Our Whole Lives
Preparing Your Congregation
Introducing sexuality education in your congregation is a wonderful opportunity
to put faith into action. It provides a forum for members to talk about their
sexual values and how sexual values can and do influence our society within
the context of community. It shows members that sexuality education contributes
to an objective many hold dear: respect and justice for all, deserving of all.
It offers your congregation the opportunity to articulate and live these ideals,
making it a richer source of life, hope, and support.
Yet, even in a congregation of like-minded people, sexuality education can
be controversial. The subject is loaded with personal opinion and sometimes
with fear and misunderstanding. Exploring sexuality education's programmatic
possibilities requires hard work, courage, and an active commitment.
Effectively developing that commitment is an extremely important part of introducing
a sexuality education program. It involves a four-part process of building allies,
forming an oversight committee, educating and inspiring the congregation, and
making the program an ongoing part of the congregation's ministry. If this work
is not done, frustrations and misconceptions can develop, leading to controversy
and division that can undermine or prevent the program's success.
Building Allies
Building allies is the first step. Before attempting to institute a sexuality
education program in your congregation, you will need the support of your
congregation's ministers as well as its lay leaders, including the board of
trustees, religious education committee, social action committee, and youth
committee. The support of individuals in the congregation who have a professional
background in sexuality education or a related field such as reproductive
medicine or sex therapy can also be valuable when representing the program
to the congregation.
Creating Oversight
Forming an oversight committee is the second step in building congregational
support. Having committee members share the work of introducing and maintaining
a program will not only make each person's workload lighter, but input from
various age and interest groups in the church also will build a sense of shared
ownership of the program, and their collective learning and wisdom will contribute
to its success. Potential committee members include your congrega-tion's director
of religious education, parents, youth, professionals in fields related to
sexuality, and representatives from other relevant groups within the church.
In particular, seek to include members active in your congregation's social
action committee; it is important that the religious education group is not
alone in leading the effort to implement sexuality education.
Educating and Inspiring
The third step in developing a congregational commitment to sexuality education
involves educating and inspiring parents, potential participants, and the
congregation as a whole. Part of this effort might involve encouraging the
congregation to think about religion and sexuality by leading worship services,
sponsoring discussion groups, or developing reading lists on the subject.
Survey your congregation about their interest in sexuality education and how
sexuality relates to their theological and spiritual understandings. Have
an adult study group read and discuss denominational policy statements on
sexuality and sexuality education. Seek out resources that can support your
efforts from the UUA's Religious Education Department or your district office.
The theological implications of sexuality, biblical references to sexuality,
the responses of different world religions to sexuality, and issues of sexuality
and justice can all be challenging and productive topics.
Your committee must not only educate, but also inspire. Sermons by the minister,
by members of the congregation, or by youth can convey the importance and
excitement that lie behind this effort. It is important to frame the issue
of implementing comprehensive sexuality education in a broader context. When
the congregation performs a child dedication or baptism, it commits to nurturing,
loving, and educating that child. Sexuality education is part of that commitment
we make to our families and our young people. It is part of the support we
offer to families and children.
Looking to the Long Term
The final step in starting a sexuality education program is institutionalizing
itmaking it part of the congregation's annual commitment to religious education.
Institutionalization includes continuing administration of the curriculum
by the oversight committee. The committee must also support the program facilitators,
ensuring that they have proper training and conducting background checks on
new facilitators. Finally, the committee should evaluate the program regularly,
seek new or supplemental resources if needed, and ensure that the program
continues to meet the congregation's needs effectively.
As sexuality education continues, so must advocacy. Each group of new parents,
youth, facilitators, and congregation members needs information about sexuality
education and its connection to ministry. In addition, you may feel called
to expand your congregation's advocacy into work across congregational or
religious lines. Open up your sexuality education program to members of other
congregations. Organize a workday at a local center or AIDS organization.
Raise funds to benefit organizations that provide sexuality education. Collaborate
with other organizations, religious or secular, to support comprehensive sexuality
education in the community.
A major objective throughout this process is to increase communication among
church members of all ages. Intergenerational communication is a valuable
asset to any religious community. How rare are such opportunities in our society!
By promoting sexuality education within your congregation, you can create
opportunities to bridge these generational boundaries, and to show that faith
can shed light on the complicated issues of our times.
[Excerpted and adapted from "Supporting Sexuality Education
in Your Congregation" by Rev. Cynthia Breen, in Sexuality and Our Faith:
A Companion to Our Whole Lives (all grades) and The Advocacy
Manual for Sexuality Education, Health and Justice: Resources for Communities
of Faith.]
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Curricula
