Anglican Communion News Service

All African Anglican Conference on HIV/AIDS

by J M Rosenthal

[ACNS, Johannesburg, SA] On the first day of the All Africa Anglican Aids Workshop, the host, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, urged delegates to the meeting to be a church that "saved souls and saved lives as well".

Every Anglican Province of the Anglican Communion on the continent of Africa is represented by bishops, clergy and laity, all who active in their ministry and concern for people living with HIV/AIDS in their own locale.

The Revd Canon John L. Peterson, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, addressed the assembly rehearsing the genesis of this meeting during the Primates Meeting in the United States in March 2001. Canon Peterson said, "We come to challenge ourselves, our societies, our governments, we challenge of all these to a commitment of action." He called on Anglicans "to move ahead" in the work to serve those infected and affected by AIDS and for the delegates "to carry the torch" for this work in the days ahead.

Bringing greetings from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop at Lambeth, the Rt Revd Richard Llewellin, spoke of Archbishop Carey's own initiative in Great Britain in planning to call together a workshop, using the African model, at Lambeth Palace in November for the United Kingdom.

Delegates met in regional groups, with guests from Cuba, Philippines, Hong Kong and other parts of the Communion, invited to join them. Partners, sponsors, donors, and aid agencies, including many faith-based groups, met together as well, seeking a way forward in offering assistance to the churches in their response to the AIDS crisis. Their findings stressed needs for financial, personnel, communication, resourcing. Some of the groups spoke of the church's need to be more open in dealing with HIV/AIDS as well as the complexity of human sexuality.

Archbishop Ndungane responded to the "Partners" groups' reporting back by saying how he appreciated the amount of work and understanding accomplished by the group in a matter of a few hours. The archbishop said that the reports showed a sense of "reality" of the situation, with "realism as a cornerstone for the work ahead". He also quoted one report that called the gathering as one of "hope reborn". He spoke of the interdependence that was needed to set a strategy for the future and that this meeting was the "beginning of a conversation where we recognise the magnitude of the problem". He said that FBO's had "an enhanced doctrine of humanity" and respect for life and the dignity of all people.

Speaking of the problem of denial surrounding matters such as HIV AIDS, Archbishop Ndungane said that it is often the result of "church leaders simply not knowing what to do". He asked the partners to help them "get a handle" on the situation and to help eradicate the sense of "stigma" associated with AIDS. Some of the "Partners" include Christian AID, UK, Episcopal Relief and Development (USA), the Mothers Union, The Compass Rose Society, UNAIDS, Tearfund, Africa Alive, LoveLife, USPG, World Bank and the Anglican Church of Canada.

The workshop members welcomed Deputy President Jacob Zuma of South Africa who met individual delegates from around Africa and spoke with praise for the unique witness of the Anglican Church in matters of compassion and justice. He called on Anglicans to help other religious organisations "move forward" in the response to HIV AIDS. He spoke of the government educational programme entitled ABC, abstinence, being faithful and using condoms. (Speech to be posted on ACNS).

The evening session included the sharing of stories by delegates. Workshops set for day two will focus on orphans, youth, death and dying and women.

Prior to the formal beginning of the conference some delegates visited churches in the community. On Sunday morning, the Revd Carlos Tamayo, from the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba, an observer to the AIDS workshop, visited St James Anglican Church, Soweto. During the incense-filled and lively music setting that made for a powerful celebration of the Mass, Fr Tamayo was asked by Parish priest Charles May to bless each of the Sunday School children. Offering the blessing in Spanish, about 200 came forward to be blessed.