This week at the church I will be venturing into some tricky territory. Having grown up in a family with a major sexual secret in it, I was taught the “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule that exists in many shame-based family systems. It took me a while to shake that off. It is the sacredness of sex, along with its power to uplift and to harm, that cause us to approach sexual subjects with fear and trembling. But, breaking the silences within old taboos oftentimes leads to joy and grace.
Our United Methodist global church has long been divided in our beliefs about several Bible verses on human sexuality and what those verses actually mean. Our conversation has too often become narrow and rigid, and people fear that we are at the breaking point. Along with a more oppressive stance toward the LGBTQI community within the church, there are many strong voices of dissension.
Since the beginning of Methodism, vows at baptism have included this line: We commit to“renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world,” and “resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” For many of us, this means that we will resist the latest actions at the General Conference level. United Methodist bishops in the Western Jurisdiction are in solidarity about their resistance and about the protection of our clergy and laity from harassment and sanction. (You may want to read more at Westernjurisdiction.com)
Over the next four weeks, I will broaden the discussion with an expansive review of Biblical sexuality. I teach college students a psychology course on human sexuality, so I also know a lot about sex and current trends. I think that the future of our church depends upon our openness to sexual diversity, and our willingness to stay current with the sexualities embraced by generations present and generations to come.
In our sex-saturated culture, the church is called to be a voice for ethical sexuality based on consent, mutuality, respect, pleasure, and love. I’m excited to see where our conversations will lead us.
See you at church,
Pastor Karen
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