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SAPC — NEWSROOMSAPC Forum Describes Needs, Opportunities for
Working With Partners in Southern Africa By John-Manuel Andriote April 18, 2007—Approximately 50 people from parishes throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Washington (EDOW) gathered at St. Alban's Parish on Monday, April 18, to be briefed and ask questions about the first partnership between a U.S. diocese and an entire province in the Anglican Church. The "all-call" forum featured updates from Bishop John Chane and members of the diocese's Southern Africa Partnership Committee (SAPC), sponsors of the event. The partnership between the EDOW and the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (CPSA) was formalized during the 2004 Diocesan Convention. The SAPC was formed shortly afterward to facilitate dialogue and exchanges of ideas and resources between the EDOW and its individual parishes and their counterparts in the province. The province includes Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, St. Helena Island, South Africa and Swaziland. Since its formation, the SAPC has worked to inventory the level of interest and existing partnerships between EDOW parishes and those in the province. The committee likewise has sought to provide educational support about the province's culture and needs to parishes interested in forming new relationships with those in the province. Bishop Chane described the EDOW's recently obtained HIV/AIDS education grant from the U.S. government for efforts targeting young people in several countries within the province. He noted that it is the first such grant to a partnership like the one between the EDOW and the CPSA. He said the grant program will operate first in South Africa, then Mozambique and finally in Namibia. Besides the province's dire needs related to the toll HIV/AIDS is taking upon its people, Bishop Chane said the province has identified other needs as well--including the "twinning" of EDOW and province parishes; orphan care; malaria treatment and prevention; in-country work with health professionals; exchanges of clergy, technical skills and youth; women and children; theological education, including libraries and books; and health facilities. SAPC member John-Manuel Andriote provided an overview of the HIV/AIDS crisis within the province. Andriote noted that detailed information is available at www.anglicanaids.org, a website sponsored by the CPSA which lists diocesan contacts and specific information about the ways the church is addressing the pandemic within the province. SAPC members Annie Brown, Kitty Hempstone and Bea Hendricks described the opportunities available to EDOW parishes for partnerships with parishes, or even entire dioceses, within the CPSA. They invited audience members to complete a form indicating their level and type of interest, and promised follow-up contact from the SAPC parish-to-parish partnership subcommittee. Audience members inquired about ways they as individuals or their parishes can support the EDOW and CPSA partnership. Bishop Chane pointed out that besides parish-to- parish partnerships, it is possible for EDOW parishes to partner with schools, clinics or other CPSA-supported entities in the province. He made it clear, however, that funding from the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) HIV/AIDS education grant program is not available to EDOW parishes as it is designated exclusively for use by the CPSA parishes involved in the program. # # #
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