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Memorial service for Bishop David Beetge
 Bishop David Beetge, Bishop of the Highveld and Liaison Bishop for HIV and Aids as well as Dean of the Province of Southern Africa, died in hospital on Saturday 27 September. He had been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, diagnosed a few months earlier.
He will be sorely missed at all levels of the church, from the local parish to the international arena, and certainly in the Anglican Aids Office, where he took an active interest in each of the programmes and was driven by a deep concern for all who were affected by the pandemic, especially the poor and marginalised. His humour will continue to cheer our memories of him.
Bishop David leaves his wife Carol, a sister and a step-brother, who remain in our prayers.
Donations in memory of Bishop David may be made to the David Beetge Memorial Fund, which will be for clergy training.
Account name: Diocese of the Highveld Trust Board
Standard Bank Brakpan
Branch code: 012042
Account No.: 020 900 279
Reference: David Beetge Memorial Fund
Aids Resource Centre opens in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs
The Anglican Aids and Healthcare Trust launched a multimedia Resource Centre at its offices in Kenilworth on the 23 September 2008.
Despite rather foul weather, a good number of visitors arrived to celebrate this opening and see the Centre. After a brief introduction by the CEO to the work of Anglican Aids and its various programmes, guests were given a presentation on the Resource Centre itself.
A special highlight of the event was a talk by Clive Harvey Fox, author of Finding my Gift, who spoke of HIV as a sacred gift that had expanded his life and brought him more growth than any other experience in his life. His book has been aptly described as 'a mirror for readers to look into themselves to grow from their losses'. Fox is now starting an initiative called “Positive HIV” which seeks to encourage people to move out of victim consciousness and not to fear rejection. “People are too ashamed to tell their families they have HIV – they still creep away to die alone in a shack. As Christians, we cannot allow this to happen.”
Friends of the office, old and new, made good use of the occasion to interact, make new connections and talk informally about issues that had been raised. For some, it was the first time they had met and shaken hands with someone they knew to be living with HIV. Several commented on the colourful and engaging posters and other displays that dispelled the ideal for HIV and Aids being a “gloom and doom” topic.
The Resource Centre is housed in the old coach house of Braehead House at 1 Braehead Road (off Auburn Rd) in Kenilworth. It welcomes members of the public who wish to research study and generally access information related to HIV or Aids - there are several computers with internet access as well as a small reference and lending library of books DVDs and leaflets. Opening times are 10 am to noon or by appointment. |
