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AIDS Conference for Black Churches
Held at Tuskegee University May 22-24
Birmingham Times
Birmingham, AL
05.17.01
Dr. David Satcher and Dr. Helene Gayle, Honorary Co-Chairs
The Revs. James R. Forbes, Vashti M. McKenzie, Jeremiah A. Wright and Drs. H.
Clifford Lane, Eric Goosby and Wilbur Jordan Tops List of High Profiled Speakers
in Health and Religion
NEW YORK - As more and more churches are taking a more aggressive role in addressing
the AIDS epidemic in Black communities, pastors and church members around the
country are preparing to attend the third annual Black Church HIV/AIDS Training
Institute at Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., May 22-24.
The Black Church HIV/AIDS Training Institute convenes clergy and auxiliary
leaders of Black church congregations to examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on African
American, African and Caribbean communities and the critical role members of faith-based
institutions must play in AIDS prevention, treatment and care. The Black Church
HIV/AIDS Training Institute is a national conference established by the Balm In
Gilead, the only organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to empowering
churches in the struggle against the devastation of HIV/AIDS in the Black community.
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher and Helene Gayle, MD, director
of the National Center for HIV, AIDS STD and TB Prevention for the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, are honorary chairpersons. The conference will
feature some of the nation's top experts in the areas of health and religion.
Guest speakers include: H. Clifford Lane, MD, director Office of Clinical Research
of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes
of Health; Rev. Dr. James R. Forbes Jr., senior pastor, the Riverside Church,
New York; The Right Reverend Vashti M. McKenzie, presiding prelate of the 18th
Episcopal District of the AME Church serving Botswana, Lestho, Mozambique and
Swaziland; Lucille Perez, President-elect of the National Medical Association;
and Eric Goosby, MD, director, Office HIV/AIDS Policy. Dr. H. Clifford Lane will
be presenting on behalf of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci who was scheduled to attend, but
had to cancel due to a scheduling conflict.
" I congratulate African American clergy on their commitment to fighting
one of the most devastating scourges not only in the Black Community, but in human
history," said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci. " The Balm In Gilead's HIV/AIDS
Institute is a vigorous response to this pandemic and a critical example of collaboration
between government agencies, public health organizations and religious institutions."
These types of partnerships are essential to slowing the course of the pandemic.
We are at a pivotal point in the pandemic. Educational forums such as this are
crucial because we know that HIV prevention tools, when appropriately applied,
can be enormously effective."
Pernessa Seele, founder/CEO of the Balm In Gilead said, " This conference
is designed to build the capacity of Black congregations to programmatically address
the multitude of challenges the AIDS pandemic has brought to the global village.
The Balm In Gilead is fortunate to be working with leaders in theology, public
health, government, AIDS service and international affairs who are eager to lend
their expertise to the success of this conference."
Information and Registration
The Black Church HIV/AIDS Institute is for church members only. A registration
fee of $325.00 ($375 after May 11) covers all conference activities and all meals.
Information on overnight accommodations at the Kellogg Conference Center on Tuskegee
University campus as well as student dormitories is available in the conference
brochure. Bristol Meyers Squibb, Roche, CDC, HRSA, SAMSHA, The Evangelical Lutheran
Church and The NY Christian Times Publications are supporters of this year's Institute.
Persons attending the entire training may earn continuing education or extension
credits from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta. ITC
is the largest Black institution of graduate religious education in the U.S.
Individuals interested in attending the Black Church HIV/AIDS Training Institute
may contact The Balm In Gilead for a conference brochure at 1(888) 225-6243 or
www.balmingilead.org.
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