ATHENS (ENI) — An Anglican priest who leads a network of African religious leaders who have tested positive for HIV has urged churches to end the "absolute fixation with sex" that stigmatizes those who live with the virus.

Our world is in serious need of a moral compass," WCC chief says

ATHENS (ENI) — A global gathering of church leaders representing divergent traditions, including Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Protestants, Orthodox and Roman Catholics, has ended with calls to respond to Christianity's rapid growth in Africa and Asia and to engage in dialogue with other believers.

Today Christians from 105 nations, representing churches in every geographic region and most of the historic traditions of Christianity, closed their conference on world mission and evangelism in a "sending service" in central Athens, on the site of Saint Paul's sermon to the skeptical Athenians.

Contrary to the image it often has, the World Council of Churches is committed to proclaiming the message of Christ's transforming love to the whole world. That was what Carlos Ham, the WCC's evangelism secretary, told a seminar held as part of the thirteenth Conference on World Mission and Evangelism in Athens, Greece, 9-16 May

"Women in the church are doing many things, but often hesitate to call it mission these days," German mission theologian Katja Heidemanns told the only seminar dealing specifically with women's issues at the thirteenth Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) meeting near Athens, Greece, 9-16 May.

Working against the stigma, discrimination, ignorance, fear and injustice impacting people living with AIDS and HIV+ is a major priority for the churches, the thirteenth Conference on World Mission and Evangelism heard this week at its meeting in Athens, Greece.

The head of the World Council of Churches spoke with members of the 12-person Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and other hierarchs this week in a meeting that coincided with the one of the largest gatherings of church representatives and mission organisations in the 21st century.

Pentecostal communities can offer a "power beyond ourselves" to the 21st century ecumenical movement, according to a Pentecostal scholar at the World Council of Church's weeklong mission and evangelism conference.

AGIOS ANDREAS, Greece — A pastor in Lesotho urges his congregation to get tested for HIV infection. A Nigerian activist has counseled Roman Catholic priests with AIDS. An Anglican minister who is HIV positive speaks of how the pandemic in Africa may help reclaim Christianity's spirit of compassion.

Religious groups that offer "miraculous healing" are alienating the disabled, according to a Kenyan church leader. "More often than not, persons with disabilities feel alienated, marginalised, embarrassed and in some cases offended by the treatment meted out to them by the Church," said the Rev Samuel Kabue at a meeting of the World Council of Churches in Athens.