CHICAGO — Bishop Sherman Hicks of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been named president of the AIDS National Interfaith Network.

The coalition of 85 Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish local and national groups was founded in 1988 to coordinate and promote AIDS-related ministries.

The Rev. Kenneth T. South, the organization’s executive director, praised Hicks’ selection. He said that Hicks had an extensive background in community outreach and social issues.