July 1996

News from the Diocese

Diocese of Los Angeles

Archbishop Carey Meets with AIDS Commission

The Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and his wife Eileen traveled to Los Angeles for the centennial celebration of the diocese. In an emotional encounter with the diocesan AIDS Commission at All Saints Church in Beverly Hills, the Careys learned that the Episcopal Church has been a leader in facing the crisis and providing services not available from other agencies but that many are discouraged with the progress.

“Unfortunately many churches remain closed—or in denial—of the crisis, said the Rev. Malcolm Boyd during a sobering discussion. Speaking as a gay man whose life partner has the virus, the prominent author and activist added, “We have lost many friends and we are facing a time of burn-out and despair after a decade of fighting. Some parts of the church are still not reaching out in love, and sometimes even with hate. We need your help very much, your understanding and your prayers for us at every difficult time.”

When Carey asked how the church should respond, participants told him that the stigma of AIDS still keeps people quiet and that openness by clergy and more forceful education are needed. “But it also is important for lay people to come forward and serve as models,” added Boyd.

(Source: Episcopal News Service, June 25, 1996)

Diocese of Chicago

Interfaith Day of Prayer

October 13, 1996, has been declared a Day of Prayer for People Living with HIV/AIDS by the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Chicago Synod), Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago. An Evensong Service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Bishops of each of the four denominations will participate. Churches throughout the city and suburbs will ring their bells from 3:50 pm until 4:00 pm to symbolize unity in praying for those who live with HIV/AIDS. Churches not affiliated with the Day of Prayer also are invited to ring their bells as a symbol of prayerful support.

Contact:

Father Demetri Kantzavelos
Chancellor, Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago
Telephone: 312-337-4130

Diocese of Pennsylvania

A New Home for Calcutta House

Calcutta House, a loving home for people with AIDS, completed its new facility located at 1601 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, this summer. Before the physical construction could begin, it was necessary to construct a solid foundation of acceptance and support in the new community. In this era of “not-in-my-back-yard” prejudice against vital social support facilities, Calcutta House was fortunate to find a neighborhood that recognized the need for the services Calcutta House provides, and that welcomed the new facility.

For additional information, contact:

Sister Joanne Whitaker, Director
P. O. Box 16656
Philadelphia, PA 19139

Diocese of Olympia

New Resource Booklets Ready in October

Two new booklets on AIDS, both titled Walk in Love, are in the early stages of production. One is a resource booklet for AIDS care and support services in the diocesan geographic area (Western Washington). The second is a pastoral care handbook. Both are expected to be ready for the diocesan convention in late October.

The theme of the handbook is that the Episcopal Church has been responding to AIDS from the early days of the crisis, but there is a danger now of people easing off. With the epidemic having been with us for a long time, and the hope being generated by the new drugs, there is danger of either burnout or a premature sense of relief. The booklet will reinforce the need for continuing compassionate response.

For more information, contact:

Earl Grout
ECRA Chair
Diocese of Olympia
206-867-8182

Diocesan Day of Prayer

October 13 will be the official day of prayer for AIDS in the Diocese of Olympia. Plans are still in progress, but include a special service with the Bishop as celebrant. The Reverend Richard Younge, former President of NEAC, is organizing this event.

Diocese of Alabama

Red Ribbon Reflections Publication

This outreach project of the 1917 Clinic at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, has announced a goal of care teams in every county in Alabama. When monthly training of new AIDS Care Teams began in January 1995, most new teams were in Birmingham. However, teams have now spread throughout the state, with over 60 teams located in Alabaster, Anniston, Birmingham, Boaz, Decatur, Dothan, Florence, Holly Pond, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Jasper, Madison, Montgomery, Montevallo, Oxford, Ozark, Selma, and Tuscaloosa.

Previously, when a new team was too far from Birmingham to attend training, the training went to them. Now, new quarterly training workshops will help regions of the state take ownership of developing care teams in their areas. The purpose of these workshops will be to teach people to recruit, train, and sustain AIDS care teams.

For more information about this project, contact:

Red Ribbon Reflections
The 1917 Clinic at UAB
908 South 20th Street
Birmingham, AL 35294-2050

National Listing of AIDS Care Teams Organized

The AIDS Education and Ministry Project in Alabama has been training care teams on a monthly basis since January 1995. There are now 67 teams in Alabama with about 900 volunteers. These teams represent more than a dozen faith groups in 30 towns/cities in Alabama.

The 1917 Clinic at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, is seeking to develop a national listing of organizations that sponsor AIDS care teams, with a goal of developing methods to network with one another to maximize the effectiveness of the programs.

To list your organization, contact:

Malcolm Marler
Director, AIDS Education and Ministry Project
The 1917 Clinic at UAB
908 S. 20th Street
Birmingham, AL 35294-2050
Telephone: 205-975-9129

Diocese of North Carolina

Triangle AIDS Ministries Consolidate

The Triangle AIDS Interfaith Network and the Durham Interfaith AIDS Ministry are consolidating into one regional, nonprofit organization serving the entire area. The joint boards of directors of the two groups met in early June and authorized a consolidation committee to proceed. The committee is currently working on the application for nonprofit status and recently approved a job description for a consolidation coordinator who will become the executive director of the newly formed organization.

The consolidation is expected to provide people with AIDS with more equitable access to care team services. In addition, some cost savings will be realized and a stronger organization will result.

Questions should be addressed to:

TRAIN
P.O. Box 28767
Raleigh, NC 27611-8767
919-828-3121

TRAIN Executive Director Retires

The Reverend Ginny Going, TRAIN Executive Director, will retire in December. Ginny has been with this organization since its inception in 1992. The group successfully replicated the congregation-based AIDS care team model that was flourishing in several areas of the country.

“We have always approached AIDS ministry as a response to God’s call,” Ginny said. Speaking of the care team partners and members, she went on to say, “They’ve taught me about the power of love to heal, to keep hope alive, to live life to it fullest.” She will join her husband, Tom Henderson, in “semi-retirement,” leaving room for “whatever surprises God might have in store.”

Best wishes may be sent to the TRAIN address shown above.

Guilford Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (GRAIN)

This past April, an open house was held for friends of GRAIN to see the new facilities that accommodate office space and the new Day Center program. Blessings and prayers were offered in various rooms of the facility, called Higher Ground, refreshments were served, and friends had time to spend with each other, admiring the recent renovations.

Higher Ground has a free lunch program, offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. The lunch program is open to all who are HIV+, their families and care givers.

To learn more about GRAIN activities, call:

Sallie White
210 East Bessemer Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27501
Telephone: 910-274-5637

Diocese of California

St. John’s Healing Circle

On the second Friday of each month, the Church of St. John the Evangelist in the Mission District gathers for an intimate, spiritual service that strives to be fully connected with God and with the other participants. This Healing Circle is a gift of the people of St. John’s to the wider community. Like all St. John’s activities, it is not only gay and lesbian friendly but also gay and lesbian affirming and supporting. All are invited; confidentiality is required for any information shared by participants.

To attend:

The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist
Julian at 15th Street (near 16th Street BART Station)
San Francisco, CA

Diocese of New York

Presiding Bishop on AIDS

A recent issue of Consumer News includes an article by the Most Reverend Edmund L. Browning entitled Our Church Has AIDS … Your Church Has AIDS. The article traces the beginning of the Episcopal Church’s awakening to the AIDS crisis, during the first Convention at which he presided. He recalls that at his election, he said “this Church of ours is open to all. There will be no outcasts!” He says, “I meant it then, and I mean it even more forcefully today. I especially mean it when it comes to people with HIV and AIDS.”

For the full text of Bishop Browning’s article, contact:

Consumer News
P. O. Box 41
Cooper Station
New York, NY 10276-0041

The National AIDS Memorial

This memorial was founded when the AIDS epidemic lacked a compassionate response, with a mission to honor the dead and serve the living. In conjunction with its recent 10th anniversary, a rededication is planned. Plans are underway to expand the scope of grant-making, to increase the existing endowment to ensure the longevity of the memorial, and to renovate the AIDS Memorial Chapel at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Information on the National AID Memorial is available from:

The Reverend Carl D. Reimers
President of the Board of Trustees
The National AIDS Memorial, Inc.
P. O. Box 1036
New York, NY 10011

Diocese of Southeast Florida

An Old Friend Starts a New Ministry

The Reverend Jerry Anderson, formerly a pastoral counselor with the Episcopal Caring Response to AIDS in Washington, DC, has relocated to Miami, FL. Currently, he has established a new AIDS ministry at Trinity Cathedral. We wish him all happiness in his new home and best wishes in his new ministry.

Jerry can be reached at:

Trinity Cathedral
464 NE 16th Street
Miami, FL 33132-1222
305-379-4673

Canadian AIDS Ministries

Commendation for Teresa Group

The Teresa Group, which serves the needs of children and their families, living with or affected by HIV/AIDS, recently announced two new publications: “Our Children and HIV” and “Our Children, Their Future.” Jay Browne, AIDS Coordinator, Ministry of Health, sent a message commending the Teresa Group and the Hospital for Sick Children for the collaboration that led to these publications. He commented that the publications would be a valuable resource for families across Ontario, and said that by working together, the Hospital and the Teresa Group have significantly improved the quality of care available to families living with HIV.

The Teresa Group can be contacted at:

The Teresa Group
77 Gerrard St. W., Suite 308
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2A1
Telephone: 416-596-7703

Multifaith AIDS Directory

The Canadian Interfaith Association on AIDS is developing a Multifaith AIDS Resource Directory to provide faith communities and AIDS organizations with a listings of groups, agencies, and organizations providing AIDS information and support. The directory is expected to be available in fall 1996.

For information, contact:

Heather Syren, Project Coordinator
Interfaith Association on AIDS
#302, 11745 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5K ON5
Telephone: 403-448-1768

AIDS Walk Edmonton

The fifth annual AIDS Walk will take place Sunday, September 29. The Edmonton Walk is part of a national Walk taking place the same day. People from across Canada will walk on this day to raise money for local AIDS organizations. Registration is free; call the number above for information.

Diocese of Long Island

AIDS Project Comforts the Living

The “Comfort for AIDS” project, started some three years ago by Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Long Island, has joined people from all walks of life in AIDS ministry. Nursing home patients, young people, and veterans have joined church women in an outreach that supplies knitted and crocheted afghans, lap robes, comforters, quilts, and scarves to AIDS patients in the area.

This project came about when the ECW president in Long Island, Pam Stewart, was searching for an idea for diocesan-wide outreach. Following the display of a portion of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt at a local university, and after hearing a program presented by women who made dresses for babies cared for by Mother Teresa and her order, Mrs. Stewart’s husband suggested something similar for AIDS patients. Mrs. Steward realized that the Quilt paid tribute to the dead, but that a new undertaking could provide solace to the living.

In the first three years of the program, between 1500 and 2000 hand-made items have been shared with patients. Each article bears a tag that reads, “Made with love and prayers by the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Long Island.”

For additional information about this project, contact:

Pam Stewart
28 Spinnaker
East Patchogue, NY 11772

Diocese of Atlanta

The Rainbow Center

Middle Georgia People Living with AIDS is an organization of and for people living with HIV/AIDS. This group has created The Rainbow Center as a way to connect with each other. Their goal is to provide a safe and confidential space where individuals can express themselves in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement.

The Rainbow Center provides a newsletter, support groups, legal services, meditation, a monthly memorial and healing service, and a weekly luncheon for those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. In August, a presentation entitled “The New Deal on HIV & AIDS” provided first-hand information from those who had attended the XI International Conference on AIDS in Vancouver.

For information, contact:

The Rainbow Center
530 First Street
Macon, GA 31201
Telephone: 1-800-374-2437

Diocese of Arkansas

RAIN Arkansas

“Circles of Care Campaign” was the name chosen by the first RAIN board in 1992 to raise matching funds for the Robert Wood Johnson expansion grant. The campaign was successful, and there are now 135 RAIN care teams in 68 different Arkansas cities and towns, with over 1600 volunteers. These RAIN care teams have created circles of care and love around 450 men, women, and children with AIDS.

RAIN education programs are a resource for churches, schools, and civic groups, always including current and candid AIDS facts and personal testimonies by those living with AIDS. RAIN supports 15 different denominations in its AIDS ministries, and is used by doctors, hospitals, Ryan White Centers, and others seeking practical and emotional resources for patients.

Information about RAIN activities is available from:

Trudy James
RAIN Arkansas
2002 South Fillmore, Box #12
Little Rock, AR 72204

RAIN Board Approve Sabbatical Policy

Because self-care is so important when working with AIDS, the RAIN Board has approved and encourages sabbatical leave for full-time program staff after four year of service. One month of leave is provided for every two years of service.

Diocese of Virginia

Sixth Annual AIDS Benefit

For the sixth consecutive year, St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, Springfield, and the Springfield Community Theatre have presented a musical review for the benefit of the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM). The August 1996 benefit provided almost $3500 to assist NOVAM in its programs—providing transportation as needed, emergency financial assistance, a play center for children whose lives have been touched by AIDS, and an educational program that goes into the high schools for face-to-face encounters with AIDS.

For information on how this church and theatre group work together, contact:

Lynn Knox
St. Christopher’s AIDS Care Team
6320 Hanover Avenue
Springfield, VA 22150