Detailed History

On March 14th, 1993, representatives of AIDS National Interfaith Network (ANIN), National Episcopal AIDS Coalition (NEAC), Disciples of Christ AIDS Network, Lutheran AIDS Network (LANET) and United Methodist AIDS Network traveled through an East Coast blizzard which resulted in a foot of snow for the first meeting of what would become the Council of NATIONAL RELIGIOUS AIDS NETWORKS. Discussion that day included brief descriptions of each of the network's and/or associated congregation's/denomination's activities on behalf of HIV/AIDS. ANIN executive director Ken South explained to the group that ANIN, in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, would be working in a coordinating role between and among various religious AIDS networks. He reported other requests for collaboration from Mothers Voices, University of West Texas, Interreligious Health Care Access Campaign, and CDC's HIV Prevention Marketing initiative. Discussion concluded with agreement as to the need to increase opportunities for spirituality at the National Skills Building Conference and the need for the group to continue to work together.

By the second meeting on November 2nd, 1993, during the National Skills Building Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, the group had formally named itself the Council of NATIONAL RELIGIOUS AIDS NETWORKS, upper/lower case intentional. Present at this meeting were Scott Alexander, Unitarian Universalist Association AIDS Resources Network; Marc Blumenthal, Union of American Hebrew Congregations/ Central Conference of American Rabbi's Joint Committee on AIDS; Charles Carnahan, United Methodist HIV/AIDS Ministries Network; Rodney DeMartini, National Catholic AIDS Network; Phil Jamison, Presbyterian AIDS Network; Ted Karpf, National Episcopal AIDS Coalition; Fred Kasl, National Catholic AIDS Network; Jon Lacey, AIDS Ministry Network-Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Holly McAlpen, National Episcopal AIDS Coalition; Joe McGinty, AIDS National Interfaith Network; A. Stephen Pieters, UFMCC AIDS Ministry; Chuck Selner, United Church AIDS/HIV Network; Ken South, AIDS National Interfaith Network; Ron Unger, Lutheran AIDS Network and Bernard Turner, guest, National Community AIDS Partnership. Mr. Turner described the National Community AIDS Partnership's interest in working with the Council in particular and the religious community in general. Statements of support/endorsement by the respective networks of the CDC's Prevention Marketing Initiative were requested by ANIN. The Council agreed to: 1) submit summaries of their work in HIV/AIDS prevention education to ANIN; 2) establish a steering committee to address the work of the Council between full meetings; submit 1994 program plans to ANIN; 3) plan for a National Interfaith AIDS Conference in 1996.

The Steering Committee of the Council met on March 2nd, 1994 in Washington, DC to discuss the ANIN Board of Directors' document "Policy Statement on the Council of NATIONAL RELIGIOUS AIDS NETWORKS," the CDC Prevention Marketing Initiative, the AIDS Education Information Exchange and the National Interfaith AIDS Convocation tentatively scheduled for 1996. A recent development was that ANIN had entered into a contract with Aspen Systems, managers of the CDC's National AIDS Clearinghouse (CDCNAC), to review and update the several thousand entries in the CDCNAC's Religious Resources database. The contract would include collaborating with member networks of the Council to review and update the information in their respective databases including payment to the networks for their research. The Steering Committee voted unanimously to call for a meeting of the full Council of NATIONAL RELIGIOUS AIDS NETWORKS in May, 1994 in Washington, DC, with two representatives present from each network.

As ANIN and the Council continued to collaborate, so ANIN continued to collaborate with the CDC in making the case for the importance of the Council and the larger US faith community in HIV/AIDS care and prevention. As a fruit of that effort, the CDC agreed to convene the full Council as the Steering Committee had recommended, with two representatives per network meeting in Washington, DC. In addition, the CDC invited selected interested guests to join in this historic meeting. With CDC funding supporting the meeting, the Council met May 23rd-25th, 1994 at the Bellevue Hotel in Washington, DC. Present at the meeting were Mr. Mark Anderson, Kansas City, MO, AIDS Ministry Network, Christian Church (DOC) [AMN, CC (DOC)]; Ms. Peg Atkins, Kirkwood, MO, Presbyterian AIDS Network [PAN]; Rabbi Marc Blumenthal, Los Angeles, CA, Union of American Hebrew Congregations/Central Conference of American Rabbis Joint Committee on AIDS [UAHC/CCAR JCA]; Rev. Charles Carnahan, New York, NY, United Methodist HIV/AIDS Ministries Network [UMAN]; Ms. Mary Jean Collins, National Field Director, People for the American Way, Washington, DC; Rev. Rodney J. DeMartini, SM, San Francisco, CA, National Catholic AIDS Network [NCAN]; Rev. Don Eastman, Los Angeles, CA, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches AIDS Ministry [UFMCC AM]; Rev. Herbert Evans, Philadelphia, PA, [UFMCC AM]; Rev. Elice Higginbotham, New York, NY, United Church AIDS/HIV Network [UCAN]; Rev. Phil Jamison, Frederickstown, PA, [PAN]; Rev. Ted Karpf, Washington, DC, National Episcopal AIDS Coalition [NEAC]; Dr. Jon A. Lacey, East Lansing, MI, [AMN, CC (DOC)]; Ms. Sandra LaRoe, Boston, MA, Unitarian Universalist Association AIDS Resources Network [UUA ARN]; Mr. Joseph P. McGinty, Washington, DC, AIDS National Interfaith Network [ANIN]; Ms. Lola Peters, Boston, MA, [UUA ARN]; Rev. Michael Pozar, Pacifica, CA, Lutheran AIDS Network [LANET]; Ms. Ruth Reko, Chicago, IL, [LANET]; Ms. Pernessa Seele, New York, NY, The Balm in Gilead; Rev. Chuck Selner, Chicago, IL, [UCAN]; Mr. Kevin Spears, Los Angeles, CA, [UMAN]; Rev. Walter J. Smith, SJ, Ph.D., New York, NY, [NCAN]; Rev. Kenneth South, Washington, DC, AIDS National Interfaith Network [ANIN]; Mr. Robert E. Stein, Washington, DC, [UAHC/CCAR JCA]; Ms. Jacquelyn Wilkerson, Washington, DC, AIDS Advocacy in African American Churches [AAAAC]; Rev. Richard Younge, [NEAC]; Ms. Sonya Grey, Special Advisor to the Surgeon General, Washington, DC; Rev. Dr. Alicia Byrd, The Congress of National Black Churches, Washington, DC; Ms. Darlene Washington, American Red Cross National Headquarters, Washington, DC; Mr. Leon M. West, The Congress of National Black Churches, Washington, DC; Rev. Thann Young, The Congress of National Black Churches, Washington, DC; Ms. Dorothy Triplett, Acting Assistant Director for Minority and Other Special Populations, Office of HIV/AIDS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Dr. Margaret Scarlett, Program Officer, Youth Initiatives, National Partnership Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; and Ms. Frances E. Page, Prevention Specialist, Office of National AIDS Policy, Executive Office of the President of the United States, Washington, DC.

Sixteen pages of proceedings were produced from this meeting as the Council discussed The Atlanta Declaration, World AIDS Day 1994 at the United Nations, NAMES Project Memorial Quilt 1996 Conference, Networks Information Exchange and Update, the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse database project, the Congregational Quilt/Names Project and strategies for increased collaboration with the CDC, especially in relation to the Prevention Community Planning groups. There were two significant results from this meeting: 1) in revisiting The Atlanta Declaration, the Council wrote a new document, "A Commitment on HIV/AIDS by People of Faith...The Council Call," to be distributed around the nation in preparation for World AIDS Day 1994 and 2) in a closing round table discussion, representatives of the CDC agreed to bring the Council to Atlanta to broaden and deepen the growing mutual understanding and respect between the public health sector and the faith community.

On Saturday, October 29th, 1994, the Council met during the National Skills Building Conference in Atlanta, GA. Present were Scott Alexander, UUA AIDS Resources Network; Steve Pieters, UFMCC AIDS Ministry; Marc Blumenthal, UAHC/CCAR Joint Committee on AIDS; Marc Anderson, AIDS Ministry Network, Christian Church (DOC); Jon Lacey, AIDS Ministry Network, Christian Church (DOC); Phil Jamison, Presbyterian AIDS Network; Charles Carnahan, United Methodist HIV/AIDS Ministries Network; Pernessa Seele, The Balm in Gilead; Elice Higginbotham, United Church AIDS/HIV Network; Ken South, AIDS National Interfaith Network; Rodney DeMartini, National Catholic AIDS Network; Herbert Evans, UFMCC AIDS Ministry; Joe McGinty, AIDS National Interfaith Network; and Chuck Selner, United Church AIDS/HIV Network. Progress reports were delivered on the NAC database project, World AIDS Day at the United Nations planning, and deliverables due to the CDC as a result of the May meeting. Ken South briefed the Council on the upcoming CDC 502 proposal to be submitted by ANIN which would, for the first time, establish sub-contract relationships with Council member networks to fund special HIV/AIDS prevention projects in each. In addition, it was announced that the meeting with the CDC in Atlanta was tentatively scheduled for December, with a meeting of the Council scheduled for the eve of the meeting with CDC staff and others. The Council's Steering Committee was re-named the Executive Committee, with Rodney DeMartini chairing that committee.

The Council met on the evening of December 15th, 1994, with two representatives from each member network, to plan for the following day's meeting with CDC officials and representatives of other religious organizations. On December 16th, the meeting began at 8:30 AM with the following in attendance: 1. REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL, Mr. Mark Anderson, AIDS Ministry Network, Christian Church (DOC) [AMN, CC (DOC)]; Ms. Alice Davis, Presbyterian AIDS Network [PAN]; Rabbi Marc Blumenthal, Union of American Hebrew Congregations/Central Conference of American Rabbis Joint Committee on AIDS [UAHC/CCAR JCA]; Rev. Dr. Nancy A. Carter, United Methodist HIV/AIDS Ministries Network [UMAN]; Rev. Rodney J. DeMartini, SM, National Catholic AIDS Network [NCAN]; Rev. A. Stephen Pieters, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches AIDS Ministry [UFMCC AM]; Rev. Herbert Evans, [UFMCC AM]; Rev. Elice Higginbotham, United Church AIDS/HIV Network [UCAN]; Ms. Peg Atkins, [PAN]; Jack Plimpton, Ed.D., National Episcopal AIDS Coalition [NEAC]; Dr. Jon A. Lacey, [AMN, CC (DOC)]; Ms. Lola Peters, Unitarian Universalist Association AIDS Resources Network [UUA ARN]; Mr. Joseph P. McGinty, AIDS National Interfaith Network, [ANIN]; Rev. Tom Carlson, Lutheran AIDS Network [LANET]; Ms. Sally Simmel, [LANET]; Ms. Pernessa Seele, The Balm in Gilead; Rev. Chuck Selner, [UCAN]; Rev. William Robinson, [UMAN]; Rev. Walter J. Smith, SJ, Ph.D., [NCAN]; Rev. Kenneth South, AIDS National Interfaith Network, [ANIN]; Mr. Robert E. Stein, [UAHC/CCAR JCA]; Rev. Richard Younge, [NEAC]; 2. REPRESENTING OTHER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS: Ms. Virginia Bourassa, Asian Pacific Islander Health Forum; Rev. Dr. Alicia Byrd, Congress of National Black Churches; Mr. Richard Cizik, National Evangelical Association; Ms. Eunice Diaz, Seventh Day Adventist North American Division AIDS Task Force; Mr. James Beverly, Concerned Black Clergy; Mr. Robert Hudak, Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network; Dr. Richard Jimenez, AIDS Religious Education and Training Center, University of Texas; Ms. Rebecca Knox; Dr. Lewis Martinez, AIDS Religious Education and Training Center, University of Texas; Mr. W. Shepherd Smith, Americans for a Sound AIDS Policy; 3. REPRESENTING THE CDC AND PHS: Rev. Eretta Buchanan-Lyons; Dr. James W. Curran; Dr. Scott D. Deitchman; Ms. Karla M. Gibson; Ms. Sonya Gray; Ms. Priscilla B. Holman; Dr. Bryan K. Lindsey; Ms. Lydia Ogden; Rev. Lisa Rhodes; Ms. Pat Riley; Ms. Diana Swindel and Ms. Dorothy Triplett.

The draft of the proceedings of this meeting was reviewed by ANIN and the CDC, and the final product will be forthcoming. In addition, however, the recorder of the session, Peggy Stokes Nielson, submitted a set of nine "Characteristics of Communities of Faith" as part of her efforts. She concluded, "1) Americans, including those infected or at risk, are people of faith. They are a ready audience for the prevention message; 2) Communities of Faith are where people feel safe and are receptive to information; 3) Among communities of faith, there is a unique intersection with the family; 4) Communities of faith have a sense of mission; 5) Communities of faith are grassroots organizations, that include significant HIV/AIDS prevention target audiences; 6) Communities of faith do a lot with a little; 7) Communities of faith wield power and influence; 8) Communities of faith have developed materials and resources consistent with CDC prevention strategies; 9) The involvement of communities of faith in care have prepared them for prevention education." She went on to suggest "Next Steps for the CDC" as follows: "1) Expand and continue the dialogue, engaging denominational and congregational leadership; 2) Give technical assistance for the development of a body of HIV/AIDS prevention education materials suitable for use by diverse communities of faith; 3) Commit to a short-term liaison role with communities of faith, providing an identifiable contact point for communication."

The Council met April 2nd-4th, 1995, at ANIN's office in Washington, DC with one representative from each member network. The decision on the CDC 502 Proposal had recently arrived at ANIN and funding was 46% less than originally requested. During a lengthy discussion, each of the networks that had originally submitted a potential sub-contract project revisited their needs and revised their funding figures, with the following recommendations: LANET, $9,000; NCAN, $2,500; PAN, $14,000; UFMCC, $14,000; UAHC/CCAR, $9,500; UCC, $15,000; UMAN, $5,000. In addition, the Council recommended that $30,000 needed to maintain the operation of the Council be set aside from the CDC grant amount. The Council recommended that "The Council Call" be "marketed" beyond the religious community; the Council, individually and severally, will serve as co-conveners of ANIN's "Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope" on the eve of World AIDS Day, 1995, in Washington, DC; a National Interfaith HIV/AIDS meeting not be held in 1996; the Council would meet next at the National Skills Building Conference in Los Angeles, California in October 1995. In July 1995, the first sub-contract arrangement with ANIN via the CDC 502 Proposal resulted in the release of the UFMCC project, the Peer Education Program of the Metropolitan Community Churches (PEP/MCC), a program designed to decrease the rising incidence of HIV infection among young gay men and other young people, as well as being adaptable to any age group, gender, sexual orientation as demonstrated in an accompanying video.

On October 22nd, 1995 the next meeting of the Council was held in conjunction with the National Skills Building Conference at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Present at that meeting were: Rodney DeMartini, Phil Jamison, Marc Blumenthal, Herbert Evans, Bruce Davidson, Church Selner, Carlton Elliot Smith and Ken South. Guests included: Michael O'Keefe, Buddhist AIDS Network; Judy Noddin, Interfaith Quilt Project of the Names Project; and Pat O'Hara, member of the ANIN Board of Directors. The agenda included a report on the organizational status of ANIN. There were updates regarding the progress of the Council's CDC prevention programs, the management of the Council given the absence of the ANIN's director of programs, plans for 1995 World AIDS Day activities, scheduling the next Council meeting in Washington, DC in December, potential new members of the Council, and the request to the Council for suggestions of persons to be invited to the White House AIDS Conference in December.

World AIDS Day was the next opportunity for the Council to meet, on December 1st, 1995 at ANIN's office in Washington, DC. A brief meeting was attended by Rodney DeMartini, Marc Blumenthal, Herbert Evans, Jon Lacy, Charles Carnahan, Ted Karpf, Lola Peters, Bruce Moyer and Ken South. Guests included: Holly McAlpen, Chair of the ANIN Board; Kay Hayes-Waller, ANIN's CDC Project Officer and staff consultant Sarah Payne Naylor. The brief agenda included introduction of the newest Council member from the Seventh-Day Adventist HIV/AIDS Network and its representative Bruce Moyer. Old business included updates on the CDC prevention projects and the status of the Council Call. A vote was taken regarding a resolution concerning the White House Conference on AIDS in which the Council voiced concern about the focus of the meeting and need for more substantive change. The meeting adjourned for participants to join the World AIDS Day Luncheon at the National Press Club.

During the March 14th, 1996 meeting of the Council at ANIN's office, the following persons were in attendance: Tom Orians, Lola Peters, Phil Jamison, Jon Lacey, Marc Blumenthal, Herbert Evans, Bill Johnson, Ted Karpf, Charles Carnahan, Chuck Selner, Pat O'Hara, Pernessa Seele, Elice Higginbotham, Rodney DeMartini, and staff Ken South and Sarah Payne Naylor, Consultant. The newest member of the Council, the AIDS Task Force of Dignity, USA was welcomed to the group. Old business included a discussion and resolution about the "502" 1996 contract and sign-on letter to the Centers for Disease Control. There was a discussion with suggestions on how to conduct better evaluation of the Prevention Programs. A sub-committee was established to look into improved public relations for the Council. ANIN's status was discussed in more detail and progress on the National Skills Building Conference 1996 was reported. The activities of the Council with regard to the Names Project Quilt weekend were decided including the Interfaith Worship service to be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

The August 2th, 1996 meeting of the Council was held at the office of the Board for Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church at 475 Riverside Drive in New York City. The following persons were in attendance: Tom Orians, Phil Jamison, Jon Lacey, Marc Blumenthal, Bill Johnson, Ted Karpf, Charles Carnahan, Pat O'Hara, Pernessa Seele, Elice Higginbotham, Rodney DeMartini, Bruce Davidson, Philemon Sevastiades, David Kalke and staff Ken South and Sarah Payne Naylor, Consultant. The major portion of the meeting included a briefing on the status of the CDC's Religious Initiative by Norm Fikes, director of the Community Assistance, Planning and National Partners Branch and Qairo Ali, the recently appointed director of the Initiative. Other visitors included a presentation by Tim Sweeney and Michael Almond of the Public Media Center of San Francisco on the project; "Impact of Homophobia and other Social Biases on AIDS." A task force was established to look into the possibility of a 1998 joint religious AIDS network gathering. ANIN's affiliation with the National AIDS Fund was presented as well as discussion of plans for the upcoming 1996 National Skills Building Conference and other Quilt Weekend related items.

The February 25th-26th,1997 meeting of the Council was held at the Ramada Resort in Orlando, Florida following a retreat format. The following persons were in attendance: Alice Davis, Stephen Pieters, Marc Blumenthal, Wesley (Thuthi) Niles, Bill Johnson, Elise Higginbotham, Jesse Milan, Thomas McCusker, Jon Lacey, Tom Orians, Lola Peters, Angela Davis, Rodney DeMartini, Josselyn Bennett. Staff included Ken South and consultants Sarah & Ed Naylor and Thomas Palazzo. Guests were Gerald Fingerhut and Greg Jakubowicz of Funding Solutions; Qairo Ali of the CDC; Ma Jaya Sati Bagavati, Richard Rosenkranz, Bina Frank, Dhumavati and Yashoda Hunter of The River Fund in Sebastian, Florida.

A report was presented by a task force looking at the possibility of an interfaith ministry conference for 1999. It was referred to ANIN's board for discussion during their March meeting. There was an extended discussion regarding the relationship between the Council and the Centers for Disease Control in anticipation of a meeting the following day with Mrs. Qairo Ali, Director of the Religious Initiatives Program. At the subsequent meeting with Mrs. Ali, members were informed of the changes in the new cycle of cooperative agreements starting in April of 1998. Added to the agenda was necessary planning for the 1997 U.S. Conference on AIDS. ANIN's Call & Care profit sharing program was presented by Jerry Fingerhut and Greg Jakubowicz. Sarah and Ed Naylor led the group in a planning process to look at the present programs and structure of the Council and to plan for the future. Three task groups were formed to report back at the next meeting.

The August 8^th-9^th 1997 meeting of the Council was held at ANIN's office in Washington, DC. Those present were: Kathy Reeves, Phil Jamison, Stephen Pieters, Marc Blumenthal, Bill Johnson, Elise Higginbotham, Michael Pozar, Ted Karpf, Pernessa Seele, Jesse Milan, Jon Lacey, Tom Orians, Rodney DeMartini, ANIN staff Ken South and Scott Harrison, consultants Ed & Sarah Naylor and guest Ana Langerak of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Council members reported on their respective prevention programs. Julie Scofield and Randy Pope of NASTAD (National Association of State and Territorial AIDS Directors) spoke with the Council about better collaboration around Community Planning efforts. Ed & Sarah Naylor led a follow-up session to the February meeting. Robert Whirry of the Public Media Center joined the meeting by phone from San Francisco to explain the Faith & AIDS report project which is being supported by the Ford Foundation. Qairo Ali of the CDC joined the meeting via phone to provide an update on the status of the Faith Initiative "...building capacity through affiliates." There was discussion of ANIN's Convocation on AIDS & Religion in America which will be held at The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The planned dates were in conflict with the 50^th Anniversary of the World Council of Churches and it was recommended that ANIN move the event back at least one month. The suggestion to move the dates of the Convocation will be brought to the Convocation Planning Committee for possible action. A highlight of the two-day Council meeting was a brief ritual to say goodbye and thank you to two long-time members of the Council, Rev. Stephen Pieters and Rev. Ted Karpf.

The Council met 26th-27th February 1998 at El Caribe Hotel and Conference Center in Daytona Beach, Florida with the following persons in attendance: Rabbi Marc Blumenthal, UAHC/CCAR AIDS Committee; Dr. Nancy Carter, United Methodist HIV/AIDS Ministries; Rev. Angela Davis, Unitarian Universalist AIDS Resources; Fr. Rodney DeMartini, National Catholic AIDS Network; Rev. Bill Frampton, National Episcopal AIDS Coalition; Bina Frank and Richard Rosenkranz, The River Fund; Dr. Kristine Gebbie, Lutheran AIDS Network; Dr. Jon Lacey, AIDS Ministry Network-Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Fr. Tom Orians, Dignity/USA National AIDS Project; Rev. Michael Pozar, Lutheran AIDS Network and ANIN staff Rev. Ken South & Scott Harrison, M.Div. The Council's newest member organization, The River Fund, was welcomed.

This gathering marked the fifth anniversary of the first meeting of the Council in March 1993. During the course of the two days, the Council discussed the status of the United States Conference on AIDS; ANIN's Convocation on AIDS & Religion in America; the 50^th anniversary meeting of the World Council of Churches in Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa; the status of the prevention projects of the networks; the "502" CDC contract; the new three-year contract with CDC; and activities marking World AIDS Day 1998. Marc reported from ANIN's board and it was decided that the Council would not move forward with plans to conduct a national AIDS ministry conference. Rodney reminded the Council that Presbyterian AIDS Network has indicated it is moving forward with intent to sponsor a national AIDS ministry conference during the next couple of years. A significant amount of time was spent discussing the future direction of the Council, thus three task groups formed during last summer's meeting met and presented their findings regarding the structure, support and vision of the Council. Discussion will continue via conference call among task group members and report during the summer meeting in Cleveland.