Christian Leaders Attend World Council of Churches Conference, Discuss HIV/AIDS in Africa

Christian leaders and religious advocates on Monday met at the World Council of Churches conference in Athens, Greece, to discuss "some of the most serious challenges for the faith," including African congregations that are "ravaged" by HIV/AIDS, the AP/ABC News reports. Delegates at the 13th Conference on World Mission and Evangelism are expected to discuss ways to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and other "new concerns" -- such as same-sex unions, gay pastors and women's contributions to the church -- that have caused "growing rifts" among Christians, according to the AP/ABC News. HIV/AIDS-related issues have become a "priorit[y]" for the WCC, a Geneva-based group with more than 350 Christian church members, according to the AP/ABC News. "AIDS and HIV is a major human tragedy," WCC spokesperson Alexander Belopopsky said. The overall goal of the conference is to "advance discussions on ways to reach greater common ground" among Christians and with other religions, the AP/ABC News reports. More than 500 participants from around the world are expected to attend the weeklong conference, which officially opens on Tuesday (Murphy, AP/ABC News, 5/9).