Practicing Hope

Practicing Hope

HIV—the ongoing challenge to churches and church leaders—

Almost thirty-five years after the advent of HIV and AIDS, churches, church bodies and church leaders are developing competence in handling the enormous personal, communal, cultural and religious dimensions of the epidemic. Yet the challenge is ongoing and global. While the rate of new infections is declining in Africa, for example, it is on the rise in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

A Handbook for Building HIV and AIDS Competence in the Churches

Edited by Sue Parry

EHAIA series

Specs: 200 pp.; 5.5 x 8”; paper; perfect; 4-colour series cover
Topic/Shelving: Health / Pastoral Care
ISBN: 978-2-8254-1622-8
Price: CHF 22.00; Price£14.00; €14.00; $22.00; March 2014

Order: www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.com, and at local bookstores and online booksellers.

HIV—the ongoing challenge to churches and church leaders—

Almost thirty-five years after the advent of HIV and AIDS, churches, church bodies and church leaders are developing competence in handling the enormous personal, communal, cultural and religious dimensions of the epidemic.  Yet the challenge is ongoing and global. While the rate of new infections is declining in Africa, for example, it is on the rise in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Dr. Sue Parry, whose Beacons of Hope provided a breakthrough in helping African and other churches gain HIV competence, here gathers the clinical and pastoral knowledge of a generation into a handbook for pastoral caregivers, seminary educators, and professionals in ministry. A sophisticated and comprehensive framework, the book also demonstrates and facilitates the vital role that churches can play in addressing not just the clinical but also the deeper cultural and religious dimension of the HIV epidemic. Parry’s practical and perceptive guide to mainstreaming HIV competence in the churches enables Christians and Christian churches not merely to envision hope but also to practice it.

Dr Sue Parry is a physician from Zimbabwe with broad experience in the provision of clinical care in both rural and urban, in government and church settings.  She is regional coordinator for Southern Africa of the Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA).

Click here to download the table of contents, introduction and chapter 1 (pdf)