Episcopal Press and News
AIDS Awareness Increasing
Episcopal News Service. October 20, 1988 [88221]
NEW YORK (DPS, Oct. 20) -- As the dioceses and congregations of the Episcopal Church across the country prepare to join with the Presiding Bishop on November 13 in the Third National Day of Prayer for Persons Living with AIDS and Those Who Minister with Them, it is important to consider the ways in which many groups and individuals across the Church are already engaged in active AIDS ministries. In many ways, the General Convention resolution lifting up the ministries of those who care for persons living with AIDS underscored what was already being done.
One vital aspect of fighting the spread of AIDS is education. People within -- and outside -- the Church need to understand the disease so that they are better able to fight it on all levels. To this end, the Diocese of Southern Ohio, for instance, has purchased an AIDS curriculum -- called "A Curriculum for the Church: AIDS" -- that will be given, free of charge, to every parish in the diocese. The basic curriculum, which was approved by the Surgeon General's office, will be supplemented by material supplied by the diocesan AIDS task force.
The Diocese of Southern Ohio, however, has seen, since first acquiring the curriculum, the need for it to be handled sensitively and effectively. Each parish in the diocese has been encouraged to send two to four members to training seminars on its use. The first seminar was held in February 1988. More recently, on October 15, another training seminar was held at Procter Conference Center in Midway, Ohio. Among those attending were both first timers and people who had attended the February sessions and felt they needed a refresher course.
Those parish representatives who attended the October training session were first offered guidelines and suggestions for using the curriculum. Then they were given an AIDS update from a staff member of the Ohio Department of Health. Small group sessions followed, which focused on how to talk about AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the Church, including information on interpreting AIDS theologically.
The Diocese of Virginia is also actively involved in AIDS ministry. The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, Bishop of Virginia, recently announced the establishment of the Medication Fund, for uninsured and underinsured person's living with AIDS. The Fund was started in the summer of 1988 with seed money from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond; each donated $2,500. It is administered by the Richmond AIDS Ministry, a recently established, interfaith organization based at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond. Stephen L. Williams, a person living with AIDS, coordinates the work of the Ministry.
The first major project of the Richmond AIDS Ministry was a conference -- "AIDS: The Compassionate Response" -- held at St. Paul's on September 24. The purpose of the conference was to coordinate the resources and efforts of area churches and synagogues in ministering to those living with AIDS. Bishop Lee's announcement of the new Medication Fund came at the end of the conference.
The first project of the Medication Fund will be the Inhalant Pentamidine Treatment Program offered in collaboration with Richmond Pulmonary Associates, the Medical College of Virginia, and the Virginia Home Respiratory Care Organization, which will administer the treatment at cost.
The Diocese of Virginia's involvement in AIDS ministry also includes the largest grant ever made by a single diocese or denomination to AIDS ministry. A $50,000 grant from the diocese's Mission Development Service helped the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM) start in 1987. NOVAM, based at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Alexandria, provides pastoral counseling, financial assistance, a speakers' bureau, a telephone helpline, direct, practical assistance, and interfaith services of healing and reconciliation.
AIDS education programs have also been developed and run by the diocesan Commission on AIDS Ministry. The Commission has recently produced a videotape and study guide for young people of high school and college age. The video and guide are available free to parishes and groups within the diocese, and to others, at cost ($28.00). The Commission plans subsequent educational videos on AIDS for adult groups and children's groups.
Fortunately, these programs in Southern Ohio and Virginia represent only the tip of the iceberg. The Church is entering into an active and committed response to the human problems raised by the AIDS crisis at all levels. On the November 13 day of prayer, it seems fitting that the Church should pause, think, remember -- and then move on in its ministry of helping and healing.