The content on this page originally appeared in Church Life as an article by the Rev. Patricia Barth. For more information on the Our Whole Lives curriculum, access the OWL website.
God created us as whole, complex beings in God's image, gifting us with spiritual, mental and physical selves. Sexuality is a part of that physical gift from God. Unfortunately, the good gift of sexuality is also capable of misuse, injustice, exploitation, abuse and suffering. Many of us grew up with sexual socialization surrounded by misinformation, fear, and guilt. Today, children and youth face tremendous pressures in a society in which sexualization is blatant; yet medically accurate information about sexuality is often unavailable. Now, more than ever before, there is a need to provide sexuality education to our youth in ways that will be life-affirming, and perhaps life-saving.
While parents are and should be their children's primary sexuality educators, it's hard to go it alone. I found when my own children were teenagers that it's not easy to keep current about all the knowledge that young people need today. It's also sometimes difficult to stay in conversation with your teens about touchy subjects. The schools simply can't teach faith-based materials, and they often are missing justice and inclusiveness perspectives when it comes to sexuality.
I strongly believe that church is the place for sexuality education that offers comprehensive information, taught with strong values and within a faith context of covenant with God. I am happy to say that we are now able to offer Our Whole Lives, a comprehensive curriculum that underscores the values of love, mutuality, self worth, health, responsibility, justice and inclusivity.
Your Christian Education Committee has put together a wonderful team of teachers: Mary Beth Hastings and her husband Howard Wilkins; and Emily Welty. I'll be available as substitute and assistant. Emily, Mary Beth and I just completed an intensive three-day training taught by professional sexuality educators, and we were certified as facilitators in Our Whole Lives for grades 7-9 and 10-12. We will use a combination of both curricula for our group of 9th through 12th graders.
Mary Beth has worked for several years on reproductive health issues in Latin America, helping communities develop and advocate for sexuality education programs. She has facilitated many workshops for youth and adults. Howard is a youth sports coach and the father of Sydney Hastings-Wilkins. Our wonderful youth director, Emily Welty, also designed and taught sexuality education curriculum to middle school and high school students as part of her anti-violence training programs while she worked for the Domestic Assault Shelter Coalition in Michigan in 2000.
We are excited about the program and believe the kids will be too! Classes will include worship, games, discussion, theological reflection and active experiential learning activities (such as Values Voting that youth group is familiar with).
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