October 1997

National and International Anglican Responses to HIV/AIDS

Diocese of Mississippi


Elton John Foundation responds to emergency

Facing a crisis in the Mississippi AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) the Episcopal Church AIDS Committee started fundraising efforts to offset the shortfall. Mississippi is one of the few states in the United States which allocates no funds from its treasury for AIDS care.

The Elton John Foundation contacted the diocesan task force after representatives saw a news story on the national wire services. Some $20,000 was given. Since the AIDS Committee’s founding in 1988, the annual expenditure for medical treatment and emergency assistance has grown from $3,000 to $44,000 last year. More than $200,000 has been raised since May to meet the state’s shortfall for AIDS Drug Assistance.

Bishop A.C. Marble, Jr., has been widely quoted in the press about the treatment needs for those living with AIDS. In May, the Bishop issued a joint statement with United Methodist Bishop Marshall L. Meadors, Jr., and Roman Catholic Bishop William R. Houck expressing gratitude to those contributing to the fund assisting those living with AIDS. This was the first time in the AIDS pandemic that three ecclesiastical leaders across denominational lines have issued such a statement of support and commitment.

The AIDS Committee will be spearheading legislative activities in 1998 at the State Legislature to ensure that people on HIV treatments will continue to receive them and new enrollees will be admitted.

For more information:

The Episcopal AIDS Committee
PO Box 55803
Jackson, MS 39216

Diocese of Los Angeles


Ground breaking and building completions

The Diocese of Los Angeles Project New Hope broke ground for Silver Lake New Hope Courtyard Apartments earlier this year as San Pedro and Santa Monica New Hope Apartments were completed. The AIDS Ministry Program of the diocese is among the largest providers of church-based AIDS-specific housing in the United States. Funding for the program is derived from several sources including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program (HOPWA).

Project New Hope not only provides housing but has developed the Trinity Learning Center, which focuses on job skills training and vocational rehabilitation for those able to return to work. This program was developed so that “people living with AIDS could take back their lives and exercise their options with pride and dignity,” according to founder Jack Plimpton, Ed.D. Plimpton was featured earlier this year in the NEAC Annual Report, “NEAC at the Heart of AIDS.”

For more information:

Project New Hope
1254 W. Sixth Street, #301
Los Angeles, CA 90017-1831

Diocese of West Texas


Corpus Christi Quilt display

A 2,000 panel display of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was held in Corpus Christi, Texas, sponsored by the South Texas Interfaith Council, of which the AIDS Awareness Committee of the Diocese of West Texas is a part.

This was one of the largest displays of the Quilt since last year’s display on the National Capitol Mall. The display, which was held on October 10-12, coincided with the diocesan Day of Prayer and AIDS Awareness on Sunday, October 12. Special services and prayers for the healing of AIDS were held across the diocese.

At St. Mark’s Parish, San Antonio, an AIDS Care Team has begun. Beginning with a training in August, the team has begun with nearly a dozen members. Ruth Peyton is coordinating the group’s activities.

St. Bartholomew’s, Corpus Christi, held a volunteer training workshop in July. The workshop highlighted the work of local community-based AIDS service programs. Also included in the program was a state of AIDS update by the local health department.

Church of the Reconciliation is forming a Care Team in Corpus Christi. Training for the team was held in August. The parish also participated in outreach efforts during the display of the Quilt this month.

For more information about AIDS Ministries in the Diocese of West Texas:

Ann Rogers, Chair
Diocese of West Texas AIDS Task Force
South Texas AIDS Interfaith Council
4256-B South Alameda, Suite 191
Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Diocese of Virginia


Committee issues a workbook

The Committee on AIDS Ministry has issued a workbook on its activities and how congregations may become involved in AIDS ministry. Such chapters as: “Welcoming AIDS to Church,” and “What Congregations Can Do,” along with listings of AIDS organizations across the diocese, and resolutions from every General and Diocesan Convention frame the work of AIDS ministry in the diocese.

A copy of the Council Call, in both Spanish and English, is included in the volume. Congregations and individuals are invited to sign the Call and return it to the AIDS Committee. A listing of all endorsements accompanies the document.

Through the Companion Diocese Program, the Committee is also providing resources and contacts for the Diocese of Christ the King in South Africa and the South Africa AIDS Partnership.

For a copy of the resource workbook, please contact:

Edward Strickler, chair
Diocese of Virginia Committee on AIDS Ministry
PO Box 5
Scottsville, VA 24590

Diocese of East Carolina


Youth present icon to diocese

The Episcopal Youth of St. Timothy’s , Greenville, presented the icon received at the NEAC national retreat, “In Returning and Rest” to the Diocese at its 11th Convention. The Youth Group attended the retreat and worked on the Quilt during the display in Washington, DC, last year.

They presented the icon to the diocese as a reminder of the role of youth in preventing the spread of AIDS and in providing care and support to those living with AIDS. Working for nearly a year, the youth group held car washes and other fund raising activities to attend the NEAC retreat. Currently, they are working on AIDS awareness activities for World AIDS Day observances in Greenville.

Diocese of California


Brochure outlining resources published

The HIV Disease Commission has set itself the task of identifying local resources for people living with AIDS so that parishes and missions have the basic information for referrals and support. The Commission has also identified clergy and pastoral care support, as well as medical and legal professionals who are Episcopalian and are knowledgeable about HIV disease.

The Commission will assist congregations in developing support ministries for those affected by HIV. Maintaining a voice mailbox, the Commission is able to assist communities and individuals promptly.

For more information, please call or write:

HIV Disease Commission
Diocese of California
1055 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.673.5015 Ext. 345

Dioceses of Northern California, El Camino Real, and California


Joint meeting plans program

The HIV/AIDS Commissions of three dioceses will meet together in at Bishop’s Ranch in Sonoma County on February 21-23, 1998. An invitation has also been sent to San Joaquin.

In September, the dioceses met at Trinity Cathedral, San Jose. They discussed the changes from the new treatments for AIDS and the challenges of ministry in a time of rising hope. They discussed challenges faced around the world where new treatments are not available.

The joint meeting grew out of a retreat between the commissions last March. This group will be actively involved in the planning for the NEAC 2000; meeting in San Francisco in March 2000 at the 14th anniversary of the first-ever religious AIDS conference in America. The event will be held at Grace Cathedral.

For more information about the AIDS Commissions, contact:

HIV/AIDS Commission
Diocese of Northern California
PO Box 161268
Sacramento, CA 95816

Diocese of Southeast Florida


AIDS ministry program expands

Under the leadership of the Reverend Jerry Anderson, formerly of Washington, DC, the Episcopal AIDS Ministry program has formed an interfaith retreat team, financial assistance program, twice monthly healing services, and a care team coalition.

During the US Conference on AIDS, held in September, both Anderson and the Reverend Carlos Sandoval of Miami, participated in the planning and design of the Interfaith AIDS Healing Service.

The ministry, nearly two years old, is based at Trinity Cathedral in Miami. The annual budget is nearly $117,000, which includes financial assistance ($20,000), volunteer training ($3,000), as well as retreats ($14,000).

For information contact:

The Reverend Jerry Anderson
Episcopal AIDS Ministry
Diocese of Southeast Florida
464 NE 16th Street
Miami, FL 33132

Diocese of Arkansas


New executive at RAIN

Dr. Stephen J. Schafer, former director of New Hope Counseling Center and the Department of Grief Counseling Services of Gaston Hospice, Gaston, NC, is the new executive director of the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network of Arkansas. He replaces Trudy James, founder of RAIN, who retired in May.

RAIN’s mission is three-fold: 1. To present compassionate HIV/AIDS education to churches, synagogues, schools, and other groups; 2. To recruit, train, and support congregation-based Careteams, and assign them to be care partners to those living with AIDS, and 3. To support all those affected by HIV/AIDS. There are more than 140 careteams, which have cared for more than 500 people with AIDS since 1989.

For more information, contact:

RAIN - Arkansas
P O Box 3776
Little Rock, AK 72203

Diocese of Massachusetts


Ecumenical Task Force Founder Dies

Phil Nightingale, 1993 NEAC Award winner and co-founder and president of the Ecumenical Task Force on AIDS, died last April from complications of cancer. His partner of co-founder, Rusty Miller, executive director, continues the work.

Rusty Miller, Frank Romanowicz, Phil Nightingale, and The Reverend Richard Younge at the NEAC Award presentation in Santa Monica, CA, January 1994

(from left to right) Rusty Miller, Frank Romanowicz, Phil Nightingale, and The Reverend Richard Younge at the NEAC Award presentation in Santa Monica, CA, January 1994.

In a recent letter about the future of the Task Force, Miller said, “Although Phil’s death was a major loss, we are wholeheartedly committed to continuing this interfaith ministry of shared strength and healing. We have been seeking how the Task Force is called to grow and evolve so that it can most effectively support both people affected by AIDS and those with other needs of body, mind, or spirit.”

Fall services of healing are planned for St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Boston; Old South Church, Boston; Christ Church Episcopal, Quincy, and United Church of Christ, Abington.

For more information, contact:

Ecumenical Task Force on AIDS
46 Greenville Street
Somerville, MA 02143

Diocese of Chicago


AIDS services and TAP training

The Diocesan AIDS Task Force has been sponsoring healing services and hosted the Province V Train the Trainers Program for the use of Episcopal Guide to Teens for AIDS Prevention (TAP) program earlier this year. The task force is hosting additional TAP training activities this fall.

St. James Cathedral has been supportive of AIDS ministry by hosting healing services and special observances including World AIDS Day. A dedication of panels to be added to the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was held during one of the services.

The task force has also forged a special relationship with the Orthodox Church in Chicago. Together they have sponsored AIDS services for several years.

For more information, contact:

Stephen Montgomery, chair
AIDS Task Force
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
65 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611