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Nigerian churches call for action on HIV/Aids
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2004

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A Christmas message
December 18 2003

The Alliance of Reformed Churches in Africa is born
November 21 2003

Are the WTO agreements just and fair?
September 10 2003

Nyomi congratulates WCC general secretary-elect Samuel Kobia
August 29 2003

Alliance's first woman executive secretary dies in Lausanne
August 29 2003

Reformed-Roman Catholic dialogue meets in Toronto
August 22 2003

Accra to explore links between ecology and faith
July 18 2003

Waldensians face new challenges
July 16 2003

Alliance to send delegation to Madagascar
July 15 2003

Alliance approves closer links with Disciples
July 15 2003

Taiwan: Alliance uses the "I" word
July 15 2003

Halt Aceh operation, Alliance urges
July 14 2003

Papuan activist calls for international help
July 11 2003

Proposed Italian legislation a return to "fascist laws"
July 09 2003

"We will be left behind" unless we change
July 8 2003

South African church leader urges continued fight against racism
July 7 2003

Mainly Reformed church could be one of LWF's biggest members
July 4 2003

Against economic injustice and the destruction of the earth
June 16 2003

Pentecostal-Reformed dialogue meets in Puerto Rico
June 11 2003

Neoliberalism contradicts Christian faith, Argentine forum says
April 26 2003

Faith stance on the global crisis of life
April 26 2003

Warc condemns the war on Iraq
March 20 2003

Nigerian churches call for action on HIV/Aids
March 11 2003

War on Iraq is simply wrong
February 21 2003

"Join us in prayer on Sunday"
February 21 2003

Alliance makes solidarity visit to Baghdad
February 21 2003

Ecclesiology and economic globalization
January 7 2003

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Makurdi, March 11 2003

From March 5 to 11 2003, the Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria (RECON) in collaboration with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches held a consultation on gender and HIV/Aids at the Benue Hotels, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The consultation issued the following communiqué.

We, the representatives of the Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria (RECON), have analysed the HIV/Aids situation in Nigeria, its devastating effects on our youth and women and the fact that negative cultural and gender practices make women more vulnerable to HIV infection in our country.

We acknowledge that the general lack of sexuality education and information about HIV/Aids helps to push higher the infection rate in our country. We also acknowledge the high-risk sexual behaviour of young people and their exposure to negative portrayals of sexuality through pornography on the internet, cable networks and other media. We also acknowledge the efforts of government in trying to mitigate the impact of the HIV/Aids pandemic in Nigeria.

We therefore call on churches in Nigeria

  1. to introduce sexuality education into the teachings in the church through Bible studies, incorporation into training curricula of theological schools for intending ministers and into Sunday school teaching for children.
  2. to mainstream HIV/Aids care and support into church activities through incorporation of HIV/Aids counselling into the training curriculum of theological colleges, training church members on counselling and support and care of the people infected and affected by HIV/Aids, and establishment of support units of volunteer professionals in churches to provide home-based care and support.
  3. to design specific programmes targeting the youth on their sexuality and reproductive health, incorporating HIV/Aids prevention information.
  4. to condemn and take specific actions against negative cultural and gender practices that make women more vulnerable to HIV infection in our society.
  5. to design and utilize Bible studies that teach about gender and its implications for the development of the church.
  6. to affirm respect for womanhood and help minimize the promotion of the image of women as sex symbols and tools; through Bible studies and targeted interventions as well as specific training in theological schools.
  7. to urge government to provide more facilities and structures for the prevention of HIV/Aids, as well as the support and care of people infected and affected by HIV/Aids.
  8. to take a strong stand and specific actions against the violations of human rights in the country as well as design biblical teachings on human rights issues in the churches.

Rev Musa Adamu Manasseh, general secretary
Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria

Rev Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, executive secretary
Department of partnership of women and men
World Alliance of Reformed Churches

Note

The Reformed Ecumenical Council of Nigeria includes the following churches

  • Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria
  • Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ
  • Hadaddiya Ekklisiya Kristi A Nigeria (HEKAN)
  • Nongo U Kristu U Ken Sudan Hen Tiv (NKST)
  • Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
  • Reformed Church of Christ in Nigeria

 

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