Committee endorses delay in revision of sexuality curriculum
By Jack Volkers, Layman Online Correspondent, June 27, 2000
The Committee on Christian Education and Publishing has recommended that the 212th GA effectively undo an action of the 211th GA aimed at bringing the “God’s Gift of Sexuality” curriculum into conformance with Biblical and confessional standards.
Last year the General Assembly instructed the Congregational Ministries Division (CMD) to begin a revision of the sexuality curriculum, which presently uses terms such as “sexual responsibility” (rather than “purity”), and provides rationalizations for premarital and extra-marital sexual activity.
The Congregational Ministries Division was ordered to begin the revision and report progress and time frame for completion to the 213th GA in 2001. In the meantime, CMD was given permission to continue to sell existing stocks of the curriculum (though reprinting was forbidden) while making an “abstinence-based” curriculum also available.
After considerable attempts by CMD staff to imply that CMD was complying with the directive of GA, it became obvious that little, if anything at all, had been done toward planning the revision and making it available. Lack of funds was given as one excuse, though the 211th GA approved nearly $300,000 for the revision. Several witnesses suggested the noncompliance was a result of disagreement with the idea of a “purity” curriculum.
Overture 00-70 was offered in two parts, which were separated for consideration of the committee. Part 1 gave CMD permission to reprint the current curriculum and relieved the urgency for revision which was implied in the action of the 211th GA, allowing for normal revision in good practice. Part 1 was approved by the committee for recommendation to the GA. Part 2, as submitted, mandated that the abstinence curriculum be sent along with each unit of the current curriculum. Part 2 was amended to require only that an “interpretive” letter and order form for the abstinence curriculum be included with the present curriculum. It was approved as amended.
Testimony from the CMD staff revealed that the current stock of materials represents a 5 to 10 year supply. Though this seems a reasonable cushion for revision before reprinting, the committee action, if passed by GA, will give CMD the power to delay revision indefinitely.
When asked if the new revision would still necessarily be based on sexual purity in agreement with Biblical and confessional standards, a committee resource person answered in the affirmative; but many observers disagreed and noted that the track record at CMD suggests considerable resistance to such a perspective.
These actions, if approved by the Assembly, would have the effect of rescinding the actions of the 1999 General Assembly.