December 2004

Board Plans New Conference Approaches

When the Board of Directors met in Chicago October 16–17, high on the agenda was the series of regional conferences planned for 2005 and 2006. The Rev. Carlos Sandoval, M.D., who has been working professionally on training courses on end-of-life issues for physicians and health care providers, urged the board to offer a more sophisticated series of workshops, including information on palliative care, that takes into account pastoral, cultural, and mental health components as well as ethical issues.

meeting photo

The Rev. Darryl James, rector, Messiah-St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, Chicago, fills in board members on the AIDS situation in Chicago.

Dr. Sandoval offered to train trainers and be a presenter. He recommended a book obtainable free from the Department of Health and Human Services, A Clinical Guide to Supportive and Palliative Care for HIV/AIDS, and a companion work on women’s issues and AIDS. He also pointed out that HIV/AIDS must now be treated more like cancer, with more attention to life issues.

The first of the series of conferences will be held in April 2005 in Atlanta. Board members Alfredo Macaya and Sue B. Kuebler, co-chairs, explained that the vision of the conference is to have multiple workshop sessions available throughout the day-long conference, designed in 90-minute increments. One goal is to provide tools and training for those wishing to become engaged in HIV/AIDS ministry as well as those already active.
Executive Director’s Report

The Rev. C. William Frampton III reported that he has been working to increase contributions from the Combined Federal Campaign, making two trips to the Pentagon, where he was able to distribute information on NEAC.

The Rev. Frampton represented NEAC (not at NEAC expense) at a consultation on “The Response of the Faiths to the AIDS Crisis,” held at St. George’s House, Windsor Castle, United Kingdom, where he was able to exchange ideas with others from around the world. He also made a presentation at “Cause I Gotta Have Faith”, a Living Well Conference in Dover, Delaware. He has begun fundraising for the AGAPE curriculum and preached at the Cathedral of St. James in Chicago during the NEAC meeting.

He announced that the host parish for the January board meeting in New Orleans will be Trinity Church.

photo on the church steps

Long-time NEAC board member Sandra Thurman, now president and CEO of the InternationalAIDS Trust, and the Rev. C. William Frampton III, NEAC executive director, at Windsor Castle for the consultation on“The Response of the Faiths to the AIDS Crisis.”

Education Programs

Dr. Elizabethe Payne reported that 1,500 copies of the youth resource, Youth Ministry in the Age of AIDS, have been printed; they are available free from 815 and in bulk for a handling fee from Episcopal Parish Ministries. To announce the availability of the guide, 12,000 postcards were printed and have been sent to all U.S. congregations, bishops, diocesan youth ministry coordinators, and campus ministers. The Hispanic desk at 815 is planning to make the resource available in Spanish. Several hundred copies have already been sent out, including two to the Dominican Republic and one to Uganda; the AME church has requested 25 copies. The Church Center has asked Dr. Payne to develop an educational evaluation tool to be administered once a certain number of guides are requested and a data base established. She also plans to meet with the Youth Ministries staff to discuss marketing the guide for youth events and summer camps.

Dr. Payne explained that the target date for revision of the TAP (Teen AIDS Prevention) program is April 2005 and asked that members let her know of any locations that might be interested in being pilot sites. A team consisting of 2 writers, 3 advisors, 3 youth, and representatives from the Youth Ministries office at 815 will work with Dr. Payne on the revision. The group plans to meet in workshop session in January at the cathedral in San Francisco (many of the team members are from San Francisco) to nail down the preliminary structure.

In other action, the directors agreed that:

  • A $2,000 contribution from Abbott Pharmaceuticals should be used only for writing the AGAPE curriculum on HIV/AIDS in people over 50.
  • Although Dr. Payne’s term on the board will end in January, she will continue as NEAC’s unpaid Education Coordinator to carry the TAP revision to completion.
  • Honoraria will be sent to the four agencies that the board visited in Chicago.