Leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) who attended the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C., last month said “we are at a critical moment in the response to HIV."

According to a report from the ELCA News Service, Dennis Frado, director of the Lutheran Office for World Community and the primary ELCA representative at the United Nations in New York., said that "progress has been made, but it is not enough and will be lost if political will and financial commitments are reduced now. Faith communities are therefore committed to strengthening ongoing work and partnerships to ensure a strategic, sustainable and effective HIV response."

The International AIDS conference, held July 22-27, is the primary meeting for those working in the field of HIV and AIDS. The 25,000 participants from 200 countries who attended the conference included policy makers, people living with the virus and others who have dedicated their lives to building a strategic response.

The HIV and AIDS crisis has claimed the lives of nearly 30 million people worldwide.