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

WCC NEWS: WCC invites all to World AIDS Day prayer service

On 1 December, World AIDS Day will mark more than 40 years since the first outbreak of the epidemic; however, in 2021, every two minutes, an adolescent girl or young woman (15-24 years old) acquired HIV. Participants light candles during a July 19 interfaith prayer service, held at the Roman Catholic Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban, South Africa, during the 2016 International AIDS Conference. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 28 November 2022 The HIV epidemic is fueled by inequalities that exclude the vulnerable communities and impede progress against AIDS. These inequalities are product of unfair societies. Working in order to eliminate them requires the full collaboration of all actors, including the faith community. The World Council of Churches, in observance of this day, invites people to pray and confirm their  commitment to a sustainable HIV response. You are invited to join the World AIDS Day prayer service in the chapel in the Ecumenical Centre. We will also remember those who died without access to timely medication and care, due to stigma and discrimination. Time: 1 December, 08:30 AM CET Join in person:  Ecumenical Centre, 150, Route de Ferney 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland  Join online: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81445670121?pwd=VStLMWdLenlmSlc0cytLZ1VGY3Urdz09 Meeting ID: 814 4567 0121 Passcode: 463859 Link to the event World AIDS Day 2022 Order of Prayer 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 acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: On World AIDS Day, “we remember them and name them in our hearts”

Gathering the ecumenical family for an online prayer service on World AIDS Day, the World Council of Churches remembered the more than 30 million people who have died from AIDS from the beginning of the HIV pandemic, and the nearly 40 million people who are currently living with HIV.

02 December 2020

“We remember them and name them in our hearts,” they prayed from across the globe. “We lament for those and others who are the most vulnerable in our communities.” Those praying also listened, via a video message, to a young Christian woman living with HIV. “Yes, God heals but the process through which God heals is the medical treatment,” she said. She also urged people to pray for those facing stigma. “You fear that they will stigmatize you,” she said. “We live without the courage to share our status with people. That is unfair. We have financial problems, we have educational problems. It is not easy to live with HIV.” The prayer service also held many notes of hope for the future as it reflected on the theme “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility.” In a second video message, another young woman said: “As a child of God I have confidence that faith leaders across the globe will contribute to make a difference by involving society at large.” The global prayer ended on a note of hope—“We pray that you grant us the grace to help make this happen”—as those from across the world exchanged greetings of peace. Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance

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WCC NEWS: “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility:” WCC will host online prayer service on World AIDS Day

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will host an online prayer service on World AIDS Day, observed this year on 1 December.

"Tackling the AIDS Pandemic...The State of the World" is the title of the April 23, 2012 LIGHTEN THE BURDEN IV program held at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa Florida as part of the 2012 United Methodist General Conference. The altar cross is draped with a red cloth creating the AIDS symbol. Photo: Kathleen Barry/UMNS

27 November 2020

The livestreamed service will compliment other materials, including a podcast, that reflect on the theme “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility.” Prayers and reflections will center on how people, especially women and girls, and vulnerable communities, continue to experience injustices because of the HIV pandemic or COVID-19 pandemic. Those gathered will ponder, from a spiritual perceptive, the question: How can we, as followers of Jesus, take specific steps to overcome these challenges? The service will also remember the more than 30 million people who have died from AIDS from the beginning of the HIV pandemic, and the nearly 40 million people who are currently living with HIV. Though remarkable progress that has been made over the last decades, 13 million children, young people, women and men, who urgently need life-saving medications, are yet to access care and treatment. Prayers will be lifted up for faith communities at the forefront of mobilizing, caring, educating, learning, and living with people who have HIV. The prayer is also an opportunity to reaffirm  the commitment of the people of faith to strengthen global solidarity, and shared responsibility to overcome AIDS. Prayers and liturgy developed by the WCC are available for WCC member churches and friends for use in their own contexts. Join the online prayer service on World AIDS Day, 1 December: 4.30 PM Central European Time (link to live) Link to Order of prayer WCC-EAA WCC-EHAIA UNAIDS World AIDS DAY Report- 13 Million Campaign

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