Grace, Care and Justice - LWF Handbook for HIV and AIDS Work
Grace, Care and Justice is the title of a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) handbook for HIV and AIDS work, published in March 2007.
The 114-page resource was developed with input from a variety of persons including church leaders, doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, and others who have been actively involved in AIDS work in the LWF member churches. It is intended to help people especially all those who work in and on behalf of the churches to become more active and effective in accompanying persons who are living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Through six chapters, the handbook brings together the theological and pastoral perspectives that shape how a Lutheran communion should approach people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. The subjects include Medical Facts and Prevention; Gender, Sexuality and Truth Telling; Responding to Questions of Faith; Ministry of Care and Counseling; Home-Based Care; and, Advocacy.
The LWF Department for Mission and Development will encourage and assist the member churches to organize a reception and discussion process, preferably through pastors meetings in synods, dioceses or church units. A planned second part of the handbook to specifically address the prevention challenges for churches and best practices in care and counseling will be shared in the reception phase.
In the handbook’s foreword, LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko expresses his hope that the handbook will be a “helpful resource, not only for Lutheran churches and their related programs, but also for those from other Christian traditions.” He notes that “many of the perspectives and recommendations are shared with those of other faiths and with secular organizations.”
Noko emphasizes the LWF’s deep commitment to working collaboratively with ecumenical, interfaith, governmental, and civil society partners. (298 words)
To order copies of Grace, Care and Justice please contact sni@lutheranworld.org or The LWF Department for Mission and Development, 150 route de Ferney, P. O. Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, Tel. +41/22-791 61 11, Fax +41/22-791 64 01.
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