UCANEWS: Asian Churches consult on HIV ‘healing’ ministry

ASIA - Asian Churches consult on HIV ‘healing’ ministry

Published Date: April 16, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR (UCAN) — An Asian Christian meeting held here April 11-15 has urged Churches to be “centers of healing” for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Fifty-five participants, including people with HIV/AIDS, pastors, theologians, medical professionals and social workers, attended the consultation organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA).

They listened to each others’ experiences and identified the need for Churches to engage in further reflection and develop a theological perspective on “healing.”

Stories from Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and India were shared during the discussion.

In a statement, participants noted there are approximately 1.7 million people in Asia living with HIV and AIDS.

The consultation took place prior to the general assembly of the CCA, which started April 15 and is due to end April 22. The intention of the consultation was to enable the Churches to be “HIV competent,” CCA general secretary Prawate Khid-arn told UCA News.

The participants described HIV as a problem intensified by poverty, gender inequality, migration, human trafficking, conflicts and discrimination, and in Asia it is “becoming an increasing concern for women, children and young people.”

They called on Churches to be inclusive, engage in creative listening, and share the people’s life journeys with love and respect, so that “all people feel safe and valued as being made in the image of God.”

The participants pledged to continue to work “collaboratively with other faiths and civil societies to overcome the influence of HIV and AIDS in Asian society.” They also called on Churches to develop a “holistic HIV and AIDS Christian ministry” and to develop and promote more resources and liturgies with an Asian theological perspective on HIV and AIDS.

Prophets, healers and reconcilers

“The silence of persons living with HIV and AIDS, and their families can only be broken when they know they will not be judged, excluded and discriminated against,” they added, noting that discussions in church about HIV and AIDS have been “difficult and too intimidating, thus limiting open and honest conversations.”

They also warned that the “criminalizing of behaviors, law enforcement and moral policing cannot overcome HIV.”

They said Churches and faith-based organizations have great potential to be “prophets, healers and reconcilers.” They also said they wanted more attention given to increasing the competency of Church leaders and building capacity for all organizations working with people with HIV and AIDS.

Reverend A Ko Lay told participants that people with HIV must be treated as subjects and not objects. “They must be provided with opportunities to take leadership roles in their life and work to provide them with a sense of self-reliance, self-confidence and selfhood.”

CCA consultant Erlinda Senturia told UCA News that the presence of some 20 people with HIV/AIDS giving their testimonies was the most important achievement of the consultation.

The CCA comprises more than 100 Protestant and Orthodox Churches in New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Timor Leste.

AS09452.1597 April 16, 2010 52 EM-lines (494 words)

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