World AIDS Day, 2008: Since 1988, December 1 has been recognized as World AIDS Day, an opportunity for individuals and organisations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. In 2008 (as in 2007), the theme for the day is Leadership with emphasis on fulfilling the promises that have been made in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since 2005, a recurring promise from the United Nations and the G8 summit meetings has been to provide "universal access to comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs, treatment and care and support by 2010 for all." It is currently estimated that there are 2.7 new infections for every person who gains access to treatment.
Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, former primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, called on faith leaders to act:
[S]hout from the rooftops that AIDS is not a punishment from God but a medical condition which is preventable.
Faith leaders should hence commit themselves to working towards achieving a generation without AIDS, and show loving care and support for those infected. They should develop and implement imaginative strategies to fight stigmatization, ensure that infected people have access to the essential needs like nutrition and medical care, as well as encourage those not infected to stay uninfected.
Many faith communities provide resources to observe World AIDS Day. Among them are:
The Anglican Communion,
ELCA,
The Episcopal Church,
The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA),
Catholic Relief Services,
The United Church of Christ (UCC),
The United Methodist Church (UMC),
and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
We could not find an acknowledgement of World AIDS Day on the LCMS web site, however, we did encounter is a short article (not the church's official position) by Brady L. Finnern

Pr. Sophie is all a-Twitter. Again.
Pr. Sophie's Tweets:

Hot Dish Hotline: "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." What have you seen or heard that other people really need to know about? Use the Hot Dish Hotline to submit your item online.

of LCMS Health Ministries titled Reaction to the AIDS Epidemic, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Perspective.
If you aren't already familiar with the Lutheran AIDS Network (LANET), this would be a good time to make their acquaintance.

It's Better to Know: On November 25, the ELCA News Service reported that the ELCA Conference of Bishops (COB) agreed, at their October, 2008 meeting, to the presence of health screeners to provide HIV and AIDS testing to all COB members at the COB's March 5-10, 2009 meeting at the Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, Illinois.
It is not unusual for people to be anxious about HIV testing, and there's no reason to expect ELCA bishops to be any less anxious than the rest of us. We suggest that you offer your bishop support and encourage him or her to participate in the screening process.

WordAlone Learns from Obama: The latest communication from WordAlone is a short article by WordAlone Board Member Carolyn Nestingen (pictured) who suggests that the Lutheran confessional movement might learn some valuable lessons from Barack Obama's campaign for the Presidency:
Is there a lesson WordAlone can learn from this successful campaign? Do those of us in the Network think about how to accomplish WordAlone's goals? Do we think about maintaining group solidarity in how the message is conveyed? Are we willing to trust one person to carry our message? Are we using the latest technology to reach our goals? And in our discussions on the authority of Scripture and the primacy of the Lutheran Confessions for life in our ELCA, do we think about doing so in a way that doesn't alienate those who agree with us?
...Better to think of our group as loyal opposition than as a protest movement. Our goal is the same as that of the ELCA, to serve Jesus Christ faithfully.

If Your Church Was Burning Down: "...you'ld (sic) want to do something, wouldn't you?"
The question is posed by Lutheran CORE, a group of individuals, congregations and reform groups, working for biblical and confessional integrity in the ELCA. Lutheran CORE is enlisting people "to help us fight to keep our church."
Posters (pictured) have been produced for use by Lutheran CORE members and supporters and for display at synod assemblies and other gatherings. For those interested in setting up display tables at synod events, Pr. Mark Braaten is the contact person.

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