HIV and AIDS

HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus that attacks the body’s immune system, severely damaging it and leading to AIDS. This disease is one that has been named a “pandemic” because of the horrific statistics as well as the stigma experienced by people living with AIDS.

As of 2011, there were 34.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world and two-thirds of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. Half of all new cases of AIDS are women and more than 2 million children are living with HIV/AIDS. According to UNAIDS, in 2011 there were 1.7 million AIDS-related deaths.

In the United States, 1.2 million people are living with HIV. According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2009, African Americans comprised 14% of the US population but accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections. Rates of HIV for African-American and Latina women are spiking in the United States.

While many people consider HIV/AIDS a disease of the poor and relegated to developing countries and poor communities, the fact is that HIV/AIDS is a serious health problem in the United States and many countries and communities in the world. As a Global Church, HIV/AIDS is an issue faced by our friends, neighbors, congregations and communities in the places we serve.

For more information:www.unaids.org

The "health" text option is not exclusive to HIV Text the word "health" to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation toward the fight against HIV and AIDS.

What is the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund?

The United Methodist Global AIDS Fund supports education, prevention and care programs for people living with HIV and AIDS around the world. The fund currently supports over 200 HIV/AIDS church oriented and Christ centered ministries in 37 countries, including the United States.

The Fund develops appropriate promotional materials and funding guidelines, advocates for social justice, and encourages partnerships between congregations and organizations globally that are engaged in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.

The Fund is guided by an inter-agency committee comprised of representatives from the Council of Bishops, General Board of Church & Society, General Board of Global Ministries, General Commission on Communications, the Division on Ministries with Young People and the Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.

World AIDS Day, December 1

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first every global health day (1988). The United Methodist Church has been a strong supporter of this special day and the UM Global AIDS Fund urges all congregations to commemorate World AIDS Day either on December 1 or some other day during the year. Congregations are also strongly encouraged to take an offering for the United Methodist Global AIDS Fund on World AIDS Day to support the work that our churches and partners do to understand and combat this disease in communities around the world.

(click on each one below to access)

United Methodist Response to HIV/AIDS Brochure
World AIDS Day Bulletin
World AIDS Day Poster
World AIDS Day Worship
Offering Envelopes