An HIV and AIDS Pledge
(Adapted from a pledge that was used at the launch of the video: The URCSA Cares)
Leader: In thankfulness we commit ourselves to be a caring, justice-seeking, nurturing community.
Congregation: We covenant together in commitment to God and one another.
Leader: As God loves us and cares for us, we too, will be a caring community.
Congregation: We welcome into our community and into our church all persons whose lives have been touched by HIV-infection and living with HIV. We say to all: As God welcomes us into God's covenant, you are welcome in our congregation.
Leader: We will be a justice seeking community
Congregation: As a congregation, we will oppose all forms of discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS.
Leader: We will be a nurturing community.
Congregation: We will care for one another and love one another as God has loved us in Jesus Christ. We will pray for the healing of God's creation. We will be Christ's presence in each other's lives, especially in the lives of those living with HIV and AIDS. We will be witnesses to God's unconditional love.
Leader: Through Christ's example we are made stronger in faith, finer and gentler in spirit.
Congregation: Through Christ the Saviour and the power of the Holy Spirit and God's goodness and grace, we are set free to love, serve, witness and care, unconditionally.
Leader: Let us now affirm together, as people of God, a covenant to care.
Congregation: As members of the body of Christ, we covenant together in the Name of God, to assure people living with HIV and AIDS that they will never be destitute of our Christian love, care and compassion. We invoke for ourselves Christ's words in Matthew: 25: "I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was sick and you visited me." We will make true our confession: We must stand where God stands.
Leader: Go and follow Christ!