World AIDS Day Service
EQUALIZE is focus of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2022.
This year, HIV and AIDS ministries and missions are focusing on the equalizing resources for those impacted by HIV and AIDS.
The disparity can be seen in the statistics. According to the United Nations, the key populations affected by HIV and AIDS include sex workers, gay men, those who inject drugs, transgender individuals, women and girls.
The UN has issued a call to action to:
- Increase availability, quality and suitability of services, for HIV treatment, testing and prevention, so that everyone is well-served.
- Reform laws, policies and practices to tackle the stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV and by key and marginalized populations, so that everyone is shown respect and is welcomed.
- Ensure the sharing of technology to enable equal access to the best HIV science, between communities and between the Global South and North.
- Communities will be able to make use of and adapt the “Equalize” message to highlight the particular inequalities they face and to press for the actions needed to address them.
What might we do to participate in the effort?
According to the he United Methodist Church’s General Board of Church and Society: “An effective AIDS response requires that we address the driving forces of HIV for example: poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, stigma, gender-based violence, and the fear of dealing with the complexity of human sexuality and apathy. Our efforts must include comprehensive efforts to prevent mother to child transmission. With the technology and medication available today, no child should contract HIV in the mother’s womb, or at childbirth.”
What the Bible and The United Methodist Church Say:
The United Methodist Book of Resolutions urges us to:
• Welcome and embrace people living with HIV
• Provide care and support
• End stigma and discrimination
• Provide awareness education on HIV
• Observe World AIDS Day
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
“God’s word calls us to a ministry of healing; a ministry that understands healing not only in physiological terms but also as wholeness of spiritual, mental and social being.” (Book of Resolutions, 3241)
Christ’s identification with suffering people was made clear when he said that “whatsoever you do to the least of these, you also do to me.” (Matthew 23:40, paraphrased)“In response to HIV/AIDS crisis in the world, the United Methodist Church commits itself to a holistic approach to awareness, education, prevention, treatment, community organizing and public advocacy.” (Book of Resolutions, 3241) “All individuals living with HIV and AIDS should be treated with dignity and respect. We support their rights to employment, appropriate medical care, full participation in public education, and full participation in the Church.” (Social Principles, ¶162.U)
Let us not forget…
A Word from Bishop Julius C. Trimble
We enter into the season of Advent anticipating the coming of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
This is an exciting time for Christians, but also a time for us to re-focus our attention on what is important to us as people of faith.
So much is fighting for our attention.
Covid 19 lingers, there are ongoing wars, hurricanes, divisions among people related to politics, theology and more.
So, how might we set our priorities?
How might we align our priorities with God’s priorities?
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says: "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt. 25:40)
Jesus, in his ministry on earth, held a special concern for those who were less fortunate – the widows, children, poor and marginalized.
In today’s world, these are the people who are disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS.
According to the United Nations, there are the key populations currently struggling with HIV and AIDS. The statistics show:
- In 2021, sex workers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people and the sexual partners of all of these groups accounted for 70% of HIV infections globally.
- The risk of acquiring HIV is 35 times higher among people who inject drugs than adults who do not inject drugs; 30 times higher for female sex workers than adult women; 28 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men than adult men and 14 times higher for transgender women than adult women.
- Every week, around 4,900 young women aged 15–24 years become infected with HIV.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, six in seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged 15–19 years are among girls. Girls and young women aged 15–24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV than young men.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2021.
While there are many ways for us to live out our faith and care for those in need, let us not forget those suffering from HIV and AIDS. They truly are “the least of these” and we remember them as we observe the 34thannual World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.
Let us join the global call to action to "equalize" by addressing the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS.
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee pledges to do its part.
This past year, UMGAC worked hard to educate and resource communities around the world in the fight against HIV and AIDS. We shared all the latest HIV and AIDS information and news on our social media accounts. We sponsored an AIDS conference in Kigali, Rwanda, that was attended by 80 UMC pastors and spouses. We produced a video demonstrating what the Church can do to be the hands and feet of God in the face of HIV and AIDS – a video that was featured at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal.
This Advent season, let us renew our commitment to live out the Lord’s teachings.
Let us prepare ourselves to do more of the good work that will rid the world of HIV and AIDS. As we minister to these individuals, we minister to our Lord whose birth we celebrate this holiday season.We can all make a difference. We can end the virus once and for all.Be encouraged as we minister together to those in need.
***Bishop Julius C. Trimble, resident bishop of the Indiana Area of the United Methodist Church, chairs the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee. Tune to his podcast "Be Encouraged" at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-encouraged-with-bishop-julius-c-trimble/id1601874089.