Ministries - AIDS/HIV

HIV/AIDS Task Force

The mission of the HIV/AIDS Task Force is to transform parishes within the Diocese of Chicago into places of safe conversation and pastoral care around HIV/AIDS.  By encouraging HIV testing and providing educational resources and mission opportunities, our response is both a celebration and offering of what God is doing on behalf of those impacted by AIDS.  Over the past 27 years, HIV infection rates have not decreased.  Rather they have dramatically increased with presently 20,000 people who are infected with HIV/AIDS in Chicago alone.  The Task Force believes that in order to best serve our diocese we must provide opportunities for parishes to become healthier, safe and responsive to what is both a national and global threat.  Our work continues to be guided by the belief that God’s Spirit has already begun this work and the Church is called to share in it. 

Our objective for coming years is to create awareness of HIV/AIDS issues through increased parish volunteer opportunities with local AIDS service providers and AIDS initiatives.  We have already worked in partnership with the Clergy Leadership Summit for HIV/AIDS at McCormick Theological Seminary.  Our upcoming activities will include involvement in the Black Church Week of Prayer and National HIV Testing Day, World AIDS Day as well as the Diocesan Leadership and Ministry Fair.

The Task Force also makes available: “Youth in the Age of AIDS”, an HIV curriculum published in part by the  National Episcopal AIDS Coalition to address HIV/AIDS issues among 18-24 year-olds.

Congregations and individuals who desire more information about our work and how they might join in it should contact:

The Rev. Tyrone Fowlkes, Chair

HIV/AIDS Task Force

hivchicago@yahoo.com

or write to:

HIV/AIDS Task Force

Diocese of Chicago

Episcopal Church Center

65 E. Huron St.

Chicago, IL 60611