Bishop walks to defeat AIDS

The answer to a prayer emerged from the cool mist that shrouds the walking bridge over the St. John River in Fredericton on summer mornings. That answer inspired Bishop Claude Miller to pledge a minimum of $50,000 to the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund in support of its fight against AIDS in Africa. The money is an offering of thanksgiving for the past, present and future ministries of camps Medley and Brookwood. He and New Brunswick Anglicans in every corner of the diocese will walk in support of the cause.

Early next month (April), Bishop Miller will begin a symbolic 500 kilometre walk across the diocese and challenge every Anglican, parish, organization, deanery and archdeaconry in the diocese to join him. "Between now and mid-October, I will personally walk 500 kilometres, the equivalent of the diagonal width of the diocese," says Bishop Miller. "Several people have already pledged generous financial support to my efforts and I encourage other Anglicans to join me in this. In October we will plan archdeaconry events during which I can collect the funds and stories the walking projects will generate. In mid-October I will present the funds to regional PWRDF representatives when they gather in our diocese for their annual general meeting."

How did support for the fight against AIDS in Africa and refurbishment of our diocesan youth camps wind up on the same agenda? Well, it all began one misty morning last summer when Bishop Miller began his day, as usual, with a seven-kilometre prayerful walk. He offered God his concern for the Camps Capital Campaign.

I couldn't understand why it wasn't taking off, why the money wasn't pouring in," says the bishop. "Generations of young Anglicans and others have come to Christ at Camps Medley and Brookwood. We are blessed with wonderful locations, programs and people for each camp, but the infrastructure needs revitalization, especially at Medley." As he walked and prayed he analyzed the campaign: youth ministry is a diocesan priority; Peter Irish, the faithful and capable campaign coordinator, is the right person for the job; the goal of a million dollars over five years is reasonable, whether it's a thousand donors of a thousand dollars or 10,000 donors of a hundred dollars.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"It's all about you," was the reply.

He understood immediately what that meant.

"As vital and important as our camps ministry is, it's still all about us here in Canada, a peaceful country of abundance with viable health care and education systems. We are far removed from the HIV/AIDS epidemic that claimed 20 million African lives from 1994 to 2004, and took another six million men, women and children last year."

Back in his office, he struck a committee to help him organize the fund-raising diocesan walk-a-thon. It includes diocesan PWRDF coordinator Betty McNamara, Diocesan Council members Keith Osborne (Mission and Outreach team leader), Cecil VanBuskirk (an experienced and capable organizer) and John Cathcart (a runner/walker with 30 years experience), as well as diocesan youth action director George Porter.

"I am immensely proud of our bishop and very excited about his vision of a walk around the diocese in support of AIDS in Africa through PWRDF," says Ms. McNamara. "Stephen Lewis recently reminded us that the immensity of the HIV/AIDS crisis demands extraordinary measures from ordinary people. That is what we are going to do in this diocese. As ordinary people we are going to raise the awareness of the AIDS pandemic and raise money help ensure that moving toward life without AIDS is possible."

Mr. Osborne is excited about the relationships the project will build within our parishes, archdeaconries and the diocese. "The bishop actually wanted to show his thanks for the good things that are happening at our camps by physically walking around the diocese and raising money to fight AIDS," he says. "He really wanted to collect stories as well as money along his way. It soon became apparent, however, that the logistics of such a walk are more challenging than we can manage."

Mr. VanBuskirk celebrates the opportunity to reach out beyond ourselves. "This is an effort we should not just commend, but actively support."

Mr. Cathcart, also known as 'The Running Rev' (he is rector of the Parish of Marysville and Durham Bridge) set to work to develop helpful health and safety guidelines for those who plan to join the bishop in his effort. They will be featured on this website in the near future.

Dr. Porter is pleased with the opportunity for youth involvement. "Young people regularly express the desire to be more actively involved in the real life of the church and in real issues in the world. The bishop's walk is an excellent opportunity to do just that and to make a significant contribution to a very serious situation."

"Our objective is at least $50,000 for PWRDF to use to combat AIDS, that's just $100 a kilometre for my 500 kilometre walk," says Bishop Miller. "If all the people who join me pledge their own support, or get other pledges as well, who knows how much we can raise. We're even willing to count treadmill miles! I really hope parishes will plan their own events too, even if it's a five or 10 kilometre walk. If each one of our seven archdeaconries pledged support for 75 kilometres, we would be pledging more than a thousand kilometres. I'm sure we are at least that grateful."

Copies of a profoundly moving video that will help New Brunswick Anglicans appreciate the immense proportions of the AIDS crisis in Africa have been sent to each parish in the diocese with the request that they be shown during the main service on Sunday morning, April 30.