|PIC1|The two-day ecumenical pre-conference at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto ended with ‘‘Purpose Driven’’ pastor Rick Warren and HIV positive African Anglican priest the Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha concluding that hope in the HIV/AIDS battle lies in faith in the power and promises of God.

“We have the power and promises of God,” said Warren at the closing plenary on Friday, according to the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. “That means we’re not fighting this battle simply on human effort. We’re not fighting this battle just on our own energy, our own creativity.”

Byamugisha, founder of the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with and Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS, also gave hope and strength to the Christian leaders at the pre-conference by affirming, “The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is our guarantee that HIV and AIDS will not and do not have the final word in shaping our global future and destiny. Our God is more powerful than AIDS.”

The two pastors were the speakers at the pre-conference closing plenary titled, “Where do we go from here?” The Aug. 10-11 pre-conference was held ahead of the International AIDS Conference – the world’s largest HIV/AIDS Conference, the 16th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006) which opens Sunday.

Byamugisha, who serves as a resource person for World Vision International, distinguished the difference between “cosmetic contribution” and “total commitment.” The Ugandan Anglican priest stated a choice had to be made by the ecumenical leaders present between continuation of cosmetic surgery and total commitment in ending the HIV pandemic.

|PIC2|Saddleback Church’s Warren presented the three-legged stool model to explain the importance of cooperation among all sectors fighting against HIV/AIDS. He believes the government, businesses and NGOS, and the Church have a role in the battle – although the Church needs to become more actively involved.

“But the Church has a role and it is the missing leg of the stool,” said the author of The Purpose-Driven Life. “We will never, never resolve this pandemic until the Church – and I mean local churches, not denominations, local churches - are mobilised. We can’t do it without the Church.”

Warren highlighted important resources of the Church, including the widest distribution system in the world, largest available volunteers, credibility at local level, and longest record of caring.

Byamugisha, who daily confronts his own personal battle with HIV, admitted that there is no easy answer to HIV/AIDS, but encouraged Christian leaders to be innovative in finding a solution to the complex problem.

“We must begin training our minds to embrace and appreciate complexity, that there is no magic bullet that’s going to fix AIDS,” the Anglican priest said. “We must do things uniquely. It’s not business as usual.”




Michelle Vu
Christian Today Correspondent