Sex and the Seminary: Preparing Ministers for Sexual Health and Justice

Abstract

Religious traditions affirm that sexuality isGod's life-giving and life-fulfilling gift. Every member of the clergy will be called upon to address the sexuality needs of the people they serve, yet only a handful of seminaries in the United States are actively preparing their students to assume this important role. In Phase I, 36 U.S. seminaries participated in a survey of the sexuality education of religious professionals and clergy. Phase I results pointed to an overwhelming need for improvement in the sexuality education provided to seminarians and the overall sexual health of the seminaries. Phase II included further assessment of three seminaries and technical assistance provided by the Religious Institute. Preliminary results from Phase II indicate improvement toward greater sexual health and responsibility at each seminary. Research and technical assistance is ongoing at these and other seminaries.Clergy and other religious professionals have a unique opportunity and responsibility to guide congregations and communities through any number of sexuality-related concerns. Religious traditions teach that sexuality is a sacred part of life, developed in connection with, and informed by, belief systems and practices of faith. In turn, congregants and others in the community rely on clergy as a source of counseling and guidance when it comes to questions of sexuality. Many perceive religious professionals and clergy,

“Sex and the Church”: Sexuality, Misconduct, and Education in Methodism

“…Sexual ethics for ministry is not specifically mandated by the UMC to be a part of seminary training, and there is currently no uniform requirement or pedagogical approach among United Methodist seminaries. Based on a national study, the Religious Institute concludes that "seminaries are not providing future religious leaders with sufficient opportunities for study, self-assessment, and ministerial formation in sexuality" (Ott, 2009). Many clergypersons in the UMC begin their ministerial careers unprepared to handle issues of professional power, intimacy, and abuse.…”

Conflicting identities: Sexual minority, transgender, and gender nonconforming individuals navigating between religion and gender–sexual orientation identity.

“…Reconstructionist Judaism is quite liberal with regard to support for same-sex sexual orientations, as rabbis practicing this branch of Judaism have been officiating same-sex couples' rituals, including wedding ceremonies, since the early 1990s (Davis, 2008). Similarly, positive views on TGNC people are a part of Reconstructionist Jewish ideology (Ott, 2009). One important website in the United States is the Institute for Judaism and Sexual Orientation (http://huc.edu/ijso/inclusion/) where an extensive list of articles and texts on the subjects of Judaism and sexual orientation/gender identity is provided.…”

The Relevance and Pertinence of Sexuality Education in Seminary: The Explicit and Null Curricular Practices in Ministry Training

“…Earlier studies have shown that there is a lack of adequate training offered in seminaries that prepare these leaders in sexuality education (Conklin, 2001). A more recent study shows that several progressive seminary institutions have committed to making necessary adjustments to improve sexuality education training through the Sexually Healthy and Responsible Seminaries Project in partnership with the Religious Institute (Ott & Winters, 2011). Thirty-one seminaries, including Claremont School of Theology, Emory Candler School of Theology, and Boston University School of Theology, now meet the criteria established by this project to better prepare the next religious leaders with the training needed to address sexuality issues in ministry in their curricula, student life, and institutional policies.…”