It’s a matter of faith
Africa stands to lose an entire generation to the AIDS epidemic that is sweeping the continent. In some pockets of sub-Saharan Africa, up to 20 percent of the population is infected with the virus that causes the disease. The crisis is cause for despair, but for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s African church partners it also is a matter of faith and a call to action.
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Africa’s Children: A Church Response to Children’s Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa
In sub-Saharan Africa the number of orphaned and vulnerable children is growing as a result of issues such as the AIDS pandemic, poverty, lack of education and countries in conflict. This free book and study guide reviews the models of care existing in sub-Saharan Africa and evaluates them in the context of the African culture and the realities of limited resources. Additionally, this book includes discernment questions for congregation or individuals that want to help.
Becoming an HIV and AIDS Competent Church: Prophetic Witness and Compassionate Action
This report, approved by the 219th General Assembly (2010), develops a study that identifies issues impacting people living with HIV and AIDS such as poverty, gender inequality and cultural and traditional practices, both in the U.S. and globally, and recommends to the PC(USA) a response of compassionate action and prophetic witness. In 2008, the World Council of Churches started promoting HIV-competent churches, which called for churches to develop the institutional and theological capacity as well as leadership and resources to respond to the pandemic. For the church to respond more creatively and comprehensively to the HIV and AIDS global pandemic is to become an ‘HIV and AIDS competent’ denomination.
Highlights of the report
- Current status of the pandemic, including a section on global sex trafficking.
- Marginalizing social forces/root causes
- The dynamics of power and the persistence of HIV and AIDS
- Becoming an HIV and AIDS competent church
The call of this report is for PC(USA) to become an HIV and AIDS competent denomination and address the systemic problems that exacerbates the spread of HIV and AIDS.
AIDS Matters — Responding to AIDS Worldwide
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