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Positions on Social Issues
AIDS, Alcohol & Drugs, War Resisters
In 1983, 1985, and 1987, the Convention recognized "with love and compassion the tragic human suffering and loss of life involved in the AIDS epidemic;" called upon the federal government to release "much needed monies for research into the cause and cure of AIDS and to the care of people with AIDS;" affirmed that AIDS was to be viewed as a concern of Christian people, calling for their ministry and their intercessory prayers; and repudiated any and all statements which "condemn or reject the victims of AIDS" or label AIDS as "God's punishment upon gay men." In 1987, Convention recorded its opposition to routine or mandatory HIV Antibody Testing of "our most politically vulnerable populations" or as a condition of "employment, insurance, housing, medical care, or any other form of discrimination."
Convention in 1965 recorded its conviction that "alcoholism is an illness of mind, body, and spirit," called upon its clergy to equip themselves to "take their place with Alcoholics Anonymous and the medical profession in a combined healing ministry to alcoholics," urged all Churchpeople to help develop "within the Church and the community the healing environment within which alcoholics may be helped to recover," and called upon government at all levels "to appropriate the funds needed to establish and maintain adequate programs for alcoholics' rehabilitation." In 1988, the Convention recognized that the same understanding and healing ministry should be extended to all chemically dependent persons, including drug abusers, and to their families. (See also Narcotics Addicts)
Through a memorial to General Convention, the Convention in 1973 called on "the appropriate civil authorities to grant amnesty to all who have refused military service in Vietnam for reason of conscience." In 1975, the Convention called on the President "to declare a general and unconditional amnesty for all those in prison or under threat of prosecution for draft evasion or desertion."
