The global spread of HIV/AIDS poses grave challenges for individuals and institutions alike - not least for Christians and the churches.

What are the latest scientific findings about AIDS? How can we address the technological and ethical issues raised by AIDS? How can the churches respond to their members who are directly affectedby AIDS? How can the churches help to prevent its spread? How are issues of human rights directly related to the spread of AIDS?

Combining information, expertise and careful reflection in many fields, this book addresses urgent questions like these on the basis of a three-year, broadly-based study conducted by the World Council of Churches Consultative Group on AIDS. The study involved theologians and ethicists, virologists and physicians, specialists in human rights, pastoral counsellors and local pastors, as well as persons living with AIDS, working with AIDS-related movements and others directly affected by AIDS.

The challenge of AIDS calls for a forthright and faithful response from Christians and the churches. This book is an important resource for shaping that response.