Seminaries Consult on HIV and AIDS Action
by Bob Schminkey
PAN Co-Moderator
PAN members meet at Columbia Theological Seminary. (Front Row, L-R) the Rev. Vanessa Sharp, Emily Martin, Beth Outterson, Bob Schminkey; (Second Row, L-R): the Rev. Dr. Keith L. Riddle, the Rev. Howard Dotson, the Rev. Andrew Black, (the Rev. Kate Holbrook missing from photo). Photo courtesy of PHEWA The Presbyterian AIDS Network (PAN) and representatives from seven PC(USA) seminaries met in Atlanta at Columbia Theological Seminary October 2-4 to consider how we prepare students for ministry in an HIV positive world.
Calling the HIV pandemic the “worst public health crisis in 700 years,” Dr. Donald Messer, professor emeritus at the Iliff School of Theology and executive director of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS, preached at the opening worship for the consultation. Reminding us that Jesus preached compassion and not condemnation, Messer called on our seminaries to train pastors prepared to go forth into the world saying, “God is calling us to do God’s healing, redemptive work.”
Seminary faculty at the consultation. (Front Row, L-R): Dr. Beth Johnson (Columbia), Dr. Beth McCaw (Dubuque), Dr. Deborah F. Mullen (McCormick). (Second Row, L-R): Dr. Donald Messer (guest speaker, executive director of the Center for the Church and Global AIDS), Dr. Ronald E. Peters (Pittsburgh), Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon (Union-PSCE), Dr. Marsha Snulligan Haney (ITC/Johnson C. Smith), Dr. Christopher Elwood (Louisville). Photo courtesy of PHEWA PAN invited representatives from all PC(USA) related seminaries to come to the consultation to consider “best practices” in theological and pastoral education on HIV and AIDS. Seminary representatives from seven of our 10 schools attended and in two days together shared stories of success and challenges in making HIV and AIDS a priority in our schools and church.
Three seminaries noted the importance of worship events in chapel on World AIDS Day or week-long AIDS recognition weeks. Often led by student interest in HIV and AIDS issues, these special events allowed their communities to highlight HIV and AIDS issues and create a space for students to begin to discuss the issues around the pandemic from a personal perspective and to consider their faith response.
Participants visit the AIDS Quilt/NAMES Project. Photo courtesy of PHEWA Others noted that important partnerships with local HIV and AIDS organizations such as Balm in Gilead and the local public health officials helped their students identify allies in their local communities and learn what it means to be living positive in our modern world. The consultation participants visited one such partner, the AIDS Quilt/NAMES Project. The time with the AIDS Quilt was extremely emotional as all in the group knew people who had died during the pandemic. In leaving the AIDS Quilt offices, the group prayed together that we might all honor the memory and learn to love our sisters and brothers here and around the world currently infected and affected by the pandemic.
International partnerships with overseas churches and institutions were highlighted by many of the seminaries. For some, it was the international experiences that first raised students’ level of concern and motivated later local action and involvement. South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Brazil were all lifted up as locations of international church and seminary partners. Some best practices noted by the seminary representatives included:
- The need for HIV testing to be available at all events that are HIV and AIDS related.
- The importance of assisting every seminary professor to include HIV and AIDS in course curriculum.
- The collection of stories about how students encounter HIV and AIDS.
- The real need to create a culture that proclaims “we are a church and world that is infected/affected.”
- Creating compassionate policies and developing accountability for implementation.
Seminaries represented at the consultation included Columbia, ITC/Johnson C. Smith, Dubuque, Louisville, McCormick, Pittsburgh and Union-PSCE.
Campbell Scholars gather at Columbia. (Front Row, L-R): Dr. Beth Johnson, Dr. Daniel Susanto, Chiow "Pax" Tan; (Second Row, L-R): Dr. Donna Stroup, the Rev. Osbert James, Dr. Musonda Bwalya; (Third/Back Row, L-R): the Rev. Dr. Keith L. Riddle, the Rev. Paris Eley. Photo courtesy of PHEWA The consultation took place at the same time that Columbia was hosting the Campbell Scholars Seminar. The seminar, named in honor of Columbia’s former trustee and benefactor, John Bulow Campbell, is held every other year to help Columbia and the church think more clearly about the mission of the church in the 21st Century. This year, the focus is “The Mission of the Church in the Age of Pandemics.” The consultation was enhanced by their participation in many of our discussions. Their international experiences with the AIDS pandemic were extremely helpful.
The Presbyterian AIDS Network is one of ten networks of PHEWA, the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association. The consultation was approved by the Committee on Theological Education of the PC (USA) and was funded by a grant from the Presbyterian Women’s Thank Offering.
In the end, the Rev. Dr. Keith Riddle, a Campbell Scholar and member of PAN, put it best, saying, “Someone who tests positive for HIV doesn’t care what denomination you are or what church you are from; they just care that you love them. People are leaving our churches in droves because they don’t feel welcome.”
|
from the PAN HIV/AIDS consultation. 
from the PAN HIV/AIDS consultation.
