Abstract
The study is an examination of the various Christian advocacy approaches that the church in Ghana has adopted in its role in the fight against the AIDS pandemic. The study seeks to make the Ghanaian experience available for Christian advocacy ministry for other pandemics. The study as a qualitative one focused on library research. Available primary and secondary materials on the church’s participation in the AIDS pandemic were examined and analyzed. Much attention was paid to reports, addresses, study materials and policy documents on the pandemic by the World Council of Churches, Christian Council of Ghana and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The study has observed that provision of leadership, capacity building of church leaders, education and awareness creation, the relevance of the Christian message of hope in a moment of despair and Christian advocacy ministry have made significant contributions to the Christian advocacy on the HIV/AIDS in Ghana. The study further provides insights for studies in church and society and the construction of public theology on pandemics in African Christianity. Keywords: Advocacy Ministry, Pandemics, Capacity Building, Church Leadership
Highlights
The World Council of Churches (WCC) invited the global Christian community to mount Christian advocacy ministry on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic due to its massive negative impacts both on the society and the church
The study is an examination of the various Christian advocacy approaches that the church in Ghana has adopted in its role in the fight against the AIDS pandemic
Much attention was paid to reports, addresses, study materials and policy documents on the pandemic by the World Council of Churches, Christian Council of Ghana and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana
Summary
The World Council of Churches (WCC) invited the global Christian community to mount Christian advocacy ministry on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) pandemic due to its massive negative impacts both on the society and the church. The HIV/AIDS pandemic raises difficult theological questions in the areas of creation, human nature, the nature of sin and death, the Christian hope for eternal life and the role of the body of Christ.. Sam Prempeh admitted that, ‘the church is strategically placed to facilitate, help, conscientize and put a dynamic response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic because the challenge the pandemic poses affects the church as well.’ It became clear when the church accepted to be part of the fight against the pandemic that the church would need a plan for its advocacy ministry. Prempeh further noted that, ‘what is lacking is a strategic battle plan to impact on the prevention, education, care and support of the disease.’ 6
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