October 29, 2005

GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) invites its members churches, ecumenical and other partners of the global communion to reflect on the subject of HIV/AIDS during events commemorating Reformation Sunday this year.

The theme of LWF Sunday 2005 is "Compassion, Conversion, Care – A Contribution to the Global Struggle Against HIV/AIDS." This topic "is at the very core of our churches and communities as it affects the whole of humanity," LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, says in worship guidelines that have been distributed for use on or around Reformation Day, observed on the last Sunday of October.

Noko notes that the HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to challenge and provoke the church to manifest its true identity as the Body of Christ. "It has revealed to us our weaknesses and failings to respond adequately to the call of our brothers and sisters who are living with this disease," he says.

"Over the last two decades or so of HIV/ AIDS response globally, the church has been known as a structure that hindered prevention efforts by not speaking out but remaining a mute spectator of the suffering endured by its own communities," Noko observes.

The general secretary says the "deafening silence and taboos imposed around matters of sex and sexuality" made it difficult for the church to fulfil its prophetic role of sounding the warnings and showing the right path especially to the youth. He underlines the church's calling to be inclusive, and notes, however, that "the stigma and discrimination experienced by those infected and affected within congregations bear witness to the exclusive nature of our faith."

Recalling the July 2003 LWF Tenth Assembly theme, "For the Healing of the World," Noko says this declaration continuously places upon the Lutheran communion the responsibility of restoring society's well-being.

In 2002 the LWF launched its global HIV/AIDS campaign titled, "Compassion, Conversion, Care – Responding as Churches to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic," with the aim to intensify ongoing efforts among member churches and related organizations to respond effectively to the pandemic.

The LWF Council adopted the concept of an "LWF Sunday" or a "Lutheran Communion Sunday" in 1995.

The preparatory material for LWF Sunday 2005 is available on the LWF Web site http://www.lutheranworld.org/Essentials/LWF-Sunday.html in PDF format in English, German, French and Spanish.

Lutheran World Information