WCC NEWS: WCC prayer for World AIDS Day: “let us act together in faith”

During a World Council of Churches (WCC) prayer on 2 December, those gathered commemorated World AIDS Day, which was observed 1 December, and also prayed with the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle for the people and churches of Myanmar and Thailand. On 1 December 2022, Gathering for a World AIDS Day prayer in the Ecumenicla Center in Geneva, the World Council of Churches (WCC) reflected on the latest UNAIDS report, and prayed that churches will renew their commitment to become agents of life for those suffering from HIV and AIDS. Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC 03 December 2024 Rev. Christo Greyling, member of the WCC Commission of the Churches on Health and Healing, and the chair of the Working Group on HIV and Reproductive Health, offered a reflection on World AIDS Day, which this year has the theme “Take the ‘rights’ path: My health, my right!” According to the latest the UNAIDS report  on HIV, 40 million people globally are living with HIV, 1.3 million people have newly acquired HIV, and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses. Almost 31 million people are receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy. Still, a quarter of people living with HIV who need lifesaving treatment, especially children and adolescents living with HIV, are yet to be treated. At least half of all people from key populations are not being reached with prevention services. Churches and communities are called to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS.  The prayer read: “Give us new eyes for seeing the injustice you see, new ears for hearing the cries arising for help, new energy for doing your will, so that no one living with HIV remains forsaken, and no one, regardless of their origin or status, stays forgotten by those who have what they need.” Greyling noted that the scriptures make it abundantly clear that we are all entitled to a dignified life. “The concept of one body has to move beyond rhetoric,” he said. “It has to be experienced.” He pointed out that we have to be empathetic to one another’s needs, and in solidarity, respond in a timely manner with compassion and competence. “We cannot rest when parts of this one body are suffering and are being stigmatized,” he said. “We have to respond responsibly and together and make a difference in the lives of those who are hurting.” Greyling especially urged that we must mentor young leaders. “We are running a relay race,” he said. “We are not running our races.” The world can end AIDS—if the human rights of people living with or affected by HIV are respected, protected and fulfilled, concluded Greyling. "As a community of faith, let us act together in faith.” The prayer also occurred during the “16 Days Against Gender-based Violence” campaign.  The prayer noted that gender inequalities and unequal power dynamics between men and women and harmful gender norms are making women and girls vulnerable to HIV. “It is depriving them of the voice and the ability to make decisions regarding their lives, and reducing their ability to access services, including for HIV,” read the prayer. “Help us to be contrite and humble and transform harmful gender and masculinity norms among men and boys to help reduce vulnerabilities to HIV among women and adolescent girls.” 2024 global AIDS report — The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads | UNAIDS Read the blog post: HIV/AIDS until when? See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland