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Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 13

This is the thirteenth and final session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Toward a New Theology of Sexuality.” We’re making these podcasts available if you were unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us this coming Sunday morning (Dec. 13, 2015) from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss this previous Wednesday’s topic. This session will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND REFLECTION:

  • What is one of your biggest takeaways from this series? (What was especially significant for you? What is one new idea you now have?)
  • How has this series made you uncomfortable, stretched you, or pushed your buttons?
  • How has this series changed what you think a healthy sexuality looks like?
  • How has this series shaped how you think about the role of the church in matters of sexuality?
  • What lingering question or questions do you have, or what is one issue that you will continue to wrestle with?
  • Has this study created or revealed a gap in your formal and functional theologies related to some aspect of sexuality? What might you need to do to close the gap?

*NOTE: We were unable to capture the audio recording of the Wednesday evening program this week due to a technology glitch. Art Wright recorded a summary of the presentation and discussion, and that recording is available here for our weekly podcast.**

EVALUATIONS: We would be grateful if you would click through this link to complete an evaluation of this series. We are looking for your honest assessment. This feedback will help us as we reflect on the series, as Tracy Hartman prepares to teach a seminary course on this topic, and as other churches think about having similar conversations.

RESOURCE LIST: Tracy Hartman and Art Wright have complied a list of resources that they found helpful as they prepared for this series. You can download a pdf of this resource by clicking here (the file will download from Dropbox). Please note that Tracy and Art attempted to pull in a variety of perspectives as they researched and prepared for the weekly topics.  Neither they nor TBC necessarily endorse every view represented in this resource list. The list is lengthy; if you have specific questions or interests, please consider emailing us and we can direct you to specific resources appropriate for your interests or questions.

Schedule and Previous Podcasts from the Series:

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 12

This is the twelfth session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Dealing with Shame and Guilt.” We’re making these podcasts available if you are unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss the previous Wednesday’s topic. These sessions will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

If you’d like to view the Brené Brown video that Dr. Tracy Hartman shows during this session, you can find it here.

Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 8

This is the eighth session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Sex and Marriage.” We’re making this podcast available if you were unable to join us this past Wednesday night in the fellowship hall. You will find the case studies and guidelines for discussion mentioned in the podcast available below. Conversation around tables was a major component of this week’s session. You are also invited to join us this coming Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss this topic and these case studies. This session will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

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Directions for Case Studies:  

FIRST:  Read through all the case studies briefly.  Then, with your table group, dig deeper into the one that is starred.  Choose at least two of the four ways to read the Bible below and talk about the case from that perspective.  (Try to view the case from each perspective—even if you do not agree with one or more of them.)

4 ways to read the Bible (adapted from God, Desire, and a Theology of Human Sexuality by Jensen)

  1. As a guidebook or rulebook
  2. As an artifact/relic that is now irrelevant
  3. As a foundational text that needs interpreted in light of ancient and modern cultural contexts (like the U.S. Constitution)
  4. As a narrative of desire (God’s desire to be in relationship with us becomes paradigmatic for our own desire for relationship with others).

THEN:  Review Jensen’s five markers below.  Do you believe that they are valid markers for determining whether relationships are ethical?  Why or why not?  Apply the markers to your case and see if/how it informs your thinking about the case.  If there are other markers that you prefer, apply those and see if you come to a different conclusion.

5 markers for how sex fulfills its purposes for life (from God, Desire, and a Theology of Human Sexuality by Jensen)

  1. Consent
  2. Mutuality
  3. Covenant and Trust
  4. Community
  5. Joy

THIRD:  If you have time, choose one of the questions below to discuss
Do these ways of reading Scripture and the five markers provide helpful tools for you to use in talking to your children and/or grandchildren about sex? Why or why not?
Do these ways of reading Scripture and the five markers provide helpful tools for having conversation about complex contemporary relationships?  Why or why not?

FINALLY:  Appoint a spokesperson for your group.  Report briefly on any conclusions that you reached about the ethics of your particular case.  Then report on how your table handled disagreements that arose.  What can you learn from your conversation that might apply to larger conversations?

Case Studies

  1. The case of financial considerations.  Jason and Nancy are both widows who began dating over a year ago.  They have come realize that they would like to spend their remaining years together.  However, both depend in part on their social security benefits each month, and they stand to lose a large chunk of this income of they are legally married.  They decide to forgo a marriage license, yet enter into a covenant relationship with one another before God.
  2. Frank was raised in the church and became a Christian as a pre-teen.  As he grew, he began to struggle with his sexual orientation.  After trying several “recovery” programs without success, he grew to understand that his sexual orientation was not a choice.  He followed the teaching of his church and remained celibate for several years, but found himself lonely. Two years ago he met Steve and they hit it off immediately.  Soon they realized that they were soul mates and wanted to formalize their relationship. Even though gay marriage is now legal, Frank still struggles with his church’s teachings about homosexuality.
  3. David’s wife, Pam, has dementia and lives in a residential care facility.  He visits her every day and lovingly assists with her care, even though she has not recognized him or had a coherent conversation with him in over two years. A year ago, his long-time neighbor and friend, Stephanie lost her husband to cancer. Since they shared similar stories, David and Stephanie would chat over the back fence  – exchanging updates and encouraging each other in their care-giving roles.  Recently the two have realized that their feelings have progressed beyond friendship. Barring a miracle, Pam will never improve, yet she might live for 5-10 more years as she is.  Is it ethical for David to enter into a committed relationship with Stephanie in this case?
  4. Nancy was the victim of sexual violence as teen. As a young adult, she is so terrified at the thought of physical intimacy that she has dated very little.  Six months ago she met Eric and they began to spend time together. The relationship is going well. Nancy trusts Eric and he is aware of and accepting of her past.  Nancy’s therapist suggests that they begin to slowly explore sexual intimacy and deal with the issues that will arise for Nancy before they consider marriage.
  5. Christopher went to seminary in the northeast as a second career student.  He and his wife  and their two children moved into married student housing.  Chris knew that seminary would be a time of personal growth and questioning, but he was unprepared when issues emerged about his sexual orientation.  With the help of a pastoral counselor, he finally shared his struggles with his wife.  Although the news was devastating to her, she encouraged Chris in his searching, suggesting that he explore sexual activity with another man before they made a permanent decision about their own marriage.

Tentative Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 6

This is the sixth session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2.” We’re making these podcasts available if you are unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss the previous Wednesday’s topic. These sessions will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

Tentative Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)

tbc Media

Let’s Talk About Sex: Week 4

This is the fourth session of our fall 2015 Wednesday night Adult series. Our topic this week is “Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2.” We’re making these podcasts available if you are unable to join us on Wednesday nights in the fellowship hall. You are also invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 10:15am in the parlor to discuss the previous Wednesday’s topic. These sessions will be led by Rev. Kristen Koger.

Tentative Schedule for the Series

Introductions and Context
September 9
Week 1 – Introduction, Ground Rules, and Big Questions

September 16
Week 2 – Sexuality and Objectification in Contemporary Culture

Sex and Sexuality in the Bible
September 23
Week 3 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 1

September 30
Week 4 – Sex and Sexuality in the Old Testament, part 2

October 7
Week 5 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 1

October 14
Week 6 – Sex and Sexuality in the New Testament, part 2

Healthy Sexual Relationships Today
October 21
Week 7 – The Biology of Sexuality

October 28
Week 8 – Sex and Marriage

November 4
Week 9 – How to Talk to your Young Children about Sex and Sexuality

November 11
Week 10 – How to Talk to your Teenagers about Sex and Sexuality

November 18
Week 11 – How to have Difficult Conversations

December 2
Week 12 – Dealing with Shame and Guilt

December 9
Week 13 – Toward a New Theology of Sexuality (Closing session)