Breaking the Conspiracy of Silence

by Donald E. Messer

Overview

Christian Churches and the Global AIDS CrisisMore than twenty years into the global AIDS pandemic, the efforts of Christian congregations and denominations have been less than minimal. This book is aimed to awaken Christian compassion in the coming years to this fathomless tragedy.

The worst health crisis in the world in 700 years, global HIV/AIDS epidemic is overwhelming in scale: 40 million people are infected worldwide (75% of them in Africa); 7000 people die daily; each day 1600 persons are infected. Some 26 million people have already died. ''At this unprecedented kairos moment in human history,'' says Messer, ''God is calling the church to a new mission and ministry.'' Drawing on his own involvement in global AIDS education in Asia, Latin America, and Africa, Messer uses stories, basic factual information, and theological insights to motivate lay and clerical Christians to assume leadership and form partnerships with Christians around the world in this struggle. Just as individuals must change their behavior to prevent and eliminate AIDS, so must congregations and church leaders. Compassion, not condemnation, is desperately needed, says Messer. But financial resources for education and prevention programs are also urgently required from churches. Messer shows how churches can partner with ecumenical organizations, relief agencies, volunteer mission programs, healthcare programs, and other agencies to engage global AIDS directly and effectively.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800636418
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	02/24/2004
Series:	Prisms
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Donald E. Messer is a United Methodist theologian and author of twelve books. Currently the Executive Director of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, Messer was President of Dakota Wesleyan University from 1971-1981 and President of Illiff School of Theology from 1981-2000. He was named both President Emeritus and the Henry White Warren Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology at The Iliff School of Theology. Concern for the escalating global HIV/AIDS pandemic has prompted Dr. Messer to travel and speak in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as to initiate a Center for the Church and Global AIDS that serves as a catalyst for Christian involvement in the major issues related to global HIV and AIDS, world hunger, and clean water. A college and seminary president for 29 years, Messer holds a Ph.D. from Boston University in social ethics. In 2005 he was honored with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from a medical university in India for his humanitarian work. Among other awards received over the years was being named "One of American's Ten Outstanding Young Men" in 1976 by the United States Jaycees. Throughout the world, the Center supports various projects of education, prevention, care and treatment, aimed at helping to create an AIDS-free and hunger-free world.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	xi
	The Voice of God	xi
	Jesus in the AIDS Hospital	xiii
	Word Becomes Flesh	xv
	An Essay in Practical Theology	xvi
	Defining Terms: HIV/AIDS	xix
	Words of Gratitude	xix
1.	The Church and Global AIDS	1
	Global Emergency	2
	From Denial to Constructive Engagement	5
	A Global Portrait of HIV/AIDS	7
	Updating Global Statistics	16
	Toward a New AIDS Theology	18
	Reclaiming the Essence of the Church	21
	An Ecumenical and Interfaith Response	24
	One by One by One	25
2.	We Are All HIV-positive	27
	Facing Stigmatization and Discrimination	28
	We Are All Dying	30
	Courage and Hope of HIV/AIDS Victims	32
	It's Not Our Problem	33
	It's Not Christian to Talk about Sex	34
	It's Somebody Else's Responsibility	35
	Compassion, Self-Interest, and Challenges Ahead	37
3.	Facing and Responding to Sexual Realities	39
	AIDS and Sexual Behavior	40
	Responding with Christian Love	49
	What If?	58
4.	Stigmatization and Discrimination	59
	Stigmatization and Discrimination as Sins	60
	Resisting Sin	61
	AIDS Is Not a Dirty Word	74
5.	Women, Children, and HIV/AIDS	76
	An "Equal Opportunity" Disease	77
	The Patriarchy Problem	78
	An Ethical Response	79
	Hearing and Heeding Women's Voices	92
6.	The ABCs of Prevention	95
	A Is for Abstinence	97
	B Is for Be Faithful	98
	C Is for Condoms	100
	Other Letters in the Alphabet of Life	104
	Ethics in a New Key	111
7.	A World without AIDS	115
	An Unexpected, Unwelcome Banquet Guest	116
	Love in a Time of AIDS	118
	Realistic Idealism	125
8.	Ensuring Care, Testing, Counseling, and Treatment	127
	Care, Not Cure	128
	Testing, Not Denial	134
	Competent, Compassionate Counseling	137
	Treatment	141
	Saving Grace	146
9.	Global Hope in a Global Emergency	147
	Awakening a Sleeping Church	149
	A Liturgical Response to the Global Emergency	150
	Signs of Global Hope	157
	Hopeful Models: Partnerships to Save Lives	161
	Faith, Hope, and Love	164
Appendix	Avoiding HIV/AIDS	167
	Notes	169
	Selected Bibliography	189