Contact: World Council of Churches, +41-22-791-6153, +41-79-507-6363, media@wcc-coe.org

MEDIA ADVISORY, Aug. 6 /Standard Newswire/ -- Representatives of ecumenical organizations meeting in advance of the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico City vowed to launch a global campaign to help churches become competent in dealing with the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

A first step will consist of a set of education and advocacy materials jointly produced in time for the World AIDS Day 2008, to be marked on 1 December. They will be accompanied by a tool-kit aimed at enabling groups and communities to assess the quantity and quality of their response to HIV and AIDS.

Partners in the campaign will be the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA), Churches United Against HIV and AIDS in Southern and Eastern Africa (CUAHA), and the newly created International Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS (INERELA+). Other key church-related agencies are expected to join in.

The agreement was reached during the "Faith in Action Now!" ecumenical conference sponsored by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. Bringing together over 500 representatives of church and church-related organizations, it took place in Mexico City immediately before the 3-8 August International AIDS Conference.

The concept of "HIV-competent church" relates to the ability of a given faith community to deal with the challenges posed by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in an appropriate and compassionate manner. An HIV-competent church staunches the spread of HIV, improves the lives of those living with and affected by it, mitigates the impact of HIV and ultimately restores hope and dignity.

HIV-competence encompasses both inner and outer competencies, explains Dr Sue Parry, EHAIA regional coordinator for Southern Africa. Inner competency exists when a church becomes aware of the impact and consequences of the pandemic and accepts the responsibility to respond to it. Outer competency involves building theological and institutional capacity to do it and requires leadership, knowledge and resources.

"An HIV-competent church is able to build up a new community of God. A community that recognizes and responds to the social challenges that contribute to HIV and has leaders who can break free from unhelpful traditions and cultures - to overcome HIV," says Bishop Dr Johannes Ramashapa, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa.

"We all strive to develop a church fully informed on what HIV and AIDS is; which acknowledges people living with HIV as an integral and precious part of the congregation", emphasizes Karuna Roy, coordinator of the Synodical Board of Health Services in the Church of North India.

The International AIDS Conference in Mexico City is being attended by over 20,000 participants from the academic, scientific and medical communities, as well as from business, government, faith and civil society organizations, together with positive people's networks. Over 33 million people are living with HIV worldwide. The 2008 conference theme is "Universal Action Now".

Ecumenical conference "Faith in Action Now!" website (including video and audio footage):
http://iac.e-alliance.ch

Photo gallery:
http://iac.e-alliance.ch/photos

Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA):
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3131

WCC work for a HIV-competent church
http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=3418

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.