It is not a secret that churches have been criticized to have awakened to respond to HIV and AIDS slowly. Faith communities’ role in the context of HIV and AIDS is crucial and unique – they are in a position to change the whole course of the HIV pandemic. International, governmental and non-governmental organisations have recognised it, and most importantly, churches themselves have awakened to the importance of their role.
CUAHA has worked on developing a tool that churches and other organizations could use to observe their HIV competence: to measure their own strengths and weaknesses and to help to plan the way forward. This tool focuses on the issue especially from the point of view of religious organizations.
CUAHA has published the "Challenging the Current Understanding Around HIV and AIDS: an African Christian Perspective" in 2005. The book consists of five articles directed for churches and theologians about HIV and AIDS. The articles are: 1) God's mastery and mystery in the creation and history, 2) God, theodicy, HIV and AIDS, 3) Ethics of care and medical practice in their social context, 4) Confronting HIV and AIDS related stigma and its devastating consequences, 5) Healing in relation to HIV and AIDS. The book is available in English and Portuguese which you can download here (c) CUAHA.
CUAHA's goal is to build the capacity of tis partners to be/become HIV and AIDS competent. Therefore, CUAHA has recently published a book to be a tool by which churches are able to evaluate their HIV and AIDS competence.
The book 'Towards an HIV and AIDS Competent Church' has been in progress for several years to ensure taht it has received adequate input and revision by the experts committed and focused on being HIV and AIDS comptent from among our CUAHA members and other partners.
This book is a valid, sound and practical toolkit for every church leader. It includes chapters on facts about HIV and AIDS, sexuality, prevention, stigma, advocacy, empowerment, leadership, healing, liturgy and sacraments, counseling, testing, networking and caring. Throughout the book, there are sections where a reader can check their competence in the aforementioned topics. In the course of this year, CUAHA is also developing a training toolkit which will accompany the book.
This book is CUAHA's contribution to the global discourse on HIV and AIDS. You can download it here.
Why should we aim at having an HIV and AIDS competent church? The church has a unique position in African society. The church is everywhere. The potential is endless. The church and religious leaders can “alter the course of the epidemic.†1 With all this potential comes great responsibility. How has the church responded? The response of the church has been inadequate and, in some cases, has made the problem even worse. Ignorance, lack of proficiency, and an inadequate response have been contributing factors. HIV and AIDS is not asking for something new from the churches. Rather, it is confronting the churches with the reality of becoming more fully the kind of people we have been called to be. This book is CUAHA’s contribution to this end.
CUAHA (Churches United Against HIV & AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa) is a network that was initiated as an appeal from churches of various denominations seeking to find a common voice to share their concern and heart for reaching out to everyone in our world of HIV and AIDS. Since its inception in 2002, CUAHA has developed into a vibrant ecumenical network representing churches and faith-based organizations cooperating to face HIV and AIDS in their communities. The network includes over 40 churches and organizations of Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox and Pentecostal denominations in Finland and 13 African countries (Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).
As Christians we strive to live up to the imperatives of our faith through our spirituality and theology, the base for our decisions and activities. This life-long, on-going process is sometimes hindered by our doubts, our failures and our bewilderment, especially when new phenomena occur. In the beginning of the HIV pandemic many, especially in the secular world, saw our churches as part of the problem, and not as a part of the solution. Many forgot, and still forget, that it was Christian hospitals who cared for the people with AIDS, both in Kampala and New York, when secular hospitals shunned them and did not want them as patients. HIV has mobilized churches in many more ways than we know and understand. In many parts of Africa, where HIV has hit communities particularly hard, women are caring for orphans, both own relatives and other. They do this because of their faith. Community’s resilience against HIV is based on faith. More and more of all churches leaders are taking active part in HIV related issues, and there is a tremendous interfaith collaboration around HIV, something which is not very well known.
CUAHA has a new publication 'Towards an HIV and AIDS Competent Church' that will be launched next week in Nairobi, Kenya. Churches attain to be relevant to the communities God has called them to serve. HIV and AIDS have offered the church a challenge as well as an opportunity to be and function more fully as the people of God. CUAHA has published a new book to help churches to evaluate their own competency in this area.
Watch this space for when the book along with a training manual will be available.
God has the authority to heal. But what does that mean in terms of HIV treatment? How does one reconcile the ideas of supernatural healing and modern medicine?
Juha Virtanen reflects on these questions and his experience in Pentecostal churches in East Africa. Read more below!
God created sex. Sex is a natural and positive thing. HIV is primarily spread through sexual contact. The church promotes safer sexual practices.
In this bible study, we look at the importance of companionship and sexual pleasure, the gift of celibacy, safer and non-safe sexual practices, and examine a Christian approach to sexual ethics.
Read more below!
What is empowerment? What is an empowering organization like? How can faith-based organizations, in particular, empower the people they work with?
CUAHA has been working hard in Mexico City. Among the fruits of that labour, there is this gem: an ecumenical examination on the concept of empowerment.
Read more below!
What is HIV and AIDS competence? How does one evaluate how an organization could improve?
Well, there are tools. A group called The Constellation for AIDS Competence has developed a tool that organizations can use for this purpose. CUAHA has taken that tool and geared it towards churches and faith-based organizations. It was presented on July 31st in Mexico City.
The point of this tool is to take a critical look at your own church's or organization's performance ranging from sex education and counselling to liturgy. The language is “theological†on purpose. The idea was to put the tool within a framework that faith–based organization leaders could understand and feel comfortable with.
Read more below!