Church Leaders to Mobilize Against AIDS at African Summit

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 9, 2004 — The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) is mobilizing 140 influential religious leaders, representing 39 African countries and 120 million Christians, to design an AIDS prevention strategy for their churches. This significant summit is supported by nonprofit organizations, including Population Services International (PSI) known for its application of social marketing to HIV/AIDS and other health problems.

The historic collaboration between AACC and PSI, one of the nonprofit organizations sponsoring the summit, focuses on the training of clergy to address stigma, care of people living with HIV/AIDS and to develop strategies for promoting abstinence, fidelity and fighting cross-generational sex. The U.S. Agency for International Development is partially funding the summit.

"This is the first time this many heads of protestant denominations have gathered to develop a strategic plan to address HIV/AIDS in Africa. Many conferences have been held on the subject, but not at the same level of church leadership. PSI can be proud of accompanying AACC in the process of organizing such an event, which I believe will have lasting effects on the way African churches address HIV/AIDS," said Bishop Mvume Dandala, the General Secretary of the AACC.

Through facilitated training and discussion, the leaders are renewing their moral and spiritual commitment to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS. PSI, with over three decades of experience in social marketing and a history of working with religious organization, is participating in facilitating summit delegates with the tools and strategies to strengthen their existing HIV/AIDS programs and develop comprehensive and sustainable HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs within the dictates of their religious doctrines.

"The AACC and its partners recognize that the struggle against HIV/AIDS is not only a physical, social and economic struggle, but also involves spiritual warfare that demands a non-judgmental, spiritual response," states Bishop Dandala.
Addressing the church leaders in a plenary session on Wednesday, Dr. Pauline Muchina, PSI's faith-based organizations coordinator, called on the leaders to be role models in the struggle against cross-generational sex, a phenomenon that is fueling the spread of HIV in Africa, to bring their churches together in a united front against AIDS. She promised them that PSI would give them the support they need to address the AIDS crisis in a serious and sustained manner.

"PSI has an incredible opportunity to support the African church response to HIV/AIDS, and my prayer is that we will prevail against this epidemic and do it in a way that brings glory to God," said Dr. Muchina.
The summit program is based on theological and liturgical foundations, supported by research evidence and facilitated by respected theological and HIV/AIDS experts.

Summit sessions include "Understanding Human Sexuality," "The Elimination of Stigma" and "Facing the Facts of HIV/AIDS" and address subjects such as the vulnerability of young women and how poverty affects the spread of HIV.

"The church has HIV/AIDS. The church, being the body of Christ, accepts that when its members are infected, the entire body of Christ is infected and affected, hence the need to transform the church into a living community of hope, healing and action," said Dr. Oduyoye.

PSI and the AACC began a partnership last year when PSI held workshops with female church leaders and youth at the AACC 8th General Assembly in Douala, Cameroon. Later this year, PSI will support AACC in facilitating regional workshops for AACC member churches leaders, continuing to facilitate discussion and action in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

PSI has a history of enlisting religious leaders and groups in its HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, including Buddhist monks in Southeast Asia, Muslim imams in West Africa and Christian leaders in eastern and southern Africa.

The Heads of Denominations Summit began in Nairobi on June 7 and continues until June 12.

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