View conference: Global HIV Consultation- Churches Living with HIV

• What can churches learn about abundant life from people who are living with HIV?
• Various roles of churches in HIV epidemics
• HIV and integral mission
• Building partnerships for effective advocacy for better health care
  

• Rev. Christo Greyling (South Africa)- Global Advisor HIV/AIDS & Church/FBO Partnerships, World Vision International, and Board Chair of ANERELA+
• Dr. Donald Messer (United States of America)- Executive Director, Center for the Church & Global AIDS
• Dr. Peter Okaalet (Uganda)- Senior Director for Health, HIV and AIDS Policy, MAP International, Kenya
• Gracia Violeta Ross (Bolivia)- LAC NGO Alternate Representative UNAIDS Board and LAC region Delegate, NGO Delegation of the Global Fund Board
• Rev. Patricia Sawo (Kenya)- East Africa Coordinator of ANERELA+ (African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV) and Tearfund HIV Ambassador
• Sally Smith (United Kingdom) Partnerships Adviser, UNAIDS
  

We will announce additional resource people as we receive confirmation of their participation.

Participants will interact with each other over the plenary sessions using a ‘World Café’ format - small group sessions designed to get the benefit of everyone’s experiences and perspectives. These will be collated by a drafting committee and a talented artist.

Afternoon Training Tracks and Workshops

Each afternoon, participants will interact in smaller group contexts, building on the morning’s themes. Some of the topics which will be discussed include:

Capacity Building - What support do churches want and need to live with HIV? What partnerships do we need to develop in order to meet these needs? How do we build on the work of churches, National Evangelical Alliances and NGOs which are already activel responding to HIV?

• Churches and NGOs working together
• Responses to orphan crises
• Gender, culture and religion
• Faith, cure and adherence to treatment
• Reducing risk, reducing vulnerability
  

Integral Mission - HIV and AIDS have defined a new context in which the gospel is proclaimed and demonstrated around the world. How does this context affect our
words and actions?

• The status of HIV in theological education
• Sex, sexuality and the Gospel
• ‘Open spaces’
  

Advocacy - With whom will we raise our collective voice, in our pursuit of justice? What will we ask for?

• Participating in the design, implementation and evaluation of public health care policies
• Access to medical treatment (including the use of and breaking of patents)
• ‘Open spaces’
  

The ‘Open Space’ sessions provide opportunities in which the participants can define and facilitate topics of their own choice for discussion.

Special Opportunity: World Vision’s Channels of Hope Training

World Vision International will also conduct a workshop to introduce the 'Channels of Hope' training package. This highly interactive workshop introduces church leaders to the types of things church leaders and their congregations can do concerning stigma and attitudes, and Christian perspectives on prevention and care strategies.

Participants who sign up for the workshop will be expected to participate in the entire workshop, which spans the 3 afternoon sessions of the Micah Network consultation as well as one evening session. They will still be able to attend all of the plenary sessions of the overall consultation.

For more information about the overall ‘Channels of Hope’ program, please contact Christo Greyling (christo_greyling@wvi.org).

Places in this workshop are limited, so please register your interest early by sending an email to Anne Liew (anne.liew@micahnetwork.org).

Regional Groups
At the end of each day, there will be time for regional groups to meet, pray, reflect and plan strategic regional initiatives for the future.

Simultaneous Interpretation

Sessions will be conducted in English and simultaneous interpretation into Thai, French, Spanish and other languages will be available to enable speakers of other languages to participate, depending on demand.

Start and Finish Times

Registration will be from 11.00am on Tuesday October 21, 2008 (with sessions starting at 3.00 pm) and the consultation will conclude after dinner on Friday October 24, 2008 and participants will need to check out after breakfast on Saturday October 25, 2008.

Transport

Transport between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and the venue will be provided at regular intervals. Details will be advised after you register.

Participants who are not staying on for the World Evangelical Alliance General Assembly will be transferred back to the airport on the evening of Friday October 24, 2008 or the morning of Saturday October 25, 2008.

Funding

Unfortunately Micah Network does not have funding available for delegates to attend. We encourage you to plan early and to seek funding support from your usual support agencies if necessary to enable your participation.

Cost

Please note: All prices include accommodation, meals and registration fee.

Contributing Micah Network Members & Associate Members:
(Agencies and individuals who have made a financial contribution to Micah Network of more than US$ 50 during the 2008 calendar year or at the time of registration).
Twin Share = US$ 425 / GBP 220
Single Accommodation = US$ 525/GBP 270

Other Participants:
Twin Share = US$ 475 /GBP 245
Single Accommodation = US$ 575 /GBP 295

The consultation will be held at Jomtien Palm Beach Hotel & Resort. The fee payable depends on your membership status and the type of accommodation you select.

Participants who are staying extra nights will have to make their own bookings and payments for accommodation. We will have suggestions on the places to stay in Pattaya and Bangkok on our website.

Single room fee: £50

For paid-up members of The Micah Network: £220 per person.

For others: £245 per person.