‘Created by God’ to be revised

The United Methodist Church’s sexuality curriculum for fifth- and sixth-graders is in its initial stages of revision, according to the Rev. Dr. James Ritchie, its author. The resource emphasizes a healthful biblical and Christian perspective on human sexuality, values and relationships.

Published in 1999, the book is available in DVD format and can be used in classroom sessions, individual reference and study, and for discussion with parents.

Ritchie anticipates several changes in the curriculum that will acknowledge shifts in children, culture and educational methodology. “First of all, the student book will become much more interactive,” he said, “inviting the young persons and their parents to read together, and pause periodically for thought and conversation.”

Ritchie

Parents often are intimidated by the curriculum’s content and by their child’s emerging sexuality and sexual awareness, according to Ritchie, a clergy member of the Western Pennsylvania Conference who is under extension ministry appointment to Ritchie Faith Span Ministries in Mooreville, Pa. Nonetheless, Ritchie said he is seeing parents with an increased willingness to become more engaged in the human sexuality education process, rather than simply sending their children to be “fixed by the expert.”

“They realize that the entire family system needs to be addressed,” Ritchie said, “not just the adolescent component of that system. They want to be involved.”

Revised “Created by God” resources will take advantage of current media capabilities to provide video footage that will enable prospective event participants to visualize the learning experience. They also will provide a training model for event leaders.

They realize that the entire family system needs to be addressed.

“Learning activities for persons taking part in the ‘Created by God’ events I lead have evolved significantly,” Ritchie said. “That evolution will be reflected in the revised resources.”

Having led more than 100 events, Ritchie said he has learned a great deal from participants and will incorporate those learnings in the revision.

PowerPoint presentations will replace the use of overhead transparencies to more fully engage visual learners, assist with the flow of activities, and ensure a greater degree of consistency from one event and leader to the next.

Resources will include a brochure for parents to guide their participation in an event by facilitating understanding of and conversation with their sons and daughters.

Ritchie said topics that will receive increased focus include God’s desire that we live in an intimate relationship with God and with one another, the out-of-control media exposure of young persons to sexual imagery, and Internet safety, including chat rooms, blogs, pornography and predators.

I know of no program that is stronger for this age level.

“My focus has been on the preteen audience and on the program that I have developed for The United Methodist Publishing House,” Ritchie said. “I know of no program that is stronger for this age level.”

Ritchie said there are many books that he recommends to parents, both for themselves and for their children.

Resources

Activities and Questions

1. Provide the group with an assortment of popular magazines intended for children, teens, young adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults. Ask them to quickly scan the magazines and cut out pictures or words that communicate something about femininity or masculinity. Create two montages by have participants tape or glue the items they have cut out to two large sheets of paper taped to the wall, one labeled “masculine” and the other “feminine.”
   On two additional sheets of paper posted beside the montages, make a list of the qualities associated with masculinity represented on the “masculine” montage; do the same for the “feminine” montage. Discuss the idea that the more narrowly our femininity or masculinity is defined, the more vulnerable we are.
2. A church has decided to offer comprehensive sexuality education. What are the issues that each age level would need for the church to address, and what settings might be the most effective based on the issue and the age group?
3. What passages of Scripture would best support the assertion that God’s will for us is to live in an intimate relationship with God and with one another?
4. Brainstorm sexual terms related to male and female bodies, relationships, behaviors and reproduction. List them on a chalk or dry erase board, large sheet of paper as they are mentioned. Once the list is complete, have the group say all of the words together out loud as they individually write them on a sheet of paper. After each word, have them write a number from 0-5 representing how comfortable they were saying that word: 0 for completely uncomfortable and 5 for completely comfortable.
   When you have gone through the list, have them underline the five words they were least comfortable saying. Read through the list on the wall and ask participants to raise their hands to indicate the words they were most uncomfortable with. Record the number of hands raised beside each word to determine which words the group was least comfortable with, and then discuss the source of the discomfort and what might be done to raise the comfort level.
5. Discussion: How did you learn about male and female growth and development? How did you feel about that learning? How would you have preferred to learn about these things? If you are a parent, how have you done things differently with your children and how might you have done it differently or more effectively?

Women’s Concerns

Through the Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project, the United Methodist General Board of Church & Society addresses issues specifically having an impact on women. Key issues of the project are HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, family planning and reproductive health, and human trafficking.

The Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project works collaboratively with other agencies and/or organizations on issues that affect women. Its partners include United Methodist Women, United Methodist General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, Women's Edge Coalition, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Religious Advocates Working Group, and International Family Planning Coalition.

More information about the project and GBCS’s activities is available at Women’s Concerns.

Women’s and Children’s Action Network

Linda Bales, director of the Louise and Hugh Moore Population Project, supervises an “Action Network” that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues. She issues action alerts periodically through e-mail on such topics as domestic violence, population growth, women’s, health, human trafficking, child marriage and child labor.

Joining the Women’s and Children’s Action Network is free: click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church & Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641.

Linda Bales can be reached at (202) 488-5649.