Committee Drafts Resolutions for General Convention

In its Triennial Report the HIV/AIDS Committee presented a series of resolutions to be brought before General Convention. The explanations have been somewhat condensed.

Neither we as a church nor the broader society in which we live has adequately addressed the issues of HIV disease. The stigma of HIV is real, with consequences that can prove deadly. If we are to remain true to the vows of the baptismal covenant we must address these issues in a proactive and effective manner. Failure to do so will be to our peril, both as a faith community and as a society.

Resolution 1: Continue Committee on HIV/AIDS

Resolved, the House of _____ concurring, That the 75th General Convention authorize the continuation of the Executive Council Committee on HIV/AIDS for the 2006-2009 Triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee on HIV/AIDS for the next triennium focus on mechanisms for increasing HIV/AIDS awareness in our church, reducing the effects of stigmatization by HIV/AIDS and continuing the process of identifying those whom we are called to serve but may overlook; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee continue the process of identifying and cataloging the availability of HIV/AIDS ministries and resources at all levels of the church, utilizing the resources of other organizations, including but not limited to the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition and the Lutheran AIDS Network; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee on HIV/AIDS report as appropriate to the Executive Council of the General Convention on the state of the church’s response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with particular attention to the implementation of pertinent resolutions of General Convention.

Explanation:

HIV/AIDS continues to exact a heavy price from our church, our society, and the world… . We are obligated by our baptismal covenant vows to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself” and to “respect the dignity of every human being.” Ignorance and stigmatization create impediments to living out the vows of our baptismal covenant.

Resolution 2: Elimination of the Stigma of HIV/AIDS

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church urges its members to work toward the elimination of the stigma surrounding the issue of HIV/AIDS through the following:

Acknowledgement that the stigmatization of anyone due to disease, and particularly due to HIV/AIDS, creates impediments to seeking treatment and care for the disease and education about the disease, resulting in detrimental effects on individuals, the church and society at large.

Reiteration that the teachings of Jesus Christ are clear in stating that sickness and disease are not the result of sin in the human family.

Acknowledgement that the vows of our Baptismal Covenant obligate us to respect the dignity of every human being and to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and that the stigmatization of those among us with disease represents a clear violation of those vows; And be it further

Resolved that the Episcopal Church urges all worshiping communities, missions, parishes, dioceses, provinces, seminaries and educational institutions, boards and commissions to:

Educate their constituent members about HIV/AIDS with a goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating the stigma associated with the disease.

Educate their local, state and federal elected officials and representatives about HIV/AIDS with the goal of helping create knowledgeable, compassionate, and sensitive public policy in educational, support ser0vices, and medical treatment institutions. These institutions should provide services to those with HIV/AIDS in a manner which reduces the stigma associated with the disease.

Explanation:

The stigma of HIV/AIDS creates a barrier to medical and social services due to the consequences—particularly in some smaller communities—of being identified as a person living with HIV/AIDS… . The barriers will exist as long as the stigma of having HIV/AIDS exists.

The stigma of HIV/AIDS also creates a barrier to sound public policy decisions about prevention education and services. As long as there is blame placed on those who become infected, scientific evidence, particularly about preventing the spread of the virus, will be overshadowed by misinformation.

Resolution 3: Media Campaign for HIV/AIDS Awareness

Resolved, the House of _____ concurring, That the 75th General Convention direct the Communications Office of the national church to engage in collaborative activities to raise awareness about the issues surrounding HIV disease through the use of a media campaign directed at members of this church as well as the broader population.

Explanation:

The national church’s ad campaigns… . have been highly effective in raising awareness about the Episcopal Church… . Including HIV/AIDS as a focus topic helps insure increased awareness of HIV/AIDS issues and how they impact the church, our nation, and the world.

Resolution 4: HIV Training

Resolved, the House of __________ concurring, the 75th General Convention require that beginning on September 1, 2007, the lay and ordained leadership of the Episcopal Church, including all ordained persons, religious communities, professional staff, staff youth ministers working with young people in middle school and high school, and those elected or appointed to positions of leadership on committees, commissions, agencies, and boards be required to take a basic HIV/AIDS training course and receive certification of such training; and be it further

Resolved, that the office of Peace and Justice Ministries of The Episcopal Church, working in collaboration with the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition (NEAC) and the Committee of HIV/AIDS of Executive Council, develop a curriculum for HIV training and update it at least once each triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council select and authorize an appropriate mechanism to provide for this training “on line” via a self-directed tutorial to be housed on the national church website or other readily available designated web site, said tutorial being designed to generate a message to a data base containing records certifying that the training has been completed and be it further

Resolved, That the Executive Council direct that said data base be housed and maintained by the national church headquarters.

Explanation:

HIV/AIDS has been at pandemic levels for over two decades. The year 2005 marked the grim milestone of 1,000,000 people in the United States alone living with HIV (and 40,000,000 worldwide). Despite a variety of educational resources… . ignorance about the subject continues to have a negative impact on the delivery of pastoral and educational services to those infected and affected by HIV… . It is vital that all
in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church have a basic working knowledge about HIV/AIDS if they are to be able to seek and serve Christ in all persons, respecting the dignity of every human being.

Resolution 5: National Survey on HIV/AIDS Ministry

Resolved, the House of ________ concurring, that the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church request that the Director of Research and the Office of Congregational Development undertake a mapping of HIV resources and ministries throughout the church, in all provinces and territories, and to provide this to the Executive Council Committee on HIV/AIDS by September, 2008.

Explanation:

As the pandemic continues unabated the Episcopal Church has revealed an all-too-common characteristic of fragmentation of effective ministry, perhaps contributing to a national decrease in concern and action. The map will reveal areas of disconnection and areas of strength, enabling the committee to forge relationships, support ministries, define areas of need, partner with other denominations (notably the ELCA), and dovetail with agencies in maintaining awareness, overcoming stigma, and insuring that all are welcome in the household of God.