Category Archives: Poverty/Affluence

by  Mary Button, USA

Today was all about developing a message to bring to Stuttgart. This discernment process began with young people putting forward issues near and dear to their heart, then writing these issues on posters that were then broken down into work groups. Roger established the “Law of the Two Feet” which meant that we were encouraged to move around from group to group on two conditions: Did we learn something? and Do we have something to contribute? I moved between the sustainability group, the human trafficking group, and, last but certainly not least, the group on HIV/AIDS. While HIV/AIDS was not originally among the listed issues it was quickly added by Richard from Nigeria and the group ended up being among the largest groups convening at the end of the day.

And in all of the groups that I spent time with there was the recognition that many of the social justice issues important to young Lutherans are connected to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Those who are victims of human trafficking are unable to negotiate the use of condoms and are, therefore, more susceptible to HIV infection. In terms of gender justice, we young people recognize that women are among those whose infection rates are soaring and that combating domestic violence is part of our fight against the AIDS pandemic. And that sustainability means creating new economic structures that enable people with HIV to stay healthy; to have access to HIV medications and to live a life full of fruits and vegetables.

More than just making connections between all of the issues that young Lutherans are passionate about, the small group meeting on HIV/AIDS was an opportunity for many of the AIDS activists in our churches all over the world to come together and share experiences.  We were able to share the obstacles we face in our advocacy efforts and it quickly became obvious that many of us struggle with the same issues: the stigma and isolation of people living with AIDS, the lack of sex education in our churches, the need for structures that more fully integrate people living with AIDS into not only our church communities, but society as a whole, and supporting families that are caring for the sick.

Perhaps the most pressing issue identified was the root problem of poverty. In this time of financial crisis there is an ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor; people who have access to HIV medications and people who don’t. Tresor from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was able to talk very eloquently about how this issue relates to our theme: “Give us today our daily bread.” He said, “In order to help everyone have their daily bread we should provide micro-grants to people with HIV so that they can be empowered through vocation and have access to medications and healthy foods.”

As we continue to prepare for our time in Stuttgart, we can be sure that the amazing leaders in HIV/AIDS advocacy in our churches will continue to make connections between the many social justice issues we are passionate about and the fight against this devastating global pandemic.