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HIV/AIDS Timeline
1983
This year's AIDS News from the New York Times 
March 4. Scientists still not know how AIDS is transmitted . Recently "11 cases of unexplained, life-threatening opportunistic infections and cellular immune deficiency have been diagnosed in patients with hemophilia. Available data suggest that the severe disorder of immune regulation underlying AIDS is caused by a transmissible agent." (MMWR, March 04, 1983 / 32(8);101-3)
May 24. The New York Times reports "In many parts of the world there is anxiety, bafflement, a sense that something has to be done - although no one knows what - about this fatal disease whose full name is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and whose cause is still unknown." The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to convene a meeting of experts in Geneva from, November 22-25. (NYT, Concern Over AIDS Grows Internationally , May 24, 1983)
Ecumenical/Interfaith
June. Shanti Project in San Francisco sponsors an all-day religious forum, June 1, on the spiritual needs of people with AIDS. An idea of an AIDS interfaith network surfaces. Later that month, the Federation of AIDS Related Organizations, gathering for the second annual AIDS forum in Denver, CO, mandates the establishment of an AIDS Interfaith network.
July. Representatives from the religious community in San Francisco from the AIDS Interfaith Network of North America (AIN).
United Methodist
March-April. Charles Bergner, 33, a member of Washington Square UMC in New York City and a former support staffperson of the General Board of Global Ministries, is diagnosed with AIDS . He had been ill for several months. His church responds compassionately.
May 24. John A. Lovelace, associate editor of the United Methodist Reporter to interviews Charles Bergner, who is now a research patient at the National Institute of Health Hospital, Bethesda, MD.
June. California-Nevada Annual Conference sends a petition"Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)" to the 1984 General Conference. Rocky Mountain Annual Conference adopts "Resolution on Health and Human Welfare (AIDS Epidemic)" More...
July 1. The United Methodist Reporter publishes "Fatal Illness Strikes UM Layman: Church's Ministry Emphasizes 'Sacred Worth' of Homosexuals," by John A. Lovelace, who closes his article with the following reflection:
"I left Charles Bergner's hospital room impressed that he is doing his part to make public information available about AIDS...
I also felt that he is a young man looking realistically at his short life and how little may remain of it, aware that he has been stricken by a disease linked with a form of behaviour his church disapproves of. But, I felt, too, that Charles knows that the church, like God, has not withdrawn its compassion and knows that the healing grace of God is available to him no less than to any other person because he is, indeed, of sacred worth."
December 26. Charles Bergner dies in Bethesda, MD.
This timeline has been prepared by Nancy A. Carter from GBGM resources, her personal archives, the New York Times, the CDC, UNAIDS and other sources. Please send additions and corrections to her at ncarter@gbgm-umc.org.
Credit line: This HIV/AIDS Timeline by Nancy A. Carter is online at http://gbgm-umc.org/health/aids/timeline.html, part of the web site of Health and Welfare Ministries, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist. This document may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced or translated, in part or in full, provided the author and source is acknowledged. It may not be sold or used in conjunction with commercial purposes without prior written approval from Health and Welfare Ministries.
