tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32314246362078128732024-03-28T06:01:28.386-07:00HIV & AIDS NetworkGeneral Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-44922616499737582382011-01-21T08:01:00.001-08:002011-01-21T14:08:24.323-08:00AIDS News and Funding Recap of 2010<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#f5f6f4"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 1px" align="middle"><p>You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society.</p></td></tr><tr><td height="77" align="left"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-SIZE: 12px" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="320"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" /></td><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="330"><br /></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#000000"><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan="2" align="middle"><p>A Message from the General Board of Church and Society </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><table class="contentbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-LEFT: 20px; PADDING-RIGHT: 20px; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 22px" valign="top" width="400" align="left"><p><strong>January 2011</strong></p><p>Greetings and Peace, HIV/AIDS Advocate!</p><p>Last year was a very busy year for those of us addressing the AIDS issue. Thanks to each of you for your faithful advocacy for those living with HIV & AIDS. We celebrate the success of the <em>Lighten the Burden III </em>AIDS Conference in October and look forward to <em>Lighten the Burden IV</em> which will occur just prior to the 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Florida. </p><p>As a part of our faith journey, <strong>Jesus calls us to speak out for those living on the margins</strong> and those who face stigma and discrimination. As we begin 2011, we also begin the fourth decade of the AIDS pandemic. Your work fighting this pandemic is vital. Here are some of the upcoming events and focus for ministry in 2011:</p><p><strong>African-American Women & HIV/AIDS Conference! </strong>March 3-5, 2011, in Columbia, S.C.</p><p><img border="0" hspace="5" alt="" align="left" src="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/media/wad/afroamwomenaids2011.jpg" width="200" height="125" />HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for African-American women, ages 25-34. The conference will mobilize faith communities into action and focus on HIV/AIDS-related issues that specifically affect African-American women.</p><p>The UMC Global AIDS Fund is sponsoring this event. <a href="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/about/us/cim/programs/developers/registrationform/">Register online</a> by <strong>February 11th</strong>.</p><p>Those in the faith community concerned about and/or affected by HIV/AIDS are encouraged to attend.</p><ul><li><strong>Share and explore successful strategies</strong> and resources to prevent and respond to HIV/AIDS in the African-American community. <li><strong>Address issues related to stigma</strong>, discrimination, cultural behavior, and socioeconomic factors that promote the spread of HIV/AIDS. <li><strong>Develop supportive networks</strong>. </li></ul><p>For more information, contact Oliver Green, General Board of Church & Society, at <a href="mailto:oliverdeck@aol.com">oliverdeck@aol.com</a> or Litishia Smith, General Board of Global Ministries, at <a href="mailto:litishiasmith@gmail.com">litishiasmith@gmail.com</a>. </p><p> </p><p><strong>20/20 Vision Campaign</strong></p><p>With great excitement, the UMC Global AIDS Fund has launched a new campaign: "20/20: Visioning an AIDS-Free World," and <strong>we need your help to</strong> <strong>create an AIDS-Free World</strong>.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span></p><p><strong>$20 can make a big difference</strong> — Pledge to give and ask others to join in contributing at least $20! </p><ul><li><em><strong>$20 can stop the transmission</strong> of HIV from a mother to child.</em> <li><em><strong>$20 can teach young people</strong> and adults how to prevent HIV. </em> <li><em><strong>$20 can be used for church workshops</strong> to fight stigma and discrimination.</em> <li><em><strong>$20 can feed an HIV+ person for a month</strong> or more, enabling them to take their medicine and lead productive lives.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span></em></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:+0;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&note_id=10150089248487513&id=22037974539#!/notes/general-board-of-church-and-society/2020-visioning-an-aids-free-worl/10150089248487513"><span style="font-size:+0;">Find more information on our Facebook page</span></a>. </span></p><p> </p><p><strong>Re-cap of U.S. Funding Developments for HIV & AIDS</strong></p><p>The U.S. Congress did not approve a budget for 2011 but rather affirmed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that enables all government agencies to continue spending based on the 2010 levels. This means $5.359 billion for global AIDS in 2011. Additionally, $1.5 billion will be allocated to the multilateral Global Fund for AIDS, TB & Malaria. Unless more money is approved, this flat level of funding will have negative repercussions for people living with HIV & AIDS around the globe.</p><p>Funding for HIV/AIDS will be crucial for 2011 and going forward as we work to eradicate killer diseases around the world and provide care, support and treatment for those affected by AIDS.</p><p> </p><p><img border="0" alt="" align="right" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/aids_ribbon.jpg" width="90" height="104" /><strong>Let's build our network of HIV/AIDS! </strong></p><p>Invite family and friends to join by visiting <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/MYGBCSForm">www.umc-gbcs.org/MYGBCSForm</a></span>. </p><p>Thank you again for all you do to help providing healing, comfort, treatment and repsect for those in the margins. May God's love give you nourishment, joy, calm spirit and a desire to make the world a better place.</p><p>Peace,</p><p>Linda Bales Todd<br /><em>Director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project<br /></em>703-282-6254</p></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; PADDING-RIGHT: 7px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" valign="top" width="180" align="left"><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Healthy Families, Healthy Planet</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 140px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/atf/cf/%7b8b7dab0f-c41d-457a-9f11-4a0541f0d6a9%7d/healthyfamilieslogo.jpg" width="140" height="64" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Imagine No Malaria<br /></h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 140px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://www.imaginenomalaria.org/site/c.4dIBILOnGaIQE/b.6329429/k.A673/House_Party.htm?utm_source=GBCS&utm_medium=Banner&utm_campaign=House_Party" target="_blank"><img border="none" alt="" src="http://www.umcom.org/atf/cf/%7B60c02017-4f6a-4f3b-883a-4afaece1182f%7D/INM_HOUSEPARTY.GIF" width="140" height="133" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Contact Us</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 140px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="mailto:gbcs@umc-gbcs.org">gbcs@umc-gbcs.org</a><br />202.488.5600 </p><table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="100"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/facebooklogo_small.jpg" /></a></td><td><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><strong>Facebook</strong></a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/twitter_32.png" /></a></td><td><p><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><strong>Twitter</strong></a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"> </h2></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" align="middle"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="560"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" align="left"><p class="first" align="center">United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.<br />Reach us on the web at <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/">www.umc-gbcs.org</a> </p><p align="center"><strong>Copyright 2011 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-91890073104103970342010-11-17T07:28:00.001-08:002011-01-21T14:08:42.906-08:00This Christmas Buy Gifts that Make a Difference!<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#f5f6f4"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 1px" align="middle"><p>You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society.</p></td></tr><tr><td height="77" align="left"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-SIZE: 12px" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="320"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" /></td><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="330"><br /></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#000000"><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan="2" align="middle"><p>A Message from the General Board of Church and Society </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><table class="contentbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-LEFT: 20px; PADDING-RIGHT: 20px; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 22px" valign="top" width="400" align="left"><p><strong>Gift-Giving that Benefits the World!</strong></p><p>Dear HIV/AIDS Advocate,</p><p><span style="color:black;">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.</span></p><p><span style="color:black;"><img border="0" alt="" align="right" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/giftbox.jpg" width="125" height="82" /></span></p><p>Imagine if every gift you purchased this holiday season helped communities around the world by:</p><ul><li><strong>empowering families</strong> to send their children to school or <li><strong>building clean water wells</strong> that saved dozens of children from dying in infancy or <li><strong>using recycled or sustainably harvested materials</strong>. </li></ul><p>The General Board of Church and Society is partnering with Fair Trade advocates and organizations to offer you a<strong> special new resource</strong> to make it easy to shop Fair Trade.<br /><br />Announcing the <strong>Give Fair Trade Campaign and blog</strong>!<br /><br />From <strong>now until December 20th</strong> check out the <strong>Give Fair Trade</strong> blog at <a href="http://givefairtrade.wordpress.com/">givefairtrade.wordpress.com</a> 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.</p><p>Make a commitment to fair trade giving in <strong>three easy steps</strong>:</p><ol><li><strong>Take the Fair Trade Holiday Gift Pledge. </strong><a href="http://www.globalexchange.org/winterholidayspledges">Sign-up for the pledge challenge</a> and download <a href="http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/FTResolution.pdf">Global Exchange's Giving Resolution form</a>. <li><strong>Visit </strong>the Give Fair Trade campaign blog at <a href="http://givefairtrade.wordpress.com/"><strong>givefairtrade.wordpress.com</strong></a> <li><strong>Share it!</strong> Invite your friends, family, coworkers and congregation to take the pledge as a group! </li></ol><p>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!</p><p>Here are more great ways to share the Fair Trade holiday spirit this season:</p><ul><li><strong>Participate in Fair Trade Holiday Caroling!</strong> Fair Trade Holiday Songbook available at <a href="http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/fairtradecaroling.html">http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/fairtradecaroling.html</a> 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 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/group/ftholidaycaroling">http://www.youtube.com/group/ftholidaycaroling</a> <li>(Coming Soon) <strong>Fair Trade sermons</strong> to help educate your entire congregation about Fair Trade. </li></ul><p>Michelle Whittaker<br /><strong><em>General Board of Church & Society</em></strong></p></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; PADDING-RIGHT: 7px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" valign="top" width="180" align="left"><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">I am Prophet-Driven!</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/prophetdriven"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/iampde_button.jpg" width="160" height="96" /></a></p><p>Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Healthy Families, Healthy Planet</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/atf/cf/%7b8b7dab0f-c41d-457a-9f11-4a0541f0d6a9%7d/healthyfamilieslogo.jpg" width="150" height="60" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">2011 UM Calendar<br /></h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.umcom.org/store/catalog/Calendars%2C6.htm?utm_source=GBCS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011%2BUMC%2BCalendar"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/umcalendar-2011vert-150px.gif" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Help for Haiti</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7Bdb6a45e4-c446-4248-82c8-e131b6424741%7D/HAITI_DONATE_BANNER_MINI.JPG" width="160" height="47" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Contact Us</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="mailto:gbcs@umc-gbcs.org">gbcs@umc-gbcs.org</a><br />202.488.5600 </p><table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="100"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/facebooklogo_small.jpg" /></a></td><td><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><strong>Facebook</strong></a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/twitter_32.png" /></a></td><td><p><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><strong>Twitter</strong></a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"> </h2></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" align="middle"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="560"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" align="left"><p class="first" align="center">United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.<br />Reach us on the web at <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/">www.umc-gbcs.org</a> </p><p align="center"><strong>Copyright 2010 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> </p></td></tr></tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-34137928791878918512010-11-11T09:10:00.001-08:002011-01-21T14:09:26.258-08:00AIDS Newsletter - November 2010<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#f5f6f4"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 1px" align="middle"><p>You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society.</p></td></tr><tr><td height="77" align="left"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-SIZE: 12px" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="320"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" /></td><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="330"><br /></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#000000"><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan="2" align="middle"><p>A Message from the General Board of Church and Society </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><table class="contentbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650" bgcolor="#ffffff"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-LEFT: 20px; PADDING-RIGHT: 20px; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 16px; PADDING-TOP: 22px" valign="top" width="400" align="left"><p>Dear HIV/AIDS Advocate!</p><p>Happy Fall! Thanks for your ongoing commitment and work towards creating an AIDS Free World! </p><p style="COLOR: #ff0000"><strong>World AIDS Day</strong></p><p><img style="WIDTH: 100px; HEIGHT: 154px" border="0" hspace="10" alt="" align="left" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7B689FEA4C-8849-4C05-A89E-C9BC7FFFF64C%7D/AIDSRibbon_NoBkgrd.jpg" width="100" height="154" />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 <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=3092063&ct=4628035&notoc=1">posted worship resources</a> on our calendar. In addition, you can find more resources on the <a href="http://www.umglobalaidsfund.org/">UMC Global AIDS Fund</a> website. </p><p>Ideas for action:</p><ul><li><strong>Include the bulletin insert</strong> in your Sunday bulletin sometime during December <li><strong>Write an article</strong> on World AIDS Day for your church newsletter <li><strong>Work in partnership</strong> with other churches to sponsor an AIDS Day event <li><strong>Pray</strong> for those who are infected and affected by HIV </li></ul><p>Additional information at <a href="http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/">World AIDS Day Campaign</a>. </p><p style="COLOR: #ff0000"><strong><em>Lighten the Burden III</em> Update</strong></p><p>For those of you who attended <em>Lighten the Burden III</em> 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 <em>Lighten the Burden IV</em> a more relevant and powerful event. That event will take place just prior to General Conference in April 2012, so <strong>mark your calendars</strong>!</p><p>The big news coming out of <em>Lighten the Burden III</em> was the launching of the <strong>20/20 Vision Campaign</strong>. 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!</p><p>For more information, <a href="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/newsroom/releases/archives2010/churchawakens/">read this article about Lighten the Burden III</a>. </p><p style="COLOR: red"><strong>AIDS Where You Live</strong></p><p>For those of you living in the United States, a new website <a href="http://statehealthfacts.org/"><strong>Statehealthfacts.org</strong></a> (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.</p><p>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!</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=534&cat=11">Ryan White Program</a> <li><a href="http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=529&cat=11">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC) <li><a href="http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=532&cat=11">The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration</a> (SAMHSA) <li><a href="http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=531&cat=11">Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS</a> (HOPWA) <li><a href="http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=533&cat=11">The Office of Minority Health</a> (OMH) </li></ul><p style="COLOR: red"><strong></strong> </p><p style="COLOR: red"><strong>Participate in Alternative Christmas Giving!</strong> </p><p><a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7B689FEA4C-8849-4C05-A89E-C9BC7FFFF64C%7D/2010-ALTERNATIVE-GIVING.PDF">Download our Alternative Christmas Ideas guide</a> 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.</p><p>So far, there are about <strong>4,000 AIDS Ambassadors</strong> on this Network and we welcome others. If you know of someone who would like to receive this newsletter, please <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jtJSL8POImI0KiJ&s=mwK4LfNULlKZJbPYJuF&m=9qLPJ5NJJjKMJ6J">forward this email</a> or direct them to <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/MYGBCSForm">My GBCS to sign-up</a>. </p><p>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.</p><p>Linda Bales Todd<br /><em>Director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project </em></p><p><a href="mailto:lbales@umc-gbcs.org">lbales@umc-gbcs.org</a><br />202-488-5649</p></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; PADDING-RIGHT: 7px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" valign="top" width="180" align="left"><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">I am Prophet-Driven!</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/prophetdriven"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/iampde_button.jpg" width="160" height="96" /></a></p><p>Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Healthy Families, Healthy Planet</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/atf/cf/%7b8b7dab0f-c41d-457a-9f11-4a0541f0d6a9%7d/healthyfamilieslogo.jpg" width="150" height="60" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">2011 UM Calendar<br /></h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.umcom.org/store/catalog/Calendars%2C6.htm?utm_source=GBCS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011%2BUMC%2BCalendar"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/umcalendar-2011vert-150px.gif" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Help for Haiti</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7Bdb6a45e4-c446-4248-82c8-e131b6424741%7D/HAITI_DONATE_BANNER_MINI.JPG" width="160" height="47" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Contact Us</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="mailto:gbcs@umc-gbcs.org">gbcs@umc-gbcs.org</a><br />202.488.5600 </p><table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="100"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/facebooklogo_small.jpg" /></a></td><td><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><strong>Facebook</strong></a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/twitter_32.png" /></a></td><td><p><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><strong>Twitter</strong></a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"></h2></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" align="middle"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="560"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" align="left"><p class="first" align="center">United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.<br />Reach us on the web at <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/">www.umc-gbcs.org</a> </p><p align="center"><strong>Copyright 2010 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p></td></tr></tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-25352915580936249712010-08-26T08:03:00.001-07:002011-01-21T14:13:10.868-08:00AIDS conference offers site visits<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#f5f6f4"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 1px" align="middle"><p>You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society.</p></td></tr><tr><td height="77" align="left"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-SIZE: 12px" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="320"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" /></td><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="330"><br /></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#000000"><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan="2" align="middle"><p>A Message from the General Board of Church and Society </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><table class="contentbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650" bg style="color:#ffffff;"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-LEFT: 20px; PADDING-RIGHT: 20px; PADDING-TOP: 22pxfont-size:16px;color:#000000;" valign="top" width="400" align="left" ><p align="center" style="font-size:95%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Conference offers visits<br />to </strong><strong>AIDS services sites</strong></span></p><p style="FONT-SIZE: 95%" align="center"><strong><em>Sept. 20 registration deadline for Lighten the Burden III</em></strong></p><span style="font-size:+0;"><p align="left" size="95%">Dear AIDS Ambassador:</p></span><p style="FONT-SIZE: 95%" align="left"><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><em><img border="0" hspace="5" alt="" align="left" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/ltbiiilogo.jpg" width="120" /> </em><p>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 <a href="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/hivaids/aids-fund/">Lighten the Burden III</a> to register by Sept. 20 to guarantee your spot in this educational and spiritual journey to work toward an AIDS-free world. <p>In addition to several workshops featuring AIDS advocates and activists, at least <strong>three pre-conference site visits</strong> to organizations providing for the needs of people who are HIV-positive and those living with AIDS will be available <strong>Oct. 14 from 1-4 p.m.</strong> <p>When you register for the conference, just simply indicate your interest in participating in a site visit. More information will be forthcoming! <p>Confirmed site visits include: <dir><li><strong>AIDS Interfaith Network</strong> 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. <li><strong>Bryan's House</strong> 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. <li><strong>AIDS Arms</strong> 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. </li></dir><p align="center"><strong>Questions?</strong> <center></center><p>Contact Donna Brandyberry, via e-mail at <a href="mailto:dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org">dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org</a> or call (202) 488-5641. </p></span></span></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; PADDING-RIGHT: 7px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" valign="top" width="180" align="left"><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">I am Prophet-Driven!</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/prophetdriven"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/iampde_button.jpg" width="160" height="96" /></a></p><p>Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Healthy Families, Healthy Planet</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/atf/cf/%7b8b7dab0f-c41d-457a-9f11-4a0541f0d6a9%7d/healthyfamilieslogo.jpg" width="150" height="60" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">2011 UM Calendar<br /></h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.umcom.org/store/catalog/Calendars%2C6.htm?utm_source=GBCS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011%2BUMC%2BCalendar"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/umcalendar-2011vert-150px.gif" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Help for Haiti</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7Bdb6a45e4-c446-4248-82c8-e131b6424741%7D/HAITI_DONATE_BANNER_MINI.JPG" width="160" height="47" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Contact Us</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="mailto:gbcs@umc-gbcs.org">gbcs@umc-gbcs.org</a><br />202.488.5600 </p><table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="100"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/facebooklogo_small.jpg" /></a></td><td><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><strong>Facebook</strong></a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/twitter_32.png" /></a></td><td><p><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><strong>Twitter</strong></a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"> </h2></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" align="middle"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="560"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" align="left"><p class="first" align="center">United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.<br />Reach us on the web at <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/">www.umc-gbcs.org</a> </p><p align="center"><strong>Copyright 2010 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> </p></td></tr></tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-57534671853733549712010-07-30T10:02:00.001-07:002011-01-21T14:12:49.181-08:00Lighten the Burden III<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#f5f6f4"><tbody><tr><td align="middle"><table style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 solid" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 1px" align="middle"><p>You're receiving this message because you provided contact information to The General Board of Church and Society.</p></td></tr><tr><td height="77" align="left"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000; COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-SIZE: 12px" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="320"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" /></td><td bgcolor="#567eac" width="330"><br /></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#000000"><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan="2" align="middle"><p>A Message from the General Board of Church and Society </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="middle"><table class="contentbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="650" bg style="color:#ffffff;"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-LEFT: 20px; PADDING-RIGHT: 20px; PADDING-TOP: 22pxfont-size:16px;color:#000000;" valign="top" width="400" align="left" ><p align="center" style="font-size:95%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Register for<br /></strong><strong><em><span style="color:red;"><em><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><em><span style="color:red;"><em>Lighten the Burden III</em> </span></em></strong></span></em><br /></span></em>AIDS Conference NOW!<br /></strong></span><strong>Deadline: Sept. 20</strong></p><p align="left" size="95%">Dear AIDS Ambassador:</p><p style="FONT-SIZE: 95%" align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><img border="0" hspace="5" alt="" align="left" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/ltbiiilogo.jpg" width="120" />Lighten the Burden III</em>, 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.</span></p><p>The conference will feature national and international speakers, each bringing his or her own unique perspective to the AIDS pandemic. Featured speakers include:</p><ul><li>Dr. Musa W. Dube, theologian and biblical scholar, the University of Botswana; <li>Dr. Pauline Muchina, senior partnership adviser, UNAIDS; <li>Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño, episcopal leader of the Desert Southwest Annual Conference; <li>Jeffrey Crowley, director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (<strong>invited</strong>); and <li>the Rev. Tyrone Gordon, St. Luke UMC, Dallas. </li></ul><p>Conference workshop sessions include discussions <em>of:</em></p><ul><li><em>"Looking at AIDS through Cultural Context</em>," <li>"<em>AIDS & Communities of Color — How can the church respond?"</em> and <li>"<em>Resourcing Local Churches & Annual Conference AIDS Ministries</em>." </li></ul><p>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. </p><p>"In doing so, we will fulfill the command of Christ to 'heal every sickness and cure every illness,'" Messer said.</p><p><strong>Your presence is vital!</strong><br />To register for Lighten the Burden III, <a href="http://www.umglobalaidsfund.org/">click here</a> by <strong>Sept. 20</strong>.</p><p><span style="font-size:10;"><span style="font-size:12;"><strong><span style="font-size:+0;">Questions?</span></strong><span style="font-size:+0;"> Contact Donna Brandyberry, General Board of Church & Society, <a href="mailto:dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org"><span style="font-size:+0;">dbrandyberry@umc-gbcs.org</span></a></span><span style="font-size:+0;"> or (202) 488-5641.</span></span></span></p><p> </p></td><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; PADDING-LEFT: 7px; PADDING-RIGHT: 7px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" valign="top" width="180" align="left"><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">I am Prophet-Driven!</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/prophetdriven"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/iampde_button.jpg" width="160" height="96" /></a></p><p>Put those at the bottom of the economic ladder at the top of the economic agenda. </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Healthy Families, Healthy Planet</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/atf/cf/%7b8b7dab0f-c41d-457a-9f11-4a0541f0d6a9%7d/healthyfamilieslogo.jpg" width="150" height="60" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">2011 UM Calendar<br /></h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.umcom.org/store/catalog/Calendars%2C6.htm?utm_source=GBCS&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011%2BUMC%2BCalendar"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/umcalendar-2011vert-150px.gif" /></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Help for Haiti</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><a href="http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc.org/atf/cf/%7Bdb6a45e4-c446-4248-82c8-e131b6424741%7D/HAITI_DONATE_BANNER_MINI.JPG" width="160" height="47" /></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Contact Us</h2><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f1f1f1; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; WIDTH: 160px; PADDING-RIGHT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 7px" align="left"><p><a href="mailto:gbcs@umc-gbcs.org">gbcs@umc-gbcs.org</a><br />202.488.5600 </p><table border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" width="100"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/facebooklogo_small.jpg" /></a></td><td><strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/General-Board-of-Church-and-Society/22037974539?ref=mf"><strong>Facebook</strong></a></strong></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/twitter_32.png" /></a></td><td><p><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/GBCSUMC"><strong>Twitter</strong></a></strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px 0px 4px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; COLOR: #0054b4; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; PADDING-TOP: 0px"> </h2></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" align="middle"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="560"><tbody><tr><td style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1em; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 11px; PADDING-TOP: 10px" align="left"><p class="first" align="center">United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.<br />Reach us on the web at <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/">www.umc-gbcs.org</a> </p><p align="center"><strong>Copyright 2010 </strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> </p></td></tr></tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-87617275456937848712010-07-07T13:05:00.001-07:002011-01-21T14:12:08.397-08:00Share the Gospel and Social Principles Around the World<h2 style="COLOR: #0054b4">"I encourage you to do more!"</h2><p>Dear HIV/AIDS Advocate,</p><p>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.</p><table border="1" bordercolor="#000" width="300" align="right"><tbody><tr><td><img border="0" alt="Bishop Ntambo explains the work on a drainage canal restoration project in Kamina." src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7B689FEA4C-8849-4C05-A89E-C9BC7FFFF64C%7D/BishopNtambo_Kamina.jpg" width="300" height="144" /> <p style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; FONT-SIZE: 12px; PADDING-TOP: 0px">Bishop Ntambo explains the work on a drainage canal restoration project in Kamina. <cite>(GBCS photo courtesy of Wesley Paulson)</cite></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>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. </p><p>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:</p><blockquote style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr"><p><em>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.</em></p><p><em>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.</em></p></blockquote><p>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. </p><p>In a message thanking GBCS after the training, Bishop Ntambo said:</p><blockquote style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr"><p><em>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? </em></p></blockquote><p>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. </p><p>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 <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/SJFundTribute"><strong>sending an eCard</strong></a> or <a href="http://www.myumcflegacy.org/plgive_main.jsp?WebID=GL2007-1009" target="_blank"><strong>discussing a planned gift</strong></a> with the United Methodist Foundation!</p><p>In his report on Kamina, Dr. Kabwita, who is superintendent of the Jerusalem District in South Congo Conference, wrote:</p><blockquote style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr"><p><em>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.</em></p></blockquote><p>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.</p><p>Yours in Christ,<br />Wesley Paulson<br />Chief Financial Officer<br />General Board of Church & Society</p>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-46533782647037196222010-02-12T12:00:00.000-08:002010-02-26T15:23:23.496-08:00February 2010<h4>February 2010</h4> <p><em>Greetings, AIDS Ambassadors!</em><br /> </p><p>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.<br /> </p><p><strong>Lighten the Burden AIDS Conference III </strong>— 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.<br /> </p><p>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.<br /> </p><p>Workshops for learning and networking will be featured.<br /> </p><p>Please promote this “save-the-date” notice widely in your local church and annual conference.<br /> </p><p>Questions? Contact <a href="mailto:lbales@umc-gbcs.org">Linda Bales Todd</a> at lbales@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5649<br /> </p><p><strong>United Methodist Global AIDS Fund is on Facebook! <em>—</em> </strong>Become a fan! Go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/umcglobalaidsfund">Global AIDS Fund on Facebook</a>.<br /> </p><p><strong>AIDS Toolkit</strong> — Hope each of you has accessed the newly released toolkit to be used in The United Methodist Church. To download, go to <a href="http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/hivaids/aids-fund/">Toolkit</a>. It’s filled with helpful tips and resources for our work to eradicate AIDS.<br /> </p><p><strong>Proposed Uganda anti-homosexuality bill may impact AIDS prevention and treatment</strong> — 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.<br /> </p><p>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.”<br /> </p><p>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 <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5738381&ct=7820361">Uganda</a>.<br /> </p><p>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.<br /> </p><p>You may want to read the United Methodist Social Principle on <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/c.frLJK2PKLqF/b.3713151/k.CF9D/182162_III_The_Social_Community/apps/nl/newsletter.asp">Equal Rights Regardless of Sexual Orientation</a>.<br /> </p><p><strong>Please Promote the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund</strong> — 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.<br /> </p><p>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.”<br /> </p><p><strong>AIDS Speakers’ Bureau</strong> — 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.<br /> </p><p>Please e-mail <a href="mailto:ddegnan@umcom.org">Diane Degnan</a> 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.<br /> </p><p><strong>Prayers for Encouragement</strong> — This is a resource available through Cokesbury designed to provide "<span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:100%;">hope for people living with HIV & AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and other serious diseases</span>." The booklets come in different languages and can be used in a variety of settings. For more information, <a href="https://bookstore.upperroom.org/pcd/eServCart?iServ=MjgzMDE2MTU3NCZpUGFnZUlkPTEyODE5NSZpSW52SWQ9NTA5NTQmaVNrdUxpc3Q9JmlTdWJUZXJtPTA=">Prayers for Encouragement</a>.<br /> </p><h4 align="center">Dates to Note</h4><br /> <dir><br /> <li><strong>March 7-13</strong>, <a href="http://www.balmingilead.org/">National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS</a>.<br /> </li><li><strong>March 4-5</strong>, <strong>2011,</strong> "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. </li><br /> </dir><br /> <p><strong>Closing thought <em>…</em> </strong>"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." <em>— Bishop Kenneth Carder</em><br /> </p><p>Go forth, Ambassadors, in love! God bless you all.<br /> </p><p><a href="mailto:Toddlbales@umc-gbcs.org">Linda Bales Todd</a><br /><br /> lbales@umc-gbcs.org or (202) 488-5649 </p>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-7872528868335672852009-11-24T12:00:00.000-08:002010-02-26T11:42:06.493-08:00AIDS Resources and Lighten the Burden III<table class="MsoNormalTable" style="border: 1pt outset rgb(86, 126, 172); background: rgb(86, 126, 172) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 487.5pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" width="650" border="1" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border: 1pt inset rgb(86, 126, 172); padding: 6.75pt; width: 481.5pt;" width="642"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; width: 120pt;" valign="top" width="160"> <p><span style="font-size:11px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <br /></td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; width: 336pt;" width="448"> <p style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style=";font-size:11px;color:white;" ><img id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" border="0" /><br /> <br /> The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border: 1pt inset rgb(86, 126, 172); padding: 6.75pt; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p><strong>November 2009</strong><o:p></o:p></p> <p>Greetings and peace to you. Below are three pieces of information for your work on AIDS:<o:p></o:p></p> <p><strong><span style="color:red;">2009 World AIDS Day Worship Service</span></strong> - I realize World AIDS Day is right around the corner and apologize for the lateness in posting the <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7B689FEA4C-8849-4C05-A89E-C9BC7FFFF64C%7D/2009_WorldAIDSDay_SampleWorship.pdf"><strong>2009 sample World AIDS Day service</strong></a>. However, you are strongly encouraged to use it whenever you can (modifications are welcome) to lift up the power of prayer and worship to sustain us in this battle to eradicate this disease. Visit <a href="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/worldaidsday">www.umc-gbcs.org/worldaidsday</a> for additional resources<o:p></o:p></p> <p><strong><span style="color:red;">Input Needed for Lighten the Burden III</span></strong> - The third Lighten the Burden AIDS Conference will be <strong>September 30 - October 2, 2010 in Dallas, TX. </strong>The UMC Global AIDS Fund Planning Committee wants to hear from you! In order to be responsive to your needs as AIDS Ambassadors they are requesting your input to the following:<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">What kind of information would strengthen your work in your local church and/or annual conference on your AIDS ministry? <o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">What are the greatest challenges you face with your AIDS ministry? <o:p></o:p></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">Please share other thoughts you might have or requests related to this upcoming international conference. <o:p></o:p></li> </ul> <p>Please send your responses to: <strong>Molly McEntire, </strong><a href="mailto:mcmr2@aol.com"><strong>mrmc9@aol.com</strong></a>. Your input is much appreciated!<o:p></o:p></p> <p><strong><span style="color:red;">2009 UNAIDS Statistics Released</span></strong> - HIV prevention programs and ministries are making a difference in the rate of infections worldwide! Visit <strong>UNAIDS</strong> (<a href="http://www.unaids.org/">http://www.unaids.org</a>)to access the latest global AIDS data. This information is extremely helpful in any kind of educational emphasis we may have on AIDS. Please use this data for ongoing advocacy in your local churches and/or annual conferences.<o:p></o:p></p> <p>As always, thanks for all the good and faithful work you do. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or write. Peace and joy to you and your family.<o:p></o:p></p> <p>Linda Bales Todd, <a href="mailto:lbales@umc-gbcs.org">lbales@umc-gbcs.org</a>, 202-488-5649 <o:p></o:p></p> <p> <o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border: 1pt inset rgb(86, 126, 172); padding: 6.75pt;"> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="width: 100%;" width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 0in; background: rgb(86, 126, 172) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'position:absolute;" allowoverlap="f"> <v:imagedata src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/crossflame.gif"> <w:wrap type="square"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/crossflame.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026" height="100" width="55" align="left" /><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-size:11px;color:white;" ><br /> The General Board of Church and Society<br /> 100 Maryland Avenue, NE<br /> Washington, DC 20002<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0in; background: rgb(86, 126, 172) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> <p style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style=";font-size:11px;color:white;" >202-488-5600<br /> FAX 202-488-5619<br /> <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=feJKIONvFgJKJ3K&s=dqJMKWOxFeLSKUMvFnE&m=osLYK8PJKcKYE&af=y"><span style=";font-size:11px;color:white;" >Order Resources</span></a><br /> 1-800-967-0880<br /> <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=irKQIXOHLjIRKdJ&s=dqJMKWOxFeLSKUMvFnE&m=osLYK8PJKcKYE&af=y"><span style=";font-size:11px;color:white;" >www.umc-gbcs.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"></p>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-74097783706613331782009-10-21T15:01:00.001-07:002009-11-04T13:11:22.437-08:00October 2009<table width="650" bgcolor="#567eac" border="1" bordercolor="#567eac" cellpadding="9"> <tbody><tr> <td width="642" bgcolor="#567eac"> <table> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="160"> <p style="font-size: 95%;"> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ghKMI1OJLgITKeJ&s=dgKQL4MILiLLLUMAIoE&m=ifLRL2OBKcKSF&af=y">Tell a Friend</a></p> </td> <td width="448"> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" align="right"><img alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" border="0" /><br /> <br /> The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td><p>April 2009</p> <p><strong>Greetings AIDS Ambassadors!</strong></p><br /> <p>First, let me <strong>WELCOME</strong> new members of the network! Your participation is so critical given the scope and seriousness of this pandemic. </p> <p>I have gathered here some items related to the AIDS issue, both domestically and globally, that should be useful to you in your vital ministry.</p> <br /> <h2 align="center"><strong>The United Methodist Church Global AIDS Fund!</strong></h2><br /> <p>The UMC Global AIDS Fund and the committee guiding it need your support. The Fund, in existence since 2004 to mobilize support from around the connection, needs you, your local churches and annual conferences to continue promoting its good work. The almost $3 million raised so far is supporting more than 120<strong> </strong>AIDS-related projects that provide education and advocacy, care for orphaned children, and care for those living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, annual conferences have also initiated programs in the United States because 25% of any contributions made through a local church remain in the conference. </p> <p>Dr. Don Messer, chair of the UMC Global AIDS Fund Committee, says he has a heavy heart. "There are 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, and 2.5 million new people are infected each year," he says. There is still much more to do as we continue our work towards an AIDS-free world, remembering the words of Jesus to heal “every disease and every sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)</p> <p>Please encourage people to contribute through their local church. The Fund is Advance Special #982345. <strong>Remember, 100% of your gift goes directly to projects!</strong> For information about the Fund and how to contribute, go to: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hqLTKYOwGhJVIaK&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">UMC Global AIDS Fund.</a><strong></strong> </p> <br /> <h2 align="center"><strong>What is the Role of an AIDS Ambassador?</strong></h2><br /> <p>The UMC Global AIDS Fund Committee considers each of you on this AIDS Network an "Ambassador for AIDS." The world needs each of us to be involved. To read about your crucial role, click on <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=kjJZL7PIIkI2KkJ&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">AIDS Ambassador</a>. If you have any questions or suggestions for the Committee, please go to the Fund's website, <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=edKNIPMkHeLRL3I&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">UMC Global AIDS Fund</a>, and submit your comments. We’d love to hear from you! </p><br /> <h2 align="center">Act Against AIDS – A New Domestic Strategy<br /><br /> Check it out!</h2><br /><br /> <p align="left"><strong><img style="width: 75px; height: 86px;" alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/aids_ribbon.jpg" vspace="5" width="75" align="right" border="0" height="86" hspace="10" /></strong>The Obama administration announced a new campaign to refocus national attention on the HIV crisis in the United States. The <strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Act Against AIDS Campaign</strong> is a partnership between the White House, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). This five-year strategy will initially focus in primarily African-American communities where infections are on the rise. </p><br /> <p align="left">The campaign will feature public service announcements and online communications. There also will be targeted messages and outreach to populations most severely affected. A budget of $45 million over the next five years will support this effort. Eighteen national organizations have been named as partners, each one receiving funding to carry out this initiative. For more information, click on <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=luL1IaPNIdJNJfL&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">Act Against AIDS Campaign</a>.</p><br /> <p>The first phase of the campaign is a media blitz called "<strong>9½ minutes</strong>.” Every 9½ minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV. The campaign will consist of video, audio, print and online materials about HIV/AIDS. To access information, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=foIPJSMpG7ICLYJ&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">9½ minutes</a>. </p><br /> <p>Take time to visit these websites. They have many downloadable resources to help you.</p><br /> <h2 align="center">The Silent Partner: HIV in Marriage”</h2><br /> <p>Population Action International (PAI) has developed a downloadable tool kit about HIV and the challenges associated with this disease. Resources for education and advocacy are included along with discussion questions to use in small groups. </p><br /> <p>A 12-minute film narrates the story of Kenyan women who bravely share their life experiences and how they became a casualty of the AIDS pandemic. Marriage for so many women around the globe is a pathway to being infected with AIDS. For many women marriage results in a death sentence. To download this resource, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ihKVJ1OBIaLJI8I&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">Silent Partner Film</a>. To learn more about PAI's work on AIDS, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=edJNKPNlEbKNK3L&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">Population Action International</a>.</p><br /> <p align="center"></p><br /> <h2 align="center">Action Needed to Support AIDS Funding!</h2><br /> <p>Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and ask them to support full funding for global AIDS during this upcoming appropriations process. The General Board of Church & Society, in collaboration with other faith-based and secular AIDS organizations, is supporting the following appropriation amounts for FY 2010: $9 billion for global AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and $2.7 billion for the multi-lateral "Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria." To contact your members of Congress, call the Capitol Switchboard: <strong>202-224-3121</strong>.</p><br /> <h2 align="center">AIDS Rate in U.S. Capital Alarming!</h2><br /> <p>In March, the 2008 AIDS statistics for Washington, D.C., were released, and people in the U.S. capital were not happy. At least 3% of district residents have the HIV virus. And that’s just a guess due to people not being tested universally. That percentage translates to 2,984 residents per every 100,000 over the age of 12, or 15,120 have the virus. </p><br /> <p>“Our rates are higher than West Africa,” said Shannon Hader, director of the district’s HIV/AIDS Administration. “We have a mode of transmission” — men having sex with men, heterosexual and injected drug use — “going up, all on the rise, and we have to deal with them,” Hader said (Source: <em>Washington Post</em>). Black women represent more than a quarter of HIV cases in the district. Most of those, about 58%, were infected through heterosexual sex; about a quarter of black women were infected through drug use. To read the full report, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=enJNLPMlF6JDIYK&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">AIDS Statistics</a>.</p><br /> <h2 align="center">UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic</h2><br /> <p>To download the <em>2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic</em>, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hqLTIYNxH9IKK8J&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">www.unaids.org.</a></p> <br /> <h3 align="center">Dates to Note</h3><br /> <ul><br /> <li>April 25: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ktIZI7PJJcKRIiI&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">World Malaria Day</a><br /> </li><li>May 18: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=nmK5JgMVIfJYJsL&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">HIV Vaccine Awareness Day</a><br /> </li><li>May 19: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=gfIRKVNtG8ILL8K&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day</a><br /> </li><li>June 27: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jiJXK4OFIbLSJiJ&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">National HIV Testing Day</a> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <h3 align="center"><img alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/_173051310327769.jpg" vspace="5" width="120" align="left" border="0" height="185" hspace="10" /> A Closing Prayer</h3><br /> <p>God of Compassion, with you and all the world family, we weep. Comfort all who are alone or afraid, who have no one to weep for them. Let us be your heart reaching out to those who grieve. Let us be your hands working to assist those who still live. For you are the God who stands with the least and the lost. Come by all the places that need your comforting and healing presence. Amen. </p><br /> <p align="right"><em>(By Beth A. Richardson from Tennessee,<br /><br /> printed in The Upper Room “Prayers for Encouragement”)</em></p><br /> <p><em>Thank you for your faithful commitment and ministry.</em></p> <p>Linda Bales<br /> <br /><br /> 202-488-5649<br /> <br /><br /> <a href="mailto:lbales@umc-gbcs.org">lbales@umc-gbcs.org</a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#567eac"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#567eac"> <td> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;"><img alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/crossflame.gif" width="55" align="left" border="0" height="100" /></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;"><br /> The General Board of Church and Society<br /> 100 Maryland Avenue, NE<br /> Washington, DC 20002</p> </td> <td> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" align="right">202-488-5600<br /> FAX 202-488-5619<br /> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jkISJaPVKjL0IoI&s=dgKQL4MILiLLLUMAIoE&m=ifLRL2OBKcKSF&af=y">Order Resources</a><br /> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fqLKIYNFLgIKK3J&s=dgKQL4MILiLLLUMAIoE&m=ifLRL2OBKcKSF&af=y">www.umc-gbcs.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3231424636207812873.post-39367146329780389752009-04-21T14:43:00.000-07:002009-10-29T13:35:29.066-07:00April 2009<table width="650" bgcolor="#567eac" border="1" bordercolor="#567eac" cellpadding="9"> <tbody><tr> <td width="642" bgcolor="#567eac"> <table> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="160"> <p style="font-size: 95%;"> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ghKMI1OJLgITKeJ&s=dgKQL4MILiLLLUMAIoE&m=ifLRL2OBKcKSF&af=y">Tell a Friend</a></p> </td> <td width="448"> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" align="right"><img alt="" src="http://www.umc-gbcs.org/atf/cf/%7b689fea4c-8849-4c05-a89e-c9bc7ffff64c%7d/gbcslogo_webanima2.gif" border="0" /><br /> <br /> The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"> <td><p>April 2009</p> <p><strong>Greetings AIDS Ambassadors!</strong></p><br /> <p>First, let me <strong>WELCOME</strong> new members of the network! Your participation is so critical given the scope and seriousness of this pandemic. </p> <p>I have gathered here some items related to the AIDS issue, both domestically and globally, that should be useful to you in your vital ministry.</p> <br /> <h2 align="center"><strong>The United Methodist Church Global AIDS Fund!</strong></h2><br /> <p>The UMC Global AIDS Fund and the committee guiding it need your support. The Fund, in existence since 2004 to mobilize support from around the connection, needs you, your local churches and annual conferences to continue promoting its good work. The almost $3 million raised so far is supporting more than 120<strong> </strong>AIDS-related projects that provide education and advocacy, care for orphaned children, and care for those living with HIV/AIDS. In addition, annual conferences have also initiated programs in the United States because 25% of any contributions made through a local church remain in the conference. </p> <p>Dr. Don Messer, chair of the UMC Global AIDS Fund Committee, says he has a heavy heart. "There are 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, and 2.5 million new people are infected each year," he says. There is still much more to do as we continue our work towards an AIDS-free world, remembering the words of Jesus to heal “every disease and every sickness.” (Matthew 9:35)</p> <p>Please encourage people to contribute through their local church. The Fund is Advance Special #982345. <strong>Remember, 100% of your gift goes directly to projects!</strong> For information about the Fund and how to contribute, go to: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hqLTKYOwGhJVIaK&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">UMC Global AIDS Fund.</a><strong></strong> </p> <br /> <h2 align="center"><strong>What is the Role of an AIDS Ambassador?</strong></h2><br /> <p>The UMC Global AIDS Fund Committee considers each of you on this AIDS Network an "Ambassador for AIDS." The world needs each of us to be involved. To read about your crucial role, click on <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=kjJZL7PIIkI2KkJ&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">AIDS Ambassador</a>. If you have any questions or suggestions for the Committee, please go to the Fund's website, <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=edKNIPMkHeLRL3I&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">UMC Global AIDS Fund</a>, and submit your comments. We’d love to hear from you! </p><br /> <h2 align="center">Act Against AIDS – A New Domestic Strategy<br /><br /> Check it out!</h2><br /> <br /> <p align="left"><strong><img style="width: 75px; height: 86px;" alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/aids_ribbon.jpg" vspace="5" width="75" align="right" border="0" height="86" hspace="10" /></strong>The Obama administration announced a new campaign to refocus national attention on the HIV crisis in the United States. The <strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Act Against AIDS Campaign</strong> is a partnership between the White House, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). This five-year strategy will initially focus in primarily African-American communities where infections are on the rise. </p><br /> <p align="left">The campaign will feature public service announcements and online communications. There also will be targeted messages and outreach to populations most severely affected. A budget of $45 million over the next five years will support this effort. Eighteen national organizations have been named as partners, each one receiving funding to carry out this initiative. For more information, click on <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=luL1IaPNIdJNJfL&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">Act Against AIDS Campaign</a>.</p><br /> <p>The first phase of the campaign is a media blitz called "<strong>9½ minutes</strong>.” Every 9½ minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV. The campaign will consist of video, audio, print and online materials about HIV/AIDS. To access information, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=foIPJSMpG7ICLYJ&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">9½ minutes</a>. </p><br /> <p>Take time to visit these websites. They have many downloadable resources to help you.</p><br /> <h2 align="center">The Silent Partner: HIV in Marriage”</h2><br /> <p>Population Action International (PAI) has developed a downloadable tool kit about HIV and the challenges associated with this disease. Resources for education and advocacy are included along with discussion questions to use in small groups. </p><br /> <p>A 12-minute film narrates the story of Kenyan women who bravely share their life experiences and how they became a casualty of the AIDS pandemic. Marriage for so many women around the globe is a pathway to being infected with AIDS. For many women marriage results in a death sentence. To download this resource, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ihKVJ1OBIaLJI8I&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">Silent Partner Film</a>. To learn more about PAI's work on AIDS, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=edJNKPNlEbKNK3L&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">Population Action International</a>.</p><br /> <p align="center"></p><br /> <h2 align="center">Action Needed to Support AIDS Funding!</h2><br /> <p>Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and ask them to support full funding for global AIDS during this upcoming appropriations process. The General Board of Church & Society, in collaboration with other faith-based and secular AIDS organizations, is supporting the following appropriation amounts for FY 2010: $9 billion for global AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and $2.7 billion for the multi-lateral "Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria." To contact your members of Congress, call the Capitol Switchboard: <strong>202-224-3121</strong>.</p><br /> <h2 align="center">AIDS Rate in U.S. Capital Alarming!</h2><br /> <p>In March, the 2008 AIDS statistics for Washington, D.C., were released, and people in the U.S. capital were not happy. At least 3% of district residents have the HIV virus. And that’s just a guess due to people not being tested universally. That percentage translates to 2,984 residents per every 100,000 over the age of 12, or 15,120 have the virus. </p><br /> <p>“Our rates are higher than West Africa,” said Shannon Hader, director of the district’s HIV/AIDS Administration. “We have a mode of transmission” — men having sex with men, heterosexual and injected drug use — “going up, all on the rise, and we have to deal with them,” Hader said (Source: <em>Washington Post</em>). Black women represent more than a quarter of HIV cases in the district. Most of those, about 58%, were infected through heterosexual sex; about a quarter of black women were infected through drug use. To read the full report, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=enJNLPMlF6JDIYK&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">AIDS Statistics</a>.</p><br /> <h2 align="center">UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic</h2><br /> <p>To download the <em>2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic</em>, go to <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hqLTIYNxH9IKK8J&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">www.unaids.org.</a></p> <br /> <h3 align="center">Dates to Note</h3><br /> <ul><br /> <li>April 25: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ktIZI7PJJcKRIiI&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">World Malaria Day</a><br /> </li><li>May 18: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=nmK5JgMVIfJYJsL&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">HIV Vaccine Awareness Day</a><br /> </li><li>May 19: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=gfIRKVNtG8ILL8K&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day</a><br /> </li><li>June 27: <a href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jiJXK4OFIbLSJiJ&s=%5B%5Ben_supporter_id%5D%5D&m=%5B%5Ben_MailID2%5D%5D">National HIV Testing Day</a> </li><br /> </ul><br /> <h3 align="center"><img alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/_173051310327769.jpg" vspace="5" width="120" align="left" border="0" height="185" hspace="10" /> A Closing Prayer</h3><br /> <p>God of Compassion, with you and all the world family, we weep. Comfort all who are alone or afraid, who have no one to weep for them. Let us be your heart reaching out to those who grieve. Let us be your hands working to assist those who still live. For you are the God who stands with the least and the lost. Come by all the places that need your comforting and healing presence. Amen. </p><br /> <p align="right"><em>(By Beth A. Richardson from Tennessee,<br /><br /> printed in The Upper Room “Prayers for Encouragement”)</em></p><br /> <p><em>Thank you for your faithful commitment and ministry.</em></p> <p>Linda Bales<br /> <br /><br /> 202-488-5649<br /> <br /><br /> <a href="mailto:lbales@umc-gbcs.org">lbales@umc-gbcs.org</a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#567eac"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#567eac"> <td> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;"><img alt="" src="https://www.kintera.com/accounttempfiles/account12960/images/crossflame.gif" width="55" align="left" border="0" height="100" /></p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;"><br /> The General Board of Church and Society<br /> 100 Maryland Avenue, NE<br /> Washington, DC 20002</p> </td> <td> <p style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" align="right">202-488-5600<br /> FAX 202-488-5619<br /> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=jkISJaPVKjL0IoI&s=dgKQL4MILiLLLUMAIoE&m=ifLRL2OBKcKSF&af=y">Order Resources</a><br /> <a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 95%;" href="http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=fqLKIYNFLgIKK3J&s=dgKQL4MILiLLLUMAIoE&m=ifLRL2OBKcKSF&af=y">www.umc-gbcs.org</a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>General Board of Church and Societyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923417840345863621noreply@blogger.com0