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HIV/AIDS Timeline

1986

This year's AIDS News from the New York Times

Heterosexuals and AIDS: concern grows about transmission between men and women .

October 23. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop urges parents and schools to begin "frank, open discussions" with young children and teen-agers about the dangers of AIDS .

Ecumenical

January. The National Council of Churches (NCCC) forms an ecumenical AIDS Task Force staffed by Chris Cowap. Cathie Lyons, assistant general secretary of Health and Welfare Ministries, GBGM, is the convener the group.

June. A delegation from the NCCC task force, including Cathie Lyons, meet, at his invitation, with the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop, for 80 minutes.

June. In response to requests from member churches and WHO, the World Council of Churches asks its units on Church and Society, Family Education, and the Christian Medical Commission (CMC) to study AIDS. The three groups call a consultation of AIDS, chaired by Dr. Kevin Gordon in Cartigny, Switzerland to discuss the challenge that AIDS poses for churches. Eighteen persons met, They were mainly from the U.S.A. and Europe but also included representatives from India, Zaire, and the West Indies. It dreaws up a statement "Aids and the Church as a Healing Community," which is later endorsed by the WCC Central Committee and sent to all of the member churches along with a call for activie involvement in prevention and compassionate ministry.

September. The task force releases A.I.D.S. A Resource Packet for Congregations, edited by Dan Sendzik, which contains personal stories of people with AIDS, their families and friends; facts and medical background; Biblical, theological, pastoral, and worship resources, and a resource list.

October 31. "In what appeared to be a clear allusion to the AIDS epidemic, the Vatican said today that 'advocates' of homosexual rights seem undeterred by the realization that 'homosexuality may seriously threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people.'"

United Methodist

February. The General Board of Church and Society publishes a special issue of engage/social action, The "Church in the Midst of the AIDS Epidemic."

February. The General Board of Discipleship adopts a statement "Ministry in the Midst of the AIDS Epidemic," which says in part:

"We applaud those local United Methodist churches who have already understaken such ministries on our behalf. We also confess that we as a total church have not always responded lovingly in the midst of this epidemic in part because of deeply held fears and prejudices. We ask God's forgiveness in this regard."

March 22. New York Annual Conference holds a conference on AIDS and the Church in White Plains, NY. Workshops include "The Needs of People with AIDS," "Spiritual Care and Counseling," "The Politics of AIDS," "AIDS and the Black and Hispanic Community," and "Local Church Ministries with Persons with AIDS."

April. The General Board of Global Ministries adopts an extensive paper, "Statement on the Church as a Healing Community and the AIDS Crisis." It includes theological background, facts about AIDS, statistics, and several recommendations.

May-July. Baltimore, California-Nevada, California-Pacific, Desert Southwest, Florida, Kansas West, North Arkansas, North Indiana, North Texas, Northern New Jersey, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain, and South Georgia Annual Conferences adopt resolutions on AIDS and AIDS ministry.

September. The General Board of Church and Society concurs with GBGM's "Statement on the Church as a Healing Community and the AIDS Crisis."

   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.