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Writeshop on CCA HIV PolicyChristian Conference of Asia Writeshop on HIV and AIDS Policy Hotel Dhyana Pura Beach Resort Seminyak, Depasar, Bali, Indonesia August 5-6, 2009
Introduction Note to the Readers of this Document: This is not yet the Official CCA Policy on HIV and AIDS A Special Committee was suggested to prepare this proposed document. Resource persons were invited to give a background on Building HIV Competent Churches and cite examples on Churches Ministry on HIV and AIDS, Understand the Gap between theology and practice, between reality and practice, and learn lessons. The Final Outcome of the Writeshop was documented for further study especially by the General Committee who will meet in Bangkok on 29 September to 2 October 2009 to approve the document for use of Member Churches and Councils of Churches.
PROPOSED CCA POLICY DOCUMENT ON HIV AND AIDS FOR CHURCHES (For action of the General Committee Members, General Committee Meeting, Bangkok, 29 September to 2 October 2009)
PREAMBLE
The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) seeks to act from deep spirituality and theology: loving others as oneself (John 13: 34-35); serving the least of our brothers and sisters (Matthew 25: 31-40); seeing the whole community as part of one body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12;12); nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Romans 8: 35); Jesus came that we may have life in all its fullness (John 10: 10). Jesus also clearly mentioned the 'other sheep' in John 10:16a and the Church needs to look into the response to these people of God as well.
This policy is built on the Christian principles of peace-making, healing and reconciliation, and aims to equip churches in Asia to be 'HIV competent'. CCA acts as a facilitating agent for dialogue and action on common concerns and for the breaking down of barriers that separate and cause division between peoples. . As a common problem, HIV and AIDS is breaking down barriers and enabling various faith communities to come together to find solutions.
Many Asian countries have witnessed the slowing down and reversing of the HIV epidemics among specific populations, for example, children. CCA commits to the prevention of new HIV infections. CCA also commits to slowing down existing epidemics and preventing new epidemics. Christian attitudes and teachings have contributed to stigma and discrimination and we acknowledge that we are part of the problem for a long time. Therefore, CCA commits to removing stigma and discrimination, to empowering individuals, families and communities who are living with HIV to gain access to effective treatment, care and support.
National and ethnic cultures have a strong influence on the practice of Christianity in Asia. The powerful action of Asian cultures often supports harmonious and rich relationships involving Christian individuals and communities. Our cultures also present us with many serious challenges as we reach 'in' to our own Christian communities to mobilize ourselves as best we can to deal with HIV. Theological reflection, scientific inquiry and public opinion all make competing claims on our responses to HIV. HIV competent churches are those which can assess their own capabilities, and which can discern which elements of their local epidemics they will directly engage or not engage.
The following policy is based upon the CCA's Pastoral Guidelines on HIV and AIDS
1. Vision
The active response to HIV and AIDS cuts across fair and respectful relationships, human sexuality, gender justice, human rights and universal access. The ministries of the Churches need to address vulnerable children, orphan children, elderly, young people, women, men and key affected populations.
CCA is called to:
1.1 deepen the theology and spirituality of HIV and AIDS and reflect this into the pastoral life of the Church; 1.2 assert the roles and rights of affected people in the Church and in its work; 1.3 integrate prevention, treatment, care and support; 1.4 conduct lobby and advocacy for people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS; and 1.5 ensure stewardship of time, finances and resources in the area of HIV and AIDS.
2. Spiritual and Pastoral life of the Church
2.1 HIV and AIDS challenge us to break down barriers between 'us' and 'them' and our judgment that leads to stigmatization, discrimination and the violation of human rights. 2.2 There is a need to examine the liturgical rites in churches, such as the practice of baptism, Eucharist, and funerals to ensure fuller participation of people living with HIV and AIDS in the life of the church 2.3 The active participation of people living with HIV and AIDS in the life of the congregation will enrich our spiritual experience and bridge the gap between our religious teachings and the realities on the ground.
· We will promote HIV- and AIDS-competent Churches in Asia by: o preaching and teaching non-judgmental messages about HIV and AIDS in our Sunday Schools, worship, various lay-led fellowship meetings and Bible Studies; o conducting community outreach programs, designate special times of healing and prayers; o learning from the experiences of positive people and those affected, and inviting them as full participants in preventing the HIV transmission; o celebrating World AIDS Day every December 1st and AIDS Sunday on the nearest Sunday following o equipping pupils and students in Church-related and owned institutions, and in seminaries and other formation centres with knowledge, skills, attitudes that will actualize our roles as a healing and reconciling community.
3 Prevention
CCA calls on Member Churches and National Councils to address the prevention of HIV in a holistic manner including encouraging discussion on, and understanding of: · the social factors that can make us vulnerable to HIV, including how these affect members of our congregations; · cultural practices within our society that enhance our vulnerability; · issues such as domestic violence, incest, substance addictions that are often not discussed openly; · the sacredness of sex and relationships that emphasize mutual respect and honesty within families; · scientifically proven and evidence-informed methods of prevention e.g. condoms; and · new and alternative methods of prevention.
4 Treatment, Care and Support
· We commit to enhance access to treatment for all, and those in substance addictions, through efforts such as treatment literacy, awareness workshops, promotion of voluntary confidential counseling and testing (VCCT) dispensing of medicines, treatment of Opportunistic Infections (OIs), Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART), and post exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
· This includes actively helping individuals to access services that are available from providers other than the Church. · We will promote scientifically proven methods of care and support as a special ministry of the Church, following the principles of non-discrimination and de-stigmatization, as well as support those looking for alternative treatment and supportive measures.
We will promote policies and dialogue that enhance the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV and AIDS.
· Within our organizations, we will seek to create an environment that empowers people living with HIV and AIDS to communicate with their family and community and openly share their HIV status and co-workers, in order to bear witness and to encourage others to do so.
· We will promote the adoption of policies and practices that protect confidentiality and enable openness between Churches and people living with HIV and AIDS.
5 Advocacy and Collaboration
We will advocate for and with people living with HIV and AIDS:
· to bring about greater awareness of the global HIV and AIDS situation and its root causes; · to ensure dignity and rights of affected persons, especially to access adequate health care (universal access), education and employment; · to obtain treatment (medications and laboratory tests) and to ensure access to the full range of education, counseling, voluntary HIV testing and care; · to allocate adequate resources and provide programs that serve to decrease the incidence and impact of HIV and AIDS in the region; · to reduce costs of treatment. · to form partnerships as required: ecumenical, other faiths, other people living with HIV and AIDS networks, civil society, business and government; · to work with political and other leadership to introduce legislation as appropriate · to have more understanding of the scientific findings and reconciling basis of our faith on issues such as human sexuality
6 Gender Justice
Gender inequality is at the centre of gender-based violence which is a pervasive public health and human rights issue worldwide. Gender-based violence includes domestic violence against women, exploitation of children (child labor, sexual abuse, incest, child marriages), prostitution, human trafficking and unfavorable cultural practices ( polygamy, female genital circumcision and cleansing rituals). All these increase the risk of HIV infection.
Therefore:
· We will uphold the ideals of public-spiritedness, social service, family values and traditions that enhance relations and respectful communication with each other. · We encourage fidelity and the fruit of the spirit, viz: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control." (Galatians 5: 22-23) · We will promote fairness and respect in relations between women and men, boys and girls in society and in the Church, encouraging more equal status, levels of responsibility, access to resources and share in decision-making. · We will promote discussion on cultural, traditional and our own religious practices which undermine such fairness and respect.
7. Human Sexuality
One of the challenges for what the Churches can do is to seek to understand more fully the gifts of human sexuality in the contexts of personal responsibility, relationship, family and Christian faith. We can no longer ignore the importance of discussing this gift of God in Churches. We can draw some wisdom from the findings of the research of scientific communities on the different forms of sexual practices. We need to uphold mutual respect in all forms of relationships.
8. Stewardship of Time Finances and Resources
To ensure that HIV and AIDS is addressed in the Asian region, CCA is expected to identify staff persons mandated to follow through on HIV and AIDS, and will work with Member Churches and National Councils to do the same. Available structures should be maximally utilized and time provided. CCA will have mechanisms that ensure accountability to the people we serve, and those from whom funds are received.
CCA calls upon Member Churches and National Councils to discuss and disseminate this policy in all official decision making bodies and to encourage concrete action and implementation at all levels. Participants
Special Committee Members Ms. Manju Baroi, Member of Presidium, Christian Conference of Asia (National Council of Churches Bangladesh) Dr. Prawate Khid-arn, General Secretary, Christian Conference of Asia Mr. Kingphet Thammavong, Coordinator of Tribal Ministry, Lao Evangelical Church, representing Rev. Dr. Khamphone Kounthapanya (Lao Evangelical Church) Ms. Elijah Fung, representing Rt. Rev. Thomas Soo Yee Po (Anglican Church) Fr. Philip Kuruvilla, representing Ms. Susan Jacob (Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church) Ms. Dominica Faurillo, Ecumenical Accompanier, Women Ecumenical Accompaniment of Vision and Empowerment (WEAVE), Program of Ecumenical Formation, Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment (EGY), East Timor
Resource Persons Mr. Caesar D'Mello, Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism Foundation (ECOT) based in Chiang Mai Dr. Alphinus Kambodji, Coordinator, Anti AIDS Program, United Evangelical Mission based in Jakarta Rev. Sanan Wutti, Director, The Church of Christ in Thailand AIDS Ministry (CAM), Chiang Mai, Thailand Mr. Surachart Suchakam, Community of Anonymous Screening, Coordinator, Thai Red Cross, Chiang Mai, Thailand Ms. Jutatip Dechabon, Computer Graphic Designer, New Life Friends Center, Chiang Mai, Thailand Ms. Arlyn D'Mello, Anthropologist, Melbourne Mr. Greg Manning, Micah Network and representing the World Evangelical Alliance, Brisbane, Australia Mr. Calle Almedal, Consultant on HIV Competent Churches, World Council of Churches Bishop Drs Wayan Sudira Husada, Protestant Christian Church in Bali Rev. Made Priana, General Secretary, Protestant Christian Church in Bali, Member, Central Committee, World Council of Churches Dr. Made Nyandra, Protestant Christian Church in Bali, Psychiatrist, Public Hospital and Counselor, VCT Merpati Clinic Rev. Nengah Suama, MTh, Maha Borga Marga (MBM), Protestant Christian Church in Bali Rev. Gomar Gultom, Coordinator, Diakonia, Communion of Churches in Indonesia
Observers Rev. Fr. Desmond Cox, Anglican Church, Hong Kong Rev. Max Sujardinata, Bukit Doa International Church, Protestant Christian Church in Bali Dr. Asavari Herwadkar, Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS (AINA), Indian Interfaith Network on AIDS (IICA) Secretariat Mr. Ekapong Fongmoon, Secretary, AINA CCA Consultant on HIV and AIDS Dr. Erlinda N. Senturias
Welcome Address – Bishop Wayan Sudira Husada
Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ. In this special occasion, I would like to welcome you all the participant of the CCA's Writeshop on the HIV and AIDS Policy. It is really a great privilege for us The Protestant Christian Church in Bali that you have chosen Dhyana Pura Hotel, which is one of our facilities to hold this important event.
The Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which has been spreading rapidly since the turn of the twenty-first century is not only the problem of the church but it is the problem of all people in world. The latest statistics compiled by UNAIDS suggest that at the end of 2007, 5 million people were living with HIV in Asia. This data makes us aware that HIV and AIDS has threatened the life of human beings on the earth. The disease has become a pandemic which frightened people in this world.
The Church as the Body of Christ and also as a fellowship of the people who believe in Jesus Christ and all at once as part of the community where they grow should be more active in collective involvement to combat the deadly virus by doing prevention, treatment, care and support of people living with HIV and AIDS. But in fact many Churches in Asia and also many parts in this world do not see the point in engaging with the HIV and AIDS issue. In this matter, we have to be fully aware that local churches have a very important role to be played because the pandemic occur on the grassroots level. From a note given by HIV/AIDS volunteer, there are many church members who are living or affected with HIV/AIDS but ironically it is not realized by the church. On the other hand, church members who are living or affected with HIV/AIDS feel unsafe to share their HIV status with others in order to avoid being marginalized.
The Protestant Christian Church in Bali as part of ecumenical churches both in national and international level through the Maha Borga Marga (MBM) Foundation has started to act and continue to actively involve in the collective movement to combat the HIV and AIDS by working together with social institutions and Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) through seminars, workshop and even direct clinical treatment.
The biggest challenge of Churches in Indonesia and Asia is to coordinate collective strategy/policy integrating HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support of people living with HIV and AIDS with the church's healing and reconciling ministry. The collective strategy/policy will lead churches to ecumenical movement either in theological or ethical levels in combating the deadly virus. The similarity of churches' theological and ethical viewpoints will extremely determine the HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. In this matter, the collective strategy/policy should be centered around Jesus' ministry as the good Shepherd who is willing to guide, support, reconcile, forgive, take care and also to heal. Those basic of ministry should proportionally be spelled out in the collective strategy/policy either in regional, national as well as in local levels and they should be implemented in a holistic manner in the local churches. By referring to Christ's love as a center of HIV and AIDS ministry, the congregation would be able to become as a healing and reconciling community that will capacitate the Church to embody peace and happiness through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Based on the many important reasons that I have mentioned just now, the Protestant Christian Church in Bali gives a high appreciation to this meeting. We do hope this writeshop would be able to produce a concrete formulation on collective strategy on the prevention, treatment, care and support of people living with HIV and AIDS in order that churches would be able to witness Christ's love among the community.
In God's care I do believe that all participants would stay healthy to join the meeting until it is finished and I wish you the best for the outcome of the meeting for the sake of God's glory in Asia and around the world. Please forward our greeting to members of your churches. May God bless you always.
Opening Worship Service (Prepared by Rev. Made Priana, General Secretary of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali)
Notes on the Reflection by Rev. Made Priana
Human existence is only possible in relationship with God to fellow human beings, world and all of creation. God who came into this world through Jesus Christ wish that we live in peace and not perish and that we fulfill and reach the vision of God agape loves. The way God loves the world is different to the way people love neighbors. God's agape love extends to all of us sinners. Generally, people's love of neighbors is 'egoistic' love. We love the rich in the hope that one day the rich would love us. We close our eyes to the poor and the marginalized. We thank God that we are called to be Church and that we belong to God. We are sent to the world to proclaim God's love. Jesus' commanded us to love our neighbors not in 'partial' or 'egoistic' love but agape love.
We thought that people living with HIV do not deserve to be loved because they are sinners. We are scared to show our love for people living with HIV because other people may think we also have HIV. This is not agape love. We ask forgiveness from God and we ask God to give us strength to walk in Jesus way.
The Maha Borga Marga* (MBM) of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali is a foundation that provides care and support to more than ten people living with HIV. One lady became aware of Jesus and understood real life in Christ's way. In John 9, Jesus said that the illness was not because of the blind man's parents but that the work of God may be displayed. It is easy to blame the people living with HIV. But when we blame, we will not solve the problem. Jesus does not want us to make problems on top of the problem but to see the grace of God beyond any problems.
God bless our endeavor and that CCA will be blessed with good policy. We need to be caring communities and realize that the Church is not the building but the people. God's grace is sufficient for everyone.
*Maha Borga Marga means the way to prosperity
HIV and AIDS in Bali (Dr. Made Nyandra)
Statistics at the VCT Merpati Clinic shows a rising trend in People living with HIV
Medical Problems of People Living HIV and AIDS - Long incubation period - Silent killer - Snow ball effect - ARV Compliance of the patient and available stock of ARV Social Problems of People living with HIV and AIDS - Stigma and discrimination Dilemma – If the husband is HIV+, should we tell the wife about the status or no? If the test is negative – conduct prevention education If the test is positive – conduct preventive, curative, and rehabilitative procedures
One of the causes of HIV in Bali is addiction to narcotic drugs.
We need to open our eyes to this fact. But there no disease that cannot be healed by love and Jesus demonstrated that by having love, He healed many both physically and spiritually. We need not only to work with PLHIV+ but work with them. God uses PLHIV+.
Keynote Address Calle Almedal, Consultant to WCC Developing an HIV Policy for Christian Conference of Asia – Building HIV Competent Churches Good morning, As Manoj Kurian was unable to come to Bali in time I was asked to make the key note address. I do not replace Manoj, because he is irreplaceable. I do not represent Manoj, because he has not given me the mandate to do so. I do not stand in for Manoj, because he has not given me a speech to read. So I am here instead of Manoj. This means that this session will be somewhat different from what you might have expected. My style is sometimes confrontational; rest assured that I try to provoke thoughts and not people. Should someone feel personally provoked and hurt, please accept my excuses on forehand – it is not my intention to provoke anything but thoughts.
Before I go on: do you all know each other? Please stand up and greet briefly the people around you and introduce yourself, but very fast as we have short time.
Now when that is done; here is how I plan this session.
HIV competent churches need to work on out-reach as well on in-reach. The outreach is in most cases very well done, churches care for orphans, people with HIV, IV drug user and struggle with prevention and so on.
With the in-reach I think we have a somewhat long way to go. In-reach is really to see if we as churches think and do in ways that assure us that the out-reach is coherent with how we are, should be and live as churches and individuals in them.
I will address some problem areas shortly and then ask you to briefly discuss one, or more, connected questions in small groups, where you are seated. The group should not be bigger than six people. And please do not stand up and walk around, we have little time. When time is up I will ask if someone wants to say something, a comment, not a question, we will save them for the end time permits.
The reason I send out questions in this way is that at one stage or another, the right answers will come back, in one form or another. Thus I would appreciate it if you bring them home and raise them in your communities.
Now, some time ago I watched a video, filmed in la Grand Chartreuse, where a community of hermits live, isolated and in silence. They have almost no contact with the world around them, and they rarely speak, even to each other. The prior of that community of hermits said on this video: "Every morning when I wake up, I remind myself about the fact that I am a sinner."
The fact that we all are sinners, underpins my trail of thoughts in this session.
The first problem area I would like to address is lack of time. This is a bit new to me so the trail of thoughts are a bit raw and I am not sure I know where to go with it, and hope you might be able to help.
In my previous job I tried to engage churches leaders in HIV related issues, and the thought of how they manage their time came to me at a meeting with the 28 most prominent church leaders in Norway. During a whole evening I tried to get them to understand that they needed to engage in HIV related issues. All but one said "I do not have time to take on another issue."
Millions of people already having HIV, one person getting infected every 9th minutes and our leaders do not have time…
There is a strand of theology called Stewardship theology. This theology argues, as far as I have understood, that God created the world for us to manage and take care of. In this theology is also a mention of "stewardship of time" – all other places I have looked for anything theologically related to time I find things about kairós, which we might not recognize as we are all too busy with chronos, and time after life etc, even if I have a feeling that time is central in the bible. So central that "sloth", which can be interpreted, I think, as mismanagement of time, is a Capital Vice.
So my question is: how can we assist churches leaders who feel hat they have no time to work on HIV, to rearrange their agendas and help us with our work in this field.
The second problem area is money. Time is money and money can be time. I often hear churches saying that they do not have funds enough to work on HIV, so they go to bilateral donors, governments and the UN for money. Well, I think that there is an immense financial wealth in churches, and that there is a disconnect with the management of that wealth and the people who carry out activities, for example in the field of HIV. Let me give you some examples: · Some years ago a soldier from the Salvation Army asked UNAIDS for money for a very good project. The problem I had was that the year before, the Salvation Army in the US was the number one recipient of private donations in that country – that is millions of dollars. · The Nordic countries Lutheran churches own enormous amounts of money in houses, forests and land. · If I am rightly informed there is a conflict between the Catholic Church in the Philippines and the Anglican Church regarding a day mining somewhere in that country. The Catholics are against it because of ecological reasons, the Anglicans for it because of economical reasons - if I am correctly informed the Anglican Church earns some 86 million pounds a year on that mining project · A Jesuit friend of mine working in Africa was worried about funds for his work. I told him that his order might consider selling their House in Lyon in France, which is not a House but a whole block in the center of town. For that money he could run his project for at least 15 years. · I am sometimes hearing stories of the very wealth Evangelical pastors in the US owning their own jets to be transported with.
May I remind us all that "greed" is a Capital Vice
So, how can we make the connect between the obvious financial wealth of many Churches and our activities in the field of HIV? Now the third problem area can be very provoking, but before I come to it, I would like to tell you that some years ago I took part in a Muslim HIV Conference in Johannesburg. This is one of the best Conferences I have ever attended, partly because each session was addressed by a person with HIV, a person carrying out a project and a Scholar. But also because of this: The evening before the closure of the Conference a young Jordanian Muslim stood up and said: "I am a Muslim and I am gay. You all scare me. The words you use to describe me as a gay man humiliates me. I find no compassion in you towards me. I belong to the same religion of love and compassion as you, but I am deeply afraid of you all" There was a shocked silence. Then some women started to applaud, and then the men joined in. The day after a Scholar took the floor and told that all Scholars had met the night before; they all asked the young man for forgiveness for what they had said and thanked him for his courage. Churches of all creeds tend to say about MSM: "we love them, but we hate their sinful life " I just thought, the other day when contemplating the Cardinal Vices, that it would be interesting to hear the Pope say to all the people in the Catholic Church eating too much, clergy included, "The Church loves you as gluttons, but hates your sinful eating, repent, go on a 800 Kcal diet a day and your sin will be absolved just before you die." Back to Stewardship of time; if we use so much time on concentrating on a minority sexuality how are we going to be able to address the all problems of the majority sexuality, which we need to do to be, credible, righteous, humble and above all very honest. And remember, this is in-reach. Let me give you some examples: · 15 or 20 years ago a Swedish sociologist looked at domestic violence in relation to the husband's occupation, what work he did for a living. The number one group of men beating their wives in this research was pastors and priests. · An African Bishop proudly showed me the special stick he has to beat his wife. · A WHO report states that "studies conducted by various NGOs and institutions in 1995 and 1997 in Delhi reveled that more than half the girls have experienced sexual abuse by a family member and 76% of women in 5 cities India admitted having been sexually abused as a child" · One study in Los Angeles showed that 27% of the women and 16% of the men had been sexually abused as children. · The Population Reference Bureau states that 18% of women in Cambodia are victims of domestic violence. · In Violence Against Women, Holly Johnson report that of the 6677 thousand interviewed women in Australia, 48% were victims of physical violence, 34 % of sexual violence and 29 % of childhood violence. Now, churches are part of societies, so those figures are probably the same in churches, even I must add, that it is extremely difficult to get reliable figures on domestic violence, especially sexual one, including incest. So above figures are meant to illustrate problems that we really do not deal with. However, I strongly suggest you to read the WHO Report on "Women's health and domestic violence" of 2005, on the WHO website under "gender violence". My questions are: would it not be more honest and correct, and in line with Jesus' teaching on throwing stones, if we, in a non judgmental way, discuss problems related to majority sexuality before we start pointing fingers to minority sexualities? Do we really have time to argue about MSM and other sexualities, when there seemingly is so much to do in heterosexuality?
The fourth problem area is perhaps in a way trying to sum up the first three ones, based on HIV competence, looking forward to the policy that you all will adapt in a visionary way.
AUSAID states that "HIV and STI epidemics among MSM in Asia are being driven by high numbers of concurrent male and female sex partners and low rates of consistent condom use. Cross-sectional studies repeated over time have shown the potential for HIV epidemics among MSM to increase rapidly and in some places to hyper epidemic levels. Unless effective prevention measures are intensified it is estimated that by 2020 around 46 percent of new infections in Asia will be among MSM, up from 13 percent in 2008." I presume that a faire share of the rest will be amongst IVDU, and a smaller part amongst the heterosexual population.
In September 1986 the WCC Executive Committee met in Iceland and made a two page visionary and perhaps prophetic statement. At the end of that statement The Executive Committee says that "many Christians have been quick to judge and condemn many of the people who have fallen prey to the disease; and that through their silence, many churches share responsibility for the fear that has swept our world more quickly than the virus itself."
My question now might be too complex to answer in a short time; perhaps two days are not enough. But with problems managing time and other pressing issues than HIV, with a short-come of funding, with, in many cases, churches history of aversion to deal with any sexual problems regarding majority sexuality and in many cases shunning the minority sexualities; how are churches in the region going to respond?
HIV competence is a process and there is no endpoint to it. It evolves all the time. Thus some churches might go through a process of looking into the themes we have discussed to day, and many more, and compare with the churches' own capacity and capability, both present and possibly to change. Some churches might come to the conclusion that their involvement in HIV will be limited, or none at all, which is honorable as long as there is a reasoning behind, and not just adversity and fear.
Some churches might go through the same process and feel that they indeed do want to work with HIV, or expand their work, but that they lack certain skills and competencies and consequently need to reach out for help in some areas. This too is honorable.
And again, some churches I know of in Pakistan, in Mumbai, In Bangkok and some churches I do not know about; will go through the same process and say, we are already doing this, we are ready to be examples for any church wanting to learn. This too is honorable and also charitable.
To end this session, I hope that we all, with all our sinful shortcomings, during the coming days will be inspired by the law of love, and not by love of the law. The first is Christian, the second is not. Inspired by the law of love, and not by love of the law. Sharing on Churches Ministries United Evangelical Mission Anti-AIDS Program Dr. Alphinus Kambodji, Coordinator
The program of the United Evangelical Mission on HIV and AIDS is aimed at increasing the commitment of church leaders on HIV and AIDS. It aims to reduce stigma and discrimination and to mainstream HIV in the churches regular program. The program called HOLISTIC – House Of Love for Information, Shelter, Treatment and Integrated Care aims at caring, empowering and supporting people living with HIV and AIDS. It offers Information, Education, Communication (IEC) and Advocacy, Medical care and Voluntary Counseling and Testing, Pastoral counseling and Spirituality. It further aims to increase the church leaders commitment to ethics, morality and theology, support and improve the capacity of churches to do monitoring and evaluation, increase services and technical assistance of workers, network with HIV organizations in Asia, develop interfaith collaboration through the INTERNA (Indonesia Interfaith Network on AIDS) formed in Surabaya in February 2007. In May 2007, religious leaders signed the statement on Call of Action. UEM conducts seminars and workshops on HIV and AIDS, Training of Trainers of Peer Educatos on HIV, body mapping, developed curriculum for theological seminaries, catechism materials for young people, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), Training on Universal Precaution for pastors, nurses, hospital workers even among those in public institutions, how to deal with AIDS issues among young people and families, increased access to treatment, celebrating World AIDS Day, developing Church AIDS Committees, provision of hotline services, home-based care and visitation, care of dead bodies. The outcome of the program is that churches are more responsible, more proactive in prevention, more engaged in pastoral counseling. Lessons learned are: 1) Saving lives takes precedence over debate on what is morally desirable. 2) Openness to all options that contributes to safety and improves survival and life 3) Overcoming HIV is interlinked with overcoming poverty 4) Gender and feminization of epidemics – how can we reach men? 5) HIV and Transnational pharmaceutical ART as a playing field of business enterprises 6) Church leaders powerful contribution to the challenge of HIV. We need the 3Cs to overcome HIV: Commitment, Compassion and Courage. Discussion On changing lifestyles and habits – knowledge does not automatically lead to behavior change. Reinforce safer lifestyles by telling people who are not exposed to unsafe practices that they are doing good. How do we deal with congregations who strongly believe that HIV is a result of sin or is related with sin? This is common. It is important to go and live with the people to know their context. Judgment belongs to God alone and in the end the question is how we have served the least of our brothers and sisters.
The Church of Christ in Thailand AIDS Ministry (CAM) Rev. Sanan Wutti, Director, CAM
My personal involvement on AIDS was a visit to a person living with HIV in 1986. Just like other concerned Christians, I learned about AIDS from the community. In 1991, we had a workshop for pastors. It was then that the AIDS ministry was founded by a group of Christian leaders deeply concerned about the growing AIDS epidemic in Thailand.
The Church of Christ in Thailand AIDS Ministry (CAM) was formally created as an ongoing part of the Church of Christ in Thailand in 1993 and has since expanded significantly across the country. We have eight staff members working from our office in Chiang Mai and across the country starting from Northern Thailand.
As a Christian-based organization, CAM works alongside people living with HIV and AIDS. As workers in CAM, we recognize the life changing nature of AIDS and the importance of meeting the needs of those living with this disease and its effects by actively living our Christian love, acceptance and mercy.
CAM intervenes in the AIDS crisis by helping HIV positive people, their affected families and communities. Two of those whom we have helped are now with us to give their testimonies. The work of CAM is done in friendship through giving moral support and educating people about AIDS, good health and community life. CAM takes a holistic approach to people in crisis, respecting their foundations in culture, faith, love and sharing as demonstrated by the actions of our loving God. We, God's people, stand up for those who struggle with AIDS and aim to foster God's calm heart of peace in their troubled lives. Goal For the church and community to unite and work together to promote quality of life, through physical, emotional, social and spiritual care, for people living with the effects of HIV and AIDS. CAM believes in the value of each individual life and dignity for each person as people made in the image of God. Objectives - To provide services and encouragement in the area of health, social care, and psychological and spiritual care for people living with HIV and AIDS and its effects. - To develop processes within the church and community groups to increase knowledge and acceptance about AIDS, in order to promote community care for people living with AIDS. - To develop the processes for prevention, protection and problem solving related to HIV/AIDS, in terms of lifestyle, sexuality and AIDS related problems. This is targeted to youth, men's and women's groups in the church and community. - To bring together and network between churches, religious institutions, government and non-government organizations, AIDS cluster groups in Thailand and overseas groups working in AIDS ministry. Target Groups - People who are HIV positive, people with AIDS and all people affected by the effects of AIDS - Minority and vulnerable groups (for example non-disclosed people with HIV, those with no formal ID and migrant workers) - Volunteers and AIDS workers within the church, community and other organizations for the training of trainers. Activities - Offering holistic care in clinics, peer groups, hospitals, and in direct home care and visitation. - Building community support for AIDS ministry, enabling community volunteers and other AIDS workers in the church, community and other organizations to work together through networking and facilitation. - Activities to promote prevention, protection and the on-going reduction of the effects of AIDS in all aspects of life. This includes education and training about AIDS, sex education and home care/self care related to the effects of AIDS - Promoting joint action networking and facilitating to promote quality of life, health and social support within community. Contact Details The CCT AIDS Ministry 1/100 Rattanakosin Rd. Amphur Muang Chiang Mai, Thailand 50000 Email <cam@chmai2,loxinfo.co.th Blog site – www.cctcam.blogspot.com
Testimonies Mr. Jo As a Buddhist, I subscribe to the doctrine of being aware to deal with the situation. I am a person living with HIV and was in the last stage of AIDS, when I was supported by The Church of Christ in Thailand AIDS Ministry (CAM). I experienced several opportunistic infections (OIs) like diarrhea, tuberculosis, pneumonia, toxoplasmosis and I became very weak and thin. Through the support of CAM, I regained my vitality and strength and I am now working as Coordinator of the Thai Red Cross Community of Anonymous Screening. I have developed skills in counseling and prevention of HIV and AIDS. Ms. Ann I was a Buddhist and got converted to Christianity through the work of The Church of Christ in Thailand after I discovered their genuine love and support for people living with HIV - like me. I have a skill on Computer Graphic Design. I used to work with an NGO but when the funding stopped, I became unemployed. I am now a volunteer for CAM. I praise God for my healing even if I continue to live with HIV.
One of the concerns raised by both Mr. Jo and Ms. Ann is the discrimination of people living with HIV in the workplace. Once the employers know of the positive status for HIV, they are denied work and this is not helping people living with HIV who need income to have good housing, good nutrition, and medicines for opportunistic infections and for antiretroviral medications. They called on Christians to meet with business people and companies to change their policies and also for the government to pass legislation that will not discriminate people living with HIV in all aspects of life. Discussion Does poverty lead to HIV and AIDS? While the UNAIDS had a research that poverty is not a direct cause for HIV, those of us in Asia still believes that poverty breeds illnesses like tuberculosis and increase the rise in the incidence of HIV and AIDS. There are many migrant workers looking for jobs elsewhere to support families. In Hong Kong, the St. John Cathedral (Anglican Church) runs an HIV Education Center and assists migrant workers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and from other countries in many aspects of their work in Hong Kong. The tourism industry is the fourth largest industry after oil, pharmaceutical and armaments. There are billions of trips in a year. Some travel for exotic experience. The Ecumenical Coalition to End Child Prostitution in Asia revealed that 20 per cent of tourism is sex tourism. There should be a tourism policy that acknowledges this link and consider ways to address this situation. Governments are scared to lose tourist as in the example of Sri Lanka. Asia is a tourist destination and tourism has an effect on the rise of HIV. Bali is an example of tourist paradise but in this area, the incidence of HIV is growing. Drug addiction especially those narcotic drugs that are administered by injection are also on the rise. Sharing of needles contribute to the rise in the incidence of HIV. The breakdown or lack of communication in families and the rise of narcotic trade in the Asian region luring especially the young people to take drugs have contributed to the increase of intravenous drug users and those that are orally administered to give a feeling of euphoria. Many countries in Asia are affected, notably Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, China and in some states in India like Manipur and Mizoram. Gender-based domestic violence, sexual abuse, incest are taboo subjects. Women suffer in silence and families keep this as secret because of shame and losing face in the community. Certain aspects of culture and other forms of practices contribute to the spread of HIV such as the way men are introduced to manhood by visiting brothels to learn about sex, temple prostitution and selling daughters in the sex trade business to earn money for the family. All of these social conditions of inequality and injustice need to be given attention in building HIV competent Churches. There is a need to integrate prevention, treatment, care and support in HIV programs and to ensure the access of ART for all people living with HIV and AIDS. Respect for human rights, recognition of the sacredness of sex and sexuality as God-given gifts, universal access and addressing all forms of gender-based injustices and violence are at the core of preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Rev. Sanan Wutti talked about John 10:16a (the other sheep, which is also part of Jesus' ministry) and used this as his way to beyond the usual responses among marginalized people in our society – the sexual minorities, intravenous drug users. Rev. Wutti's ministry has gone beyond the usual boundaries and according to the people he served, this earned him a lot of respect from many marginalized communities in Thailand. Judgments should be reserved to God and the question God will ask at the end of our life is found in Matthew 25. Questions raised were: How does your church work on cultural practices that can enhance the transmission of HIV? How can we break the silence of the church on sex and sexuality?
Group Work Group 1 This group discussed the theological perspective, prevention, responsibility and commitment towards HIV and AIDS. Ephesians 4 – as one body of Christ, we are all suffering. Some of us are infected. Some are affected. Everyone feels the pain. We are one in responding to the needs. Nobody can do anything alone. Everyone has a part. Matthew 25:40 – this verse reminds us that on judgment day, we will not be asked how many persons we baptized but on what we have done to the least of our brothers and sisters – food to the hungry, clothes to the naked, visitation of those in prison We need to prepare children and young people to have knowledge of human sexuality, marriage counseling, and pre-marital counseling. Examine our good and bad attitudes. We need to look at Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and sex workers with new eyes. We need to love and care for people unconditionally, regardless of status in life. Let us learn the deep meaning of spirituality. Let us urge pastors, church leaders to listen to the people. Group 2: Empower PLHIV+ to help find jobs and maintain a healthy environment. Churches should take an advocacy role with government and business. Religious organizations and business can cooperate in workplace including religious organizations to eliminate discrimination in the workplace. Develop communication skills within families, church organizations, workplace Suggestion: Churches in Thailand should develop an advocacy coalition and widely publicize it beyond the borders of Thailand and CCA sends full support to this advocacy. Churches should relate with the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Bangkok to change this workplace policy of discriminating PLHIV+. Relate with the International Coalition of Business on HIV and the Global Fund Coalition of Business in Thailand. "Be realistic. Ask for the Impossible."
Group 3 This group struggled to understand the Concept of Sin. Many Asian Christians believe that AIDS is a punishment of God. There is a need to deepen theology and spirituality to address this issue. There is a need to find an adequate framework to re-package our message. HIV spreads in ways that upsets us. In the open forum, it was suggested that greater theological collaboration among theological institutions to clarify conflicts in understanding the concept of sin is needed. CCA should organize theological consultation on this issue. Questions raised during the discussion were: How do we express our faiths within HIV epidemics defined by science and evidence? How can we promote sacred sex that is consensual and mutually agreeable? We need to build skills to talk about sex. Formulating HIV and AIDS Policy This document should contextually-based and should reflect deep spirituality and theology. It should facilitate dialogue or open discussions that break down barriers. It should help in building HIV competent churches. It should commit to empower PLHIV+ and gain access to treatment and promote human dignity and human rights. In writing the CCA HIV and AIDS policy, which will be proposed to the General Committee in September, the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, Dr. Prawate Khid-arn suggested that we read carefully the Pastoral Guidelines on HIV and AIDS and lift up the crucial points for the Asian Churches to address. The Special Committee called upon by the Executive Committee to prepare the document will then meet to create a draft document for the General Committee. The proposed document is now included for consideration of the General Committee members and can be found at the start of this report.
Documented by: Dr. Erlinda N. Senturias, Consultant on HIV and AIDS Christian Conference of Asia
posted by CCA HIV and AIDS Ministry on 3:50 PM |
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