(BLACK PR WIRE) Los Angeles (February 19, 2006)– Pernessa C. Steele, executive director of the Balm in Gilead, will address regional missionary presidents of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) church from across the United States. During their Women’s Missionary Council Executive Board meeting, their historic first in Los Angeles, from March 1 to 4 at the Marriott LAX Hotel 5855 West Century Boulevard. Representatives from each of the ten Episcopal districts will carry information about preparations for the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS (March 5-11) back to more than 800,000 congregants from across the United States, and to missions and sister churches, schools and health clinics in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria.
HIV/AIDS has become a crisis in the African American community. In 2003, African Americans accounted for 50 percent of the estimated new HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-34 and one of the top three causes of death for African American men aged 25-54.

Dr. Elnora P. Hamb, national president of the Women’s Missionary Council from Chicago, Illinois, will preside over the four-day meeting, which will be hosted by the Ninth Episcopal District of the CME Church. Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., who is based in Los Angeles, is the presiding prelate of the CME Ninth District and sits on the California Statewide HIV/AIDS Church Outreach Advisory Board. Williamson has held several HIV/AIDS ministry trainings during Episcopal meetings to discuss difficult topics like sexuality and the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS.

Over 1,000 attendees of the four-day executive meeting will include the CME College of Bishops under the leadership of Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore, the General Officers and other denominational leaders, officers and members of the Women’s Missionary Council, missionaries from local churches and special guests. .
The general public is invited to the evening worship services and events. For registration information about the Executive Board Meeting of the Women’s Missionary Council of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church please call (323) 294-3830.

To view a calendar listing of church activities concerning HIV/AIDS and for a complete list of Statewide HIV/AIDS Church Outreach Advisory Board members visit www.healingbeginshere.org.