WCC and Christian Conference of Asia

Report of the WCC-CCA consultation on ‘An ecumenical agenda to combat HIV/AIDS in South Asia' 

Colombo, Sri Lanka
24 - 26 July 2002 

Preamble

We, the representatives of the ecumenical family in the countries of South Asia and global ecumenical partners who met at Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a joint consultation on an Ecumenical Agenda to combat HIV/AIDS in South Asia; 

Affirm that the Church is the community of God's people in Christ, where each is loved and accepted. The Church has a unique and powerful role to play in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis in offering spiritual sanctuary, solace, forgiveness, restoration, hope and peace.

However, we note with great concern the worsening of the HIV/AIDS situation in our region, fuelled by the presence of

• illiteracy and poverty,

• gender disparity

• stigma, discrimination, and denial,

• high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases,

• low condom access and usage,

• extensive commercial sex,

• injecting drug use,

• and population movements.

We are dismayed and discouraged at the lack of adequate response on the part of the institutional church, which brings to light the weaknesses in our theological understanding and practice.

We decry the discrimination, the denial of human rights, and the burden of stigma borne by those who are living with HIV/AIDS and our role as Church in contributing to rather than acting prophetically to condemn such attitudes and actions. 

Taking courage that there is still a window of opportunity to avert a devastating and hopeless situation, we analysed the South Asian situation with regard to country specific data, ecumenical priorities, strengths and opportunities available to the Church, and the particular challenges within our contexts of dealing with stigma and discrimination, addressing sex and sexuality, promoting interfaith/intersectoral action, and undertaking interventions and capacity-building for action.

Challenges to the Churches and Call for Action 

Stigma and Discrimination

Churches are challenged to be more inclusive, changing the mindset that demarcates "us" and "them" and opening the way for mutuality in a spiritual journey we all travel together. Churches need to overcome being judgmental, recognizing that we ourselves stand in need of forgiveness for our attitudes, apathy, and inaction in the face of HIV/AIDS. With the active participation of people living with HIV/AIDS in our program planning and implementation, churches are challenged to confront stigma and discrimination. Churches are also challenged to include HIV/AIDS in theological training and to undertake practical measures such as promoting gender justice in the church and communities, advocating for access to treatment and drugs for PLWHA, and strategies to decrease people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.  

Suggested actions:

• Create awareness of social, theological, and technical issues of HIV/AIDS that contribute to stigmatisation and discrimination through discussions, sermons, workshops, Sunday Schools, youth and women's fellowship meetings.

• Participate in advocacy programs.

• Involve PLWHA in program planning, implementation and management.

• Promote and uphold the basic rights of PLWHA.

• Promote and uphold rights of women, youth, children, the poor and marginalized.

• Advocate for comprehensive care, including increased access to anti-retroviral drugs.

• Provide counselling and spiritual support for various groups.

• Promote exchange visits and information sharing locally, nationally and internationally.

• Provide care and support to single mothers and children, especially vulnerable children, such as orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS.

• Create opportunities for public interaction between church leaders and PLWHA.

• Support networking and collaboration among churches. 

Sex and Sexuality

Churches are challenged to break the silence and go beyond cultural taboos in order to approach topics of sex and sexuality in a more positive and non judgmental way, recognizing also the need to include gender justice in church teaching and practice. 

Suggested actions:

• Provide opportunities for clergy and lay leaders to understand sex and sexuality and gender justice, within both theological and health education frameworks, through workshops, discussions, seminars.

• Develop, collect and promote appropriate materials keeping in mind language, cultural sensitivity, and biblical foundations.

• Introduce the topic of sexuality, understood in a positive fashion, into curricula for clergy training.

• Introduce sexual education in a value-based manner within the context of broader training in life skills in secondary and Sunday school wherever possible. This must be done in a culturally sensitive way with the cooperation of teachers, parents, and school authorities. 

Interfaith and Intersectoral Cooperation

Churches are challenged to transcend religious fundamentalism, overcome our mistrust of other religious groups, and reach out to people of other faiths in humility and love. We need to find the common platforms for action, recognizing that we are all children of one God and working together to build caring communities where all are accepted. It is in this working together that we find our common humanity. Taking into confidence religious leaders of other faiths, we must remain sensitive to local culture and traditions. Churches are also challenged to adopt an intersectoral and holistic approach to ensure the protection of human rights, reproductive rights, legal rights, women's empowerment, and economic justice.  

Suggested actions:

• Determine areas of common concern and initiate strategies for cooperation and action with other faith communities.

• Conduct interfaith dialogue locally, nationally, and internationally.

• Network with other civil society organizations and NGOs.

Interventions and Capacity-Building

We strongly urge churches to be involved in and partners to support need-based interventions. Recognizing the wide reach of Christian congregations through our health and educational institutions, churches are challenged to prioritise capacity-building in order to be fully and effectively mobilised in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Capacity-building initiatives could focus on clergy, lay leaders, women, youth groups, and staff of the church institutions and include training in programme management, communication and counselling skills, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, and value-based education. 

Suggested actions:

• Advocacy with church leaders and lay leadership in a focused, intensive, time-bound programme aimed at achieving personal commitments, through an advocacy unit to be set up by NCCs (recommended time period of six months).

• Incorporate training on HIV/AIDS prevention and care in the curricula of theological schools and for other church leaders.

• Capacity-building in life skills and responsible behaviour among youth through Sunday School teachers, peer groups, Vacation Bible Schools, and youth group leaders; among women through women pastors, fellowship group leaders, women's networks in churches; and among men in the same manner and intensity.

• Training of staff of Christian education and health institutions to serve as vehicles for future action in their respective areas.

• Utilisation of the expertise of selected institutions that provide specialised services (e.g. behavioural change communications for risk groups and general population, counselling services, blood screening, care services for PLWHA, drug harm reduction, condom services, STI interventions, etc.).

• Cooperation with government programmes and policies that address HIV/AIDS.

 Mechanisms for Implementation and Coordination

Participants envision a structure for implementation and coordination which would include regional coordination through the South Asia Ecumenical Partnership Programme (SAEPP) and national coordination through respective NCCs. We envision implementation in partnership with ecumenical partners.  

Key principles to guide the implementation and coordination would include:

• Systematic documentation.

• Processes for effective planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Accountability and transparency.

• Networking and alliance-building. 

Conclusion

We are encouraged by positive examples of accompaniment and healing. The Thailand experience, for example, teaches us the value of interfaith cooperation.  

We are deeply moved by the African experience, where churches now acknowledge that their denial and slowness to take action have contributed to the widespread epidemic. The African church leaders and ecumenical partners have said, 

"It is time to speak the truth. It is time to act only out of love. It is time to overcome fatigue and denial. And it is time to live in hope." 

Acknowledging that inactivity would have tragic consequences, we the participants encourage the translation of Commitment into Action, affirming the value and dignity of human life, ensuring fullness of life to all. 

We submit this proposal to the WCC-CCA Consultation on ‘Social and Human Development in South Asia' (24^th to 26^th July) confident that they would evolve an appropriate mechanism to implement this ‘Call to Action', within the framework of SAEPP.

Report of the WCC-CCA consultation on ‘An ecumenical agenda to combat HIV/AIDS in South Asia' 

Colombo, Sri Lanka
24 - 26 July 2002 

Preamble

We, the representatives of the ecumenical family in the countries of South Asia and global ecumenical partners who met at Colombo, Sri Lanka, in a joint consultation on an Ecumenical Agenda to combat HIV/AIDS in South Asia; 

Affirm that the Church is the community of God's people in Christ, where each is loved and accepted. The Church has a unique and powerful role to play in the midst of the HIV/AIDS crisis in offering spiritual sanctuary, solace, forgiveness, restoration, hope and peace.

However, we note with great concern the worsening of the HIV/AIDS situation in our region, fuelled by the presence of

• illiteracy and poverty,

• gender disparity

• stigma, discrimination, and denial,

• high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases,

• low condom access and usage,

• extensive commercial sex,

• injecting drug use,

• and population movements.

We are dismayed and discouraged at the lack of adequate response on the part of the institutional church, which brings to light the weaknesses in our theological understanding and practice.

We decry the discrimination, the denial of human rights, and the burden of stigma borne by those who are living with HIV/AIDS and our role as Church in contributing to rather than acting prophetically to condemn such attitudes and actions. 

Taking courage that there is still a window of opportunity to avert a devastating and hopeless situation, we analysed the South Asian situation with regard to country specific data, ecumenical priorities, strengths and opportunities available to the Church, and the particular challenges within our contexts of dealing with stigma and discrimination, addressing sex and sexuality, promoting interfaith/intersectoral action, and undertaking interventions and capacity-building for action.

Challenges to the Churches and Call for Action 

Stigma and Discrimination

Churches are challenged to be more inclusive, changing the mindset that demarcates "us" and "them" and opening the way for mutuality in a spiritual journey we all travel together. Churches need to overcome being judgmental, recognizing that we ourselves stand in need of forgiveness for our attitudes, apathy, and inaction in the face of HIV/AIDS. With the active participation of people living with HIV/AIDS in our program planning and implementation, churches are challenged to confront stigma and discrimination. Churches are also challenged to include HIV/AIDS in theological training and to undertake practical measures such as promoting gender justice in the church and communities, advocating for access to treatment and drugs for PLWHA, and strategies to decrease people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.  

Suggested actions:

• Create awareness of social, theological, and technical issues of HIV/AIDS that contribute to stigmatisation and discrimination through discussions, sermons, workshops, Sunday Schools, youth and women's fellowship meetings.

• Participate in advocacy programs.

• Involve PLWHA in program planning, implementation and management.

• Promote and uphold the basic rights of PLWHA.

• Promote and uphold rights of women, youth, children, the poor and marginalized.

• Advocate for comprehensive care, including increased access to anti-retroviral drugs.

• Provide counselling and spiritual support for various groups.

• Promote exchange visits and information sharing locally, nationally and internationally.

• Provide care and support to single mothers and children, especially vulnerable children, such as orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS.

• Create opportunities for public interaction between church leaders and PLWHA.

• Support networking and collaboration among churches. 

Sex and Sexuality

Churches are challenged to break the silence and go beyond cultural taboos in order to approach topics of sex and sexuality in a more positive and non judgmental way, recognizing also the need to include gender justice in church teaching and practice. 

Suggested actions:

• Provide opportunities for clergy and lay leaders to understand sex and sexuality and gender justice, within both theological and health education frameworks, through workshops, discussions, seminars.

• Develop, collect and promote appropriate materials keeping in mind language, cultural sensitivity, and biblical foundations.

• Introduce the topic of sexuality, understood in a positive fashion, into curricula for clergy training.

• Introduce sexual education in a value-based manner within the context of broader training in life skills in secondary and Sunday school wherever possible. This must be done in a culturally sensitive way with the cooperation of teachers, parents, and school authorities. 

Interfaith and Intersectoral Cooperation

Churches are challenged to transcend religious fundamentalism, overcome our mistrust of other religious groups, and reach out to people of other faiths in humility and love. We need to find the common platforms for action, recognizing that we are all children of one God and working together to build caring communities where all are accepted. It is in this working together that we find our common humanity. Taking into confidence religious leaders of other faiths, we must remain sensitive to local culture and traditions. Churches are also challenged to adopt an intersectoral and holistic approach to ensure the protection of human rights, reproductive rights, legal rights, women's empowerment, and economic justice.  

Suggested actions:

• Determine areas of common concern and initiate strategies for cooperation and action with other faith communities.

• Conduct interfaith dialogue locally, nationally, and internationally.

• Network with other civil society organizations and NGOs.

Interventions and Capacity-Building

We strongly urge churches to be involved in and partners to support need-based interventions. Recognizing the wide reach of Christian congregations through our health and educational institutions, churches are challenged to prioritise capacity-building in order to be fully and effectively mobilised in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Capacity-building initiatives could focus on clergy, lay leaders, women, youth groups, and staff of the church institutions and include training in programme management, communication and counselling skills, documentation, monitoring and evaluation, and value-based education. 

Suggested actions:

• Advocacy with church leaders and lay leadership in a focused, intensive, time-bound programme aimed at achieving personal commitments, through an advocacy unit to be set up by NCCs (recommended time period of six months).

• Incorporate training on HIV/AIDS prevention and care in the curricula of theological schools and for other church leaders.

• Capacity-building in life skills and responsible behaviour among youth through Sunday School teachers, peer groups, Vacation Bible Schools, and youth group leaders; among women through women pastors, fellowship group leaders, women's networks in churches; and among men in the same manner and intensity.

• Training of staff of Christian education and health institutions to serve as vehicles for future action in their respective areas.

• Utilisation of the expertise of selected institutions that provide specialised services (e.g. behavioural change communications for risk groups and general population, counselling services, blood screening, care services for PLWHA, drug harm reduction, condom services, STI interventions, etc.).

• Cooperation with government programmes and policies that address HIV/AIDS.

 Mechanisms for Implementation and Coordination

Participants envision a structure for implementation and coordination which would include regional coordination through the South Asia Ecumenical Partnership Programme (SAEPP) and national coordination through respective NCCs. We envision implementation in partnership with ecumenical partners.  

Key principles to guide the implementation and coordination would include:

• Systematic documentation.

• Processes for effective planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Accountability and transparency.

• Networking and alliance-building. 

Conclusion

We are encouraged by positive examples of accompaniment and healing. The Thailand experience, for example, teaches us the value of interfaith cooperation.  

We are deeply moved by the African experience, where churches now acknowledge that their denial and slowness to take action have contributed to the widespread epidemic. The African church leaders and ecumenical partners have said, 

"It is time to speak the truth. It is time to act only out of love. It is time to overcome fatigue and denial. And it is time to live in hope." 

Acknowledging that inactivity would have tragic consequences, we the participants encourage the translation of Commitment into Action, affirming the value and dignity of human life, ensuring fullness of life to all. 

We submit this proposal to the WCC-CCA Consultation on ‘Social and Human Development in South Asia' (24^th to 26^th July) confident that they would evolve an appropriate mechanism to implement this ‘Call to Action', within the framework of SAEPP.