This Christmas Buy Gifts that Make a Difference!

You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society. A Message from the General Board of Church and Society Gift-Giving that Benefits the World! Dear HIV/AIDS Advocate, Both the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) have been long time advocates for fair trade through programs like Reverse Trick-or-Treating. Now GBCS and UMCOR are partnering with other Fair Trade advocates and organizations to offer you a special new resource to make it easy to shop Fair Trade. Imagine if every gift you purchased this holiday season helped communities around the world by: empowering families to send their children to school or building clean water wells that saved dozens of children from dying in infancy or using recycled or sustainably harvested materials. The General Board of Church and Society is partnering with Fair Trade advocates and organizations to offer you a special new resource to make it easy to shop Fair Trade. Announcing the Give Fair Trade Campaign and blog! From now until December 20th check out the Give Fair Trade blog at givefairtrade.wordpress.com to see the daily featured Fair Trade gift and special offers, as well as stories featuring the item's producers; showcasing how producers are impacted directly by your commitment to fair trade. Make a commitment to fair trade giving in three easy steps: Take the Fair Trade Holiday Gift Pledge. Sign-up for the pledge challenge and download Global Exchange's Giving Resolution form. Visit the Give Fair Trade campaign blog at givefairtrade.wordpress.com Share it! Invite your friends, family, coworkers and congregation to take the pledge as a group! Fair trade gifts give you an opportunity to put your faith into practice by changing the way our world consumes material and valuing the work of people around the world. I hope you will join us as we begin to transform the world with fair trade giving! Here are more great ways to share the Fair Trade holiday spirit this season: Participate in Fair Trade Holiday Caroling! Fair Trade Holiday Songbook available at http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/fairtradecaroling.html to serenade your neighbors OR your create Fair Trade Holiday Caroling "cards" to send to friends/family online. Check out Equal Exchange, Fair Trade USA, Global Exchange, and Green America singing Fair Trade Holiday Carols to you at http://www.youtube.com/group/ftholidaycaroling (Coming Soon) Fair Trade sermons to help educate your entire congregation about Fair Trade. Michelle Whittaker General Board of Church & Society I am Prophet-Driven! Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. Healthy Families, Healthy Planet 2011 UM Calendar Help for Haiti Contact Us gbcs@umc-gbcs.org 202.488.5600 Facebook Twitter United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. Reach us on the web at www.umc-gbcs.org Copyright 2010

AIDS Newsletter - November 2010

You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society. A Message from the General Board of Church and Society Dear HIV/AIDS Advocate! Happy Fall! Thanks for your ongoing commitment and work towards creating an AIDS Free World! World AIDS Day World AIDS Day is fast approaching (December 1), and we hope you are able to highlight this issue in your congregation and/or community. We have posted worship resources on our calendar. In addition, you can find more resources on the UMC Global AIDS Fund website. Ideas for action: Include the bulletin insert in your Sunday bulletin sometime during December Write an article on World AIDS Day for your church newsletter Work in partnership with other churches to sponsor an AIDS Day event Pray for those who are infected and affected by HIV Additional information at World AIDS Day Campaign. Lighten the Burden III Update For those of you who attended Lighten the Burden III in October, we hope you received spiritual nourishment for the journey and also useful information for your AIDS ministry. Thank you for participating. We welcome any feedback you might give to make Lighten the Burden IV a more relevant and powerful event. That event will take place just prior to General Conference in April 2012, so mark your calendars! The big news coming out of Lighten the Burden III was the launching of the 20/20 Vision Campaign. You'll be hearing more about this as it develops. The UMC Global AIDS Fund is excited to partner with you around ways to mobilize support and funding in your local church and annual conference! For more information, read this article about Lighten the Burden III. AIDS Where You Live For those of you living in the United States, a new website Statehealthfacts.org (from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) provides free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health and health policy data on all 50 states. Statehealthfacts.org has data on more than 600 health topics including Medicaid and SCHIP, Medicare, health coverage and the uninsured, health costs and budgets, providers and service use, minority health, women's health, and HIV/AIDS. Below are links to new data on federal funding for HIV & AIDS. Information was collected for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 and represents the latest available state-level data on all major federal funding streams for HIV/AIDS in the U.S. Check out how your state is doing! Ryan White Program The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) The Office of Minority Health (OMH) Participate in Alternative Christmas Giving! Download our Alternative Christmas Ideas guide for ideas on how a contribution to a worthy cause can make a difference in the world. It's a great way of honoring someone special in your life during this holy season. So far, there are about 4,000 AIDS Ambassadors on this Network and we welcome others. If you know of someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please forward this email or direct them to My GBCS to sign-up. Lastly, thank you for all you do as a follow of Jesus Christ to bring peace and health to all people around the globe. We will soon be celebrating Christ's birth... a time of joy and hope. May these holidays be a blessing to you and your family, and may you find the strength to carry on as we work together to create a more perfect world. Linda Bales Todd Director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project lbales@umc-gbcs.org 202-488-5649 I am Prophet-Driven! Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. Healthy Families, Healthy Planet 2011 UM Calendar Help for Haiti Contact Us gbcs@umc-gbcs.org 202.488.5600 Facebook Twitter United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. Reach us on the web at www.umc-gbcs.org Copyright 2010

AIDS conference offers site visits

You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society. A Message from the General Board of Church and Society Conference offers visits to AIDS services sites Sept. 20 registration deadline for Lighten the Burden III Dear AIDS Ambassador: We hope you're planning to attend Lighten the Burden III, a United Methodist AIDS conference Oct. 14-16 in Dallas, Texas. The registration deadline is right around the corner! Please visit Lighten the Burden III to register by Sept. 20 to guarantee your spot in this educational and spiritual journey to work toward an AIDS-free world. In addition to several workshops featuring AIDS advocates and activists, at least three pre-conference site visits to organizations providing for the needs of people who are HIV-positive and those living with AIDS will be available Oct. 14 from 1-4 p.m. When you register for the conference, just simply indicate your interest in participating in a site visit. More information will be forthcoming! Confirmed site visits include: AIDS Interfaith Network is a multicultural, faith-based HIV/AIDS service organization serving more than 2,000 people of every age living with AIDS. The network provides transportation, an adult day center, meals, pastoral services, translators, prevention education for minority women and many other services. Bryan's House is a special-care facility for children affected by HIV or AIDS, other special health needs, and their families. The program offers a full range of medical, educational and psychosocial services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nationally acclaimed program is innovative, compassionate and cost effective. Decades ago when it started, Bryan's House provided care for babies infected with AIDS. The program trained care givers who worked with those babies. AIDS Arms offers a broad spectrum of services and has a long history of care for those living with HIV/AIDS. Unique is its program for those in prison who are HIV positive. The organization conducts programs on AIDS prevention in many prisons throughout Texas. AIDS Arms also has trained former prisoners to be trainers in its program. Questions? Contact Donna Brandyberry, via e-mail at dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org or call (202) 488-5641. I am Prophet-Driven! Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. Healthy Families, Healthy Planet 2011 UM Calendar Help for Haiti Contact Us gbcs@umc-gbcs.org 202.488.5600 Facebook Twitter United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. Reach us on the web at www.umc-gbcs.org Copyright 2010

Lighten the Burden III

You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society. A Message from the General Board of Church and Society Register for Lighten the Burden III AIDS Conference NOW! Deadline: Sept. 20 Dear AIDS Ambassador: Lighten the Burden III, the third international AIDS conference sponsored by the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund committee, will be Oct. 14-16 at the Radisson Central Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Join us along with AIDS activists and advocates on this educational and spiritual journey to work toward an AIDS-free world. The conference will feature national and international speakers, each bringing his or her own unique perspective to the AIDS pandemic. Featured speakers include: Dr. Musa W. Dube, theologian and biblical scholar, the University of Botswana; Dr. Pauline Muchina, senior partnership adviser, UNAIDS; Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, episcopal leader of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference; Jeffrey Crowley, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (invited); and the Rev. Tyrone Gordon, St. Luke UMC, Dallas. Conference workshop sessions include discussions of: "Looking at AIDS through Cultural Context," "AIDS & Communities of Color — How can the church respond?" and "Resourcing Local Churches & Annual Conference AIDS Ministries." Dr. Don Messer, executive director of the Center for the Church & Global AIDS, is a Lighten the Burden III workshop leader. He hopes this conference will help "awaken the sleeping giant called The United Methodist Church" by helping find practical ways to be involved in education, prevention, care and treatment. "In doing so, we will fulfill the command of Christ to 'heal every sickness and cure every illness,'" Messer said. Your presence is vital! To register for Lighten the Burden III, click here by Sept. 20. Questions? Contact Donna Brandyberry, General Board of Church & Society, dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5641. I am Prophet-Driven! Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. Healthy Families, Healthy Planet 2011 UM Calendar Help for Haiti Contact Us gbcs@umc-gbcs.org 202.488.5600 Facebook Twitter United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. Reach us on the web at www.umc-gbcs.org Copyright 2010

Share the Gospel and Social Principles Around the World

"I encourage you to do more!"

Dear HIV/AIDS Advocate,

During April, I was privileged to join three General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) colleagues at a training event about the United Methodist Social Principles in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The trip to the remote village of Kamina is one of five Social Principles training events planned in Central Conferences this year.

Bishop Ntambo explains the work on a drainage canal restoration project in Kamina. (GBCS photo courtesy of Wesley Paulson)

When we arrived in DRC, the Rev. Dr. Kabwita Kayombo arranged for those of us from GBCS — the Revs. Neal Christie, Cynthia Abrams, Clayton Childers and myself — to celebrate Easter at several churches in Lubumbashi. Afterwards, Bishop Ntambo welcomed us to Kamina.

For the next several days over 130 attendees from the North Katanga and Southern Congo conferences engaged in learning and discussion about the United Methodist Social Principles. We received many affirmative comments from participants about our efforts. Two of them said:

We will apply what we learned in our families, our churches and we will train others to apply these principles in their church and society.

We want to greatly thank this organization for facilitating better collaboration between ourselves and the whole world in fighting against poverty, discrimination against women or violence towards women. May God give you eternal and marvelous life.

The Kamina training was an expensive endeavor supported by GBCS's operating budget. In addition to the financial outlay, it required hundreds of hours of staff time by teams on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a message thanking GBCS after the training, Bishop Ntambo said:

You came to open a new chapter in our Area. Now people have a real understanding of the UMC through the involvement of the Church in society. … The seminar was a great success, starting from the quality of presenters, their humility, humbleness and knowledge and the enthusiasm of participants. … I end by congratulating you for such a ministry and encourage you to do more, but more especially I end by extending another invitation to North Katanga — why not to the rest of our Episcopal Areas?

Your generous gift to the United Methodist Social Justice Endowment Fund will help ensure that such valuable training events will occur around the world in the future. As the endowment grows, its investment income will provide a significant financial resource for sharing the history and tradition of the Social Principles at events such as the one in Kamina.

Please carefully consider making a donation to the fund now. There are several ways to give your support, including options for planned gifts of appreciated assets such as stocks and real estate. Support the Social Justice Ministries Endowment Fund today by sending an eCard or discussing a planned gift with the United Methodist Foundation!

In his report on Kamina, Dr. Kabwita, who is superintendent of the Jerusalem District in South Congo Conference, wrote:

This seminar was an opportunity to reflect on the Church and Christ's resurrection. It was so challenging, interactive and informative. So we would like to have these seminars on the Social Principles that will reflect the global image of the Church throughout jurisdictions and central conferences.

Your support of the Social Justice Endowment Fund will be appreciated very much — not just by this generation of United Methodists, but by those in the years to come.

Yours in Christ,
Wesley Paulson
Chief Financial Officer
General Board of Church & Society

February 2010

February 2010

Greetings, AIDS Ambassadors!

2010 is upon us and the call to eradicate the spread of AIDS continues to fall on our ears and hearts. The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund (UMGAF) Committee met last week under the leadership of Dr. Donald Messer. We want to pass along several items for your work as Ambassadors.

Lighten the Burden AIDS Conference III — Mark on your calendar and plan to attend the third Lighten the Burden Conference Oct. 14-16: Please note this is a new date. Lighten the Burden will be held at the Radisson Central Hotel in Dallas. This conference is sponsored by UMGAF with the support of several United Methodist general agencies. Registration information will be forthcoming.

Dr. Musa Dube, internationally known theologian from Botswana, will lead the Bible study at Lighten the Burden. Other invited speakers include Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Dr. Jeffrey Crowley, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, and Dr. Pauline Muchina, senior partnership advisor with UN AIDS.

Workshops for learning and networking will be featured.

Please promote this “save-the-date” notice widely in your local church and annual conference.

Questions? Contact Linda Bales Todd at lbales@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5649

United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is on Facebook! — Become a fan! Go to Global AIDS Fund on Facebook.

AIDS Toolkit — Hope each of you has accessed the newly released toolkit to be used in The United Methodist Church. To download, go to Toolkit. It’s filled with helpful tips and resources for our work to eradicate AIDS.

Proposed Uganda anti-homosexuality bill may impact AIDS prevention and treatment — Proposed Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill criminalizes homosexuality and expands the penal code to punish “aggravated homosexuality,” including activity by “serial offenders” or those who are HIV-positive. The Uganda bill also criminalizes the “promotion of homosexuality,” which includes providing funding to organizations that serve Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuial and Transgendered people.

This measure would “severely threaten HIV/AIDS prevention, services and treatment, making the work of groups seeking to prevent the spread of HIV nearly impossible.”

The General Board of Church & Society recently signed on to a letter to the U.S. Congress asking them to speak out against this legislation. To access information about this sign on letter, go to Uganda.

Please urge your U.S. Congress persons to support resolutions in the House (H.R. #1064) and the Senate (S. #409) condemning the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill and affirming the intrinsic dignity of all Ugandans regardless of sexual orientation. Call today! The Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

You may want to read the United Methodist Social Principle on Equal Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation.

Please Promote the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund — Each of you can play a major role in mobilizing funding for the UMC Global AIDS Fund. For those of you who are key contact persons in your annual conferences, please ask for time at your annual conference session to raise the issue of AIDS and a plea for funding. As you know, 25% of all monies raised within the annual conferences for the AIDS fund remains in your conference to support AIDS projects. The remaining 75% goes to Advance Special #982345 for projects outside the United States; 100% of all contributions go directly to the designated projects.

For your information, Central Texas Conference is using some of its funds to sponsor workshops on AIDS and its impact on African Americans. "AIDS is the leading cause of death for 25- to 40-year-old African-American women in the Fort Worth area," said Jerry Longwell, Central Texas AIDS coordinator, "and the second leading cause of death for men in that age group. We are partnering with the AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth for our workshops, and we believe we're helping.”

AIDS Speakers’ Bureau — Expert speakers are available to address the topic of AIDS within your church or conference. These speakers can offer fresh insights on a variety of topics, from women and AIDS, to thinking theologically and biblically about global health. Each speaker gives a unique perspective that will inform, inspire, and ultimately challenge your audience to get involved with the global AIDS fight.

Please e-mail Diane Degnan at ddegnan@umcom.org to request more information and availability of a speaker. Note that speakers give freely of their time and talents, although hosting organizations are asked to cover travel expenses.

Prayers for Encouragement — This is a resource available through Cokesbury designed to provide "hope for people living with HIV & AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and other serious diseases." The booklets come in different languages and can be used in a variety of settings. For more information, Prayers for Encouragement.

Dates to Note

March 7-13, National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.

March 4-5, 2011, "African American Women & AIDS: Enabling, Enriching & Enhancing Individuals." Conference is sponsored by the UMC Global AIDS Fund Committee. Location: Columbia, S.C. More information will be forthcoming.

Closing thought … "Success has more to do with what we are than what we have. It is measured more by how we serve than how we are served. It is determined more by what we enable others to be than what others enable us to achieve. Success has more to do with the power of love than it has to do with the love of power." — Bishop Kenneth Carder

Go forth, Ambassadors, in love! God bless you all.

Linda Bales Todd

lbales@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5649