican Communion gathered at the Kempton Park Conference Centre in South Africa for the first meeting of the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Mission and Even. The group heard presentations about the reality of AIDS in South Africa and heard that "last year 250,000 South Africans died from AIDS. This number will double in six years". The group published a document entitled "A Call" and invited all dioceses, parishes and local churches, to consider the document and send their responses to the Mission Department of the Anglican Communion Office. [Full text of document reproduced here.]
Also includes an "HIV/AIDS -Factfile" and brief reports from USPG supported health projects in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.
Archbishop of Carey, the Most Rev. George Carey, and his wife Eileen, visited the London Lighthouse and CARA, an church run AIDS charity. Dr. Carey said that "AIDS is one of the most important issues facing the Anglican Church worldwide today."
The author, Archbishop of Cape Town and Primate of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, reflects on the recent AIDS 2002 Conference in Barcelona Spain. "The key challenges are to change behavioural patterns and to eradicate the stigma that makes it so difficult for people to seek the help they need. Above all we dare not lose hope. We cannot allow ourselves to be paralysed by despair". After reviewing governmental and NGO actions and strategies, he goes on to say: "I offer a committed strategic `Partnership for Life' on behalf of the more that 70 million Anglicans worldwide, who have commissioned me to drive a programme that is working towards a `Generation without AIDS'. We do not have huge amounts of money but we do reach deep into every community. We are often located where there is no Post Office or electricity and we acknowledge our own responsibility in the AIDS arena. I extend my hand and heart to government in this partnership. The leaders of this nation must collaborate, and speak as one, and together build on the dreams and hopes for our people. We must eliminate the fear fuelled by misinformation and dithering about response and responsibility. We must unite in a stand for hope".
"We, the Anglican Communion across Africa, pledge ourselves to promise that future generations will be born and live free from AIDS". "Over 35 leaders, among them Provincial Secretaries and AIDS Co-ordinators from all the 12 African Provinces and the Diocese of Egypt, attended the weeklong workshop at the Ankrah Foundation in Mukono [from 26 January to 1 February 2003]."
BBC reporter Siobhann Tighe interviewed the Most Rev. Njongonkulu Ndungane, Archbishop of Cape Town, about the Anglican Church's fight against HIV and AIDS in the African continent. In his comments, Archbishop Ndungane also discusses the importance of Ubuntu. "We've got to rediscover human values. After all Africans have a high doctrine of humanity. The whole philosophy of being human is couched in that wonderful African concept of UBUNTU: I am because we belong together."
"On Dec. 1 [2003], World AIDS Day, the PWRDF [Primate's World Relief and Development Fund] committed itself to deepening its engagement in the struggle against HIV and AIDS through the launch of a new integrated initiative called `Partnership for Life ... for a generation without AIDS'. Through this initiative, PWRDF will be testifying to the truth about HIV/AIDS in our communities and throughout our world. We hope that you will work with PWRDF to open the hearts and minds of congregations in communities across Canada to involve them in a process of education, prayer, reflection, social action, and generous support of PWRDF funded programs challenging the spread of HIV/AIDS in Canada yet mostly throughout eastern and southern Africa." Article describes the four major areas of work within the initiative and gives a number of statistics about AIDS e.g. "In the past year, an estimated three million people have died of AIDS (the population of Toronto)". Author is the Director of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund.
The theme of the next (13th) meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council to be held in Nottingham, England, in 2005 will be "Living Communion". The author experienced that communion in a recent visit to Swaziland where a delegation visited St. Margaret of Scotland parish. The Rev. Ooma Marumbela, one of the first two women deacons in Swaziland, runs a centre for orphaned children whose parents have usually died of complications of HIV and AIDS. "Swaziland has the highest HIV and AIDS infection rate in the world. The country faces many challenges with its government, with gender issues and the devastating impact of poverty".
See also article "Prayers for Swaziland .." on pp. 4-5 of this issue.