Resolves of the Executive Council

Resolved, That the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Parsippany, New Jersey, February 5-9, 2001 express its deep anguish and compassion for the tens of millions of the people who are infected by HIV/AIDS and the families of the millions who have died in developing countries, particularly in Africa; and be it further

Resolved, That the Church commit itself to becoming better informed about this crisis, how the disease is spread, and possible avenues for prevention and treatment; and be it further

Resolved, That the Church call upon the U.S. government and international agencies to dramatically increase efforts to address this crisis through funding programs of education and awareness about the spread of AIDS in developing countries, programs to assist families affected by AIDS, especially the millions of orphaned children, and efforts to make affordable medications available to those infected; and be it further

Resolved, That the Church seek urgently to engage our partner churches in the Anglican Communion in developing countries on this issue, being sensitive to the cultural context in each circumstance, and support the creation of local proposals for prevention, supportive care, and treatment to be funded by the international community; and be it further

Resolved, That the Council direct the national Church staff and HIV/AIDS Committee of Council, and urge the Standing Commission and Anglican and International Peace with Justice Concerns, to make AIDS in developing countries a priority issue of concern, and recommend how the Episcopal Church in the United States can support efforts to address the pandemic.