Episcopal Press and News

Search the Episcopal Press and News

Year

All 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962

Enter search query

Chicago's Religious Leaders Join in Prayer for People Living with HIV/AIDS

Episcopal News Service. October 27, 1994 [94176]

Maria Kantzavelos

Religious leaders representing four major Christian communities in the Chicago area came together recently for a common cause -- to pray for those living with HIV/AIDS.

The October 9 evening prayer service, held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, marked the third time the Episcopal, Greek Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches united in addressing the issue.

Each of the four churches independently provides ministry to people living with HIV/AIDS. However, the evening service is a time when members of those churches join in an "Ecumenical Day of Prayer for People Living with HIV/AIDS."

"It's very important that all of us together show our concern for those suffering with HIV/AIDS because it affects the whole metropolitan area," said Bishop Timothy J. Lyne, Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Chicago. "Compassion is our mission."

Because they share a common liturgical heritage, the service was a blend of hymns and prayers from all four traditions.

A growing diversity

Coordinator Joe Murray said that not only has attendance grown in numbers, but it has also grown in diversity. "We saw kids here today, and families," Murray said. "You see how HIV/AIDS hits the general public." According to the Center for Disease Control, as of December 31, 1993, there have been 9,797 cases of AIDS reported in the Chicago area.

Greek Orthodox Bishop Iakovos of Chicago spoke publicly for the first time on the issue of AIDS. He urged all Christians to be compassionate toward individuals and families affected by the disease.

"This gathering today is evidence of a divided Christendom struggling to unite in the doing of God's will," Iakovos said in his homily. "The church, as the body of Christ, is the place of comfort and support," he added. "It is a place of renewal, a place where a person is accepted for who they are and especially in this case, for the burdens they are carrying."

Stephen Montgomery, an Episcopalian who was on the planning committee and is a member of the diocesan task force, agreed that the service provides the four communities with a sense of unity. "AIDS can cut through the tensions that separate our denominations," he said. "We're working together because of AIDS."

Praying together for miracles

Bishop Sherman Hicks, Lutheran bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, said the ecumenical service provides a sign to those struggling with the disease, and to the society at large. "It shows a sign of unity, which our world desperately needs," Hicks said.

"As Christians we do believe in miracles. It's important for us to come together and pray for miracles," Hicks said, adding that the event proves that people living with HIV/AIDS are not shunned from the church, and that their situations are not ignored. "It takes that which has been marginalized and brings it to the center," Hicks said. "This is not something that is on the periphery, it's at the center."