July 2003

NEAC Triennial Report

The National Episcopal AIDS Coalition (NEAC) is charged to work collaboratively for effective AIDS/HIV ministry on and by all levels of the Episcopal Church. NEAC vigorously pursued that charge during the triennium 2001 through 2003. During this period we met our fiduciary responsibilities through regular meetings of the board of directors; these meetings took place as follows:

2001: January in Pasadena, California; June in Atlanta, October in San Juan, Puerto Rico

2002: January in Phoenix, Arizona; April in Minneapolis, Minnesota; October in Austin, Texas

2003: January in Miami, Florida; April in Atlanta, Georgia; October in Boston, Massachusetts

Each board meeting incorporated visits to local AIDS ministries, AIDS service providers, and Episcopal resources and parishes. We were able to share information from a faith-based perspective and offer resources to local communities through collaborative efforts.

Other highlights of the triennium:

  • Sponsored a one-month trip to Africa for a high school student peer educator
  • Sponsored a national conference in Austin, Texas (New Directions)
  • Consulted regularly with the National Committee on HIV/AIDS of the Episcopal Church on issues of common concern and General Convention resolutions and directives
  • Made our individual and collective resources available to Episcopal Relief and Development, the National Committee on HIV/AIDS, national church headquarters, and provincial and diocesan organizations
  • Served as de facto HIV/AIDS program arm of the national church
  • Continued sponsorship and endorsement of Province IV’s annual HIV/AIDS Retreat at Kanuga
  • Continued the lengthy process of updating HIV/AIDS prevention education resources for youth and teens, assisted by United Thank Offering Grants from the Episcopal Church Women
  • Began exploring HIV issues as they relate to people over the age of 50 who have HIV or who are at risk of becoming infected with HIV, with the intention of being proactive in this arena
  • Maintained an active website visited on a regular basis by those seeking HIV information, particularly from a faith-based resource
  • Provided faith-based representation at numerous conferences and meetings, including: the Gen-X Conference, National Organizations Responding to AIDS, the Council of Religious AIDS Networks, the U.S. Conference on AIDS, the Catholic AIDS Network Conference, and the Lutheran AIDS Network Conference
  • Presented workshops at various conferences, including the Lutheran AIDS Network Conference, the Catholic AIDS Network conference, and the U.S. Conference on AIDS
  • Conducted regular elections for officers and board positions, seeking out individuals who help maintain a board that is representative of the church as well as the infected and affected communities
  • Held a day-long retreat that resulted in a long-range strategic plan for the organization to insure its relevance and viability for the future
  • Provided telephone resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via live agent or voicemail

While recognizing the devastating effects of the disease throughout the world, NEAC is committed to maintaining a faith-based response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Cases of HIV/AIDS continue to rise in this country. Though the face of AIDS may change, the fact of AIDS remains as etched in the psyche of our nation and our church as it was over 20 years ago. Our church STILL has AIDS!