Primate's Fund AIDS initiative must continue.

Dear editor,

On Oct 13-15, more than 40 people gathered in Fredericton for a regional gathering of those involved in the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) as diocesan and parish co-ordinators and as people who take seriously our call as Christ's servants to minister to one another.

We were somewhat concerned to learn, however, that the campaign, Partnership for Life--For a Generation Without AIDS, was. scheduled to end this year as a separate focus for PWRDF. The work with those affected by and infected with HIV and AIDS will continue in some form but it was our consensus that the Partnership for Life initiative was becoming readily recognizable by people in our congregations and parishes. As a result, we sent a message to the PWRDF board of directors, meeting in Toronto in November, expressing our concern that "just as the Partnership for Life initiative is gaining momentum, it is going to end." One of the people at our gathering commented: "When I hear the term 'Partnership for Life,' I think about a lifelong commitment."

On the last day of our meeting, Bishop Claude Miller of Fredericton presented a cheque for $50,000 towards the Partnership for Life initiative, money that was raised by his diocese when he initiated the Bishop's Walk--further evidence that people are truly engaged in working to alleviate the suffering caused by this pandemic. The 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto last summer furthered this cause and grabbed the attention of people in this country. There is so much more to be accomplished in this work. We hope that the Primate's Fund will continue their campaign and that, more and more, our parishes and dioceses will catch the vision of a generation without AIDS.

Cynthia Haines Turner PWRDF Diocesan Co-ordinator, Diocese of Western Newfoundland