February 1997

Faith In Action—AIDS Ministries

Diocese of Central Florida

AIDS ministry receives support from Diocese

The Episcopal AIDS Ministry of Central Florida, which has been operating for three years, is now receiving support from the Diocese of Central Florida. This support will enable the Ministry to provide some scholarships to the AIDS retreat at the Kanuga Conference Center. This ministry has an active care team and has provided both emotional and financial support to people living with AIDS in Central Florida.

The Episcopal AIDS Ministry of Central Florida
The Diocese of Central Florida
1017 E. Robinson St
Orlando, FL 32801

Diocese of Oklahoma


Agency Moves from Episcopal Church Center

Pamela Cross, Executive Director of RAIN announced in November that The RAIN Oklahoma City Executive Office/Western Region Office are relocating. The generosity of David Porte and Thom Collins made possible this move to new offices which are closer to other AIDS service organizations and health organizations. While saddened by leaving the Episcopal Church Center, the staff and volunteers of RAIN are excited by the move and glad to have the support of Bishop Moody during this transition.

RAIN Oklahoma
1200 North Walker, 5th Floor
The Osler Building
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
(800)324-7246
fax (405)232-7246


The Diocese of North Carolina


New Parishes Support TRAIN

The Triangle AIDS Interfaith Network (TRAIN) was glad to welcome St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Hillsborough as a new Sponsoring Congregation in November. They are also glad to acknowledge St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cary and Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh for their contributions to and support of TRAIN. It is now possible to designate TRAIN to receive all or part of the annual United Way pledge in North Carolina.

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

Substance Abuse Training Held

The Guilford Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (GRAIN) collaborated with Circle of Care, Hospice and Triad Health Project to sponsor “Substance Abuse Issues and Boundary Setting” in November. The symposium was designed to offer ongoing education and support to their volunteers.

GRAIN
210 E. Bessemer Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27401
(910)274-5637


The Diocese of California


Brochures Altered by Hate-mongers

The Marin Interfaith Network discovered in October that some of their agency brochures had been altered to include Old Testament Scripture condemning the gay and lesbian community. It appears that the brochures were taken from an agency display, altered and returned. The Network is uncertain if it inadvertently mailed out any of the corrupt brochures. The volunteer care team provides non-medical services such as spiritual support and companionship to Marin residents living with AIDS or HIV Infection.

The Marin Interfaith Network
(415)455-5636

AIDS Reflections at St. Aidan’s

Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church published in its newsletter, The Flame, a story recounting the Parish’s journey with AIDS. The article, written by a parishioner, included reminiscence as well as reflection. “AIDS has made us who we are, not just you who have been doing this for ten years, but me too. These last two years have been an intensive study—in addition to the normal course.” The author concludes by saying: “It is the pain and sorrow in our midst—and our willingness to share in it—that transforms us and makes us new. We are all made new in Christ through suffering, and we have all been raised to new life, some of us know this in our personal lives; most of us know it in our corporate life.”

Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church
101 Gold Mine Drive
San Francisco, CA 94131
(415)285-9540

Below: The Reverend Gerald Shaon and Charles Beattie of Grace Cathedral and the Diocese of California AIDS Task Force display the signature Quilt panel and banner from the 1996 AIDS Day of Remembrance at Grace Cathedral in Novmeber.

quilt signing

quilt signing


The Diocese of Dallas


Commission Issues Results on AIDS Ministry Study

In the Diocese of Dallas the Committee on Ministry to Persons with HIV/AIDS, an arm of the Diocesan Commission on Healing Ministries has reported the results of a “first-of-its-kind” survey of vestry members throughout the diocese. The survey was designed by the committee to determine what individual parishioners were “..thinking about HIV and AIDS in order to better perform its mission of advising and informing the diocese on AIDS-related issues and educating and ministering to those interested in or impacted by AIDS in the diocese.” The survey was distributed to rectors and senior wardens of 69 parishes and missions in the diocese, 34 parishes and missions responded. The survey included questions related to such issues as parish demographics, current AIDS ministry, parish and diocesan roles in sex education, preventative measures and the role of the parish and diocese in ministering to those infected or impacted by HIV. A copy of the full report can be obtained by contacting:

Kathy McCamey
(214)321-1892
The Diocese of Dallas
1630 Garrett
Dallas, TX 75206

Transfiguration Outreach Ministry Featured

Anglican World, the magazine published by the Anglican Communication Office, published an article in its Advent 1996 issue describing the AIDS Outreach Ministry of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration. The ministry has “…recently permitted membership by any interested person, regardless of religious affiliation - possibly being the first parish-based AIDS ministry to so boldly expand its membership beyond the parish.” The Ministry at Transfiguration includes a food pantry, a Supper Club, support of a home for children affected by AIDS and other activities.

Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration
Mr. Jack Taylor, Jr.
AIDS Outreach Ministry
14115 Hillcrest Road
Dallas, TX 75240


The Diocese of North Dakota


Home Page Mounted on World Wide Web

The Diocese of North Dakota is now accessible on the web through its new home page. This page is already linked to several Diocesan Parishes and the Diocese has offered to assist other Diocesan congregations in the process of linking with the Diocesan page.

The Diocese of North Dakota
P.O. Box 10337
Fargo, ND 58106-0337
http://www.geocites.com/Heartland/Plains/1981/diocofnd.htm


The Diocese of Rio Grande


St. Bede’s, Santa Fe Remembers

quilt panel

In a recent CDC publication “Youth and HIV” an article entitled “A Face in the Quilt: Duane Puryear” told the story of a young man infected with HIV as a 16 year old tenth grader. Duane did not discover he was HIV-positive until after attending college and beginning a promising career as an artist. After returning home to Dallas, Duane began active volunteer work with a special concern for educating our youth. Duane’s mother, a member of St. Bede’s, Santa Fe, recalls “What he told me then is that he had no HIV education. ‘I got infected at 16 years of age because I didn’t have the information I needed. I was a happy kid who thought he had everything under control. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you. So educate yourself’.”

Doug and Martha Puryear
306 Loma Arisco
Santa Fe, NM 87501-1269


Diocese of Olympia


New Booklets Issued on AIDS Ministry

Earl Grout, Chair of the Diocesan AIDS Commission announced the publication of “Walk in Love,” a series of booklets about AIDS ministry and resources for the Diocese of Olympia. The series consists of “Pastoral Care Handbook” and “Guide to AIDS Resources in the Diocese of Olympia” and was prepared and published by “The Episcopal Church Responds to AIDS” a committee of the Commission. The Commission is glad to provide copies to those requesting them in writing.

AIDS Commission
Diocese of Olympia
1551 Tenth Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98102
(206)325-4200


Diocese of Maryland


Residential Facility is Completed

AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS) has announced the completion of the HUD 811 project started in 1990. Through this effort AIRS is now able to provide housing for ten single adults and six families in four renovated building. It is possible to make contributions to AIRS through United Way as well as Campaigns for City and State.

AIRS
5000 York Road
Baltimore, MD 21212
(410)433-1109


Diocese of Arkansas


Founder Trudy James Retires

The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network recently announced the upcoming retirement of its Executive Director, Trudy James. Ms. James will retire on May 1, 1997. RAIN has begun the search process for a new Executive Director, seeking a person to give leadership to this spiritual endeavor.

RAIN is a statewide network of 128 congregation-based, volunteer Careteams, (1680 active volunteers) serving 168 “Care partners” with AIDS, in 44 communities. Staff of 5 full-time employees and 10 Care-team Consultants; budget of $400,000.

Qualifications: AIDS fund-raising experience; administrative management experience; public speaking experience in the interfaith religious community; awareness and competence with cross-cultural, diversity, and pastoral care issues. College degree or equivalent experience.

RAIN Personnel Committee
Attn: Dr. Gladwin Connell
715 Center Street, Suite 202
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Afro-centric Care Teams

Arkansas RAIN has developed 13 Afro-Centric Careteams around the state. Volunteer Careteam members credit much of the success of this program to Sybil Cunningham, RAIN’s Afro-Centric Program Director. According to Ms. Cunningham “All of these teams are pioneers within their own denominations and communities as they find ways to give loving energy and compassion to Carepartners and their families.”

RAIN of Arkansas
2002 South Fillmore #12
Little Rock, AR 72204
(501)664-4346
(800)851-6301


Diocese of Louisiana


Diocese On Line

The Bishop’s Commission on HIV/AIDS, formed in 1991, has recently gone “on line” and joined the Network of AIDS Ministries in Province IV. Current projects involve: identifying on-going and potential AIDS ministries such as the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network model, participation in hospice care in AIDS residence facilities, assistance with boarder babies and AIDS orphans, encouraging youth participation in supportive services, and supporting creation of NAMES Project chapters and groups.

In the fall, Bishop James B. Brown and the Commission will hold an AIDS 101 workshop for clergy and laity in the diocese and recruit congregations to develop ministries to address HIV disease in their communities.

Bonnie Rawlins or Richard Gaumer
Bishop’s Commission on HIV/AIDS
Diocese of Louisiana
1623 Seventh Street
New Orleans, LA 70115-4411
(504) 895-6634


Diocese of Southwest Florida


13th LIGHT Retreat Held

The Committee on AIDS Ministry hosted its thirteenth annual LIGHT (Living in God’s Hands Today) retreat in November. These retreats, which included about fifty participants each year, focus on “…unconditional love and acceptance…healing of relationships, healing of body and especially healing of the mind and soul.” The Committee is also making plans to host its first TAP Program in late February.

The Committee on AIDS Ministry
The Diocese of Southwest Florida
P.O. Box 249
Valrico, FL 33595

The participants at the 13th Living in God's Hands Retreat sponsored by the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

The participants at the 13th Living in God’s Hands Retreat sponsored by the Diocese of Southwest Florida.