“Our Whole Lives,” a sex education program developed by the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), was the focus of a story in The Oregonian on Sunday. What is this program and why is sex education being taught in church? The UCC web site explains the intent:
Our Whole Lives is a series of sexuality education programs for four age groups: grades K-1, grades 4-6, grades 7-9 and grades 10-12. Written by professional sexuality educators, the programs provide accurate information for parents, teachers and pastors to use with children and young people to help them learn about sexuality in the affirming and supportive setting of our churches. The resources are based on the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education produced by the National Guidelines Task Force, a group of leading health, education and sexuality professionals assembled by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. There is a Parent Guide to Our Whole Lives Grades K-1 and Grades 4-6 that accompanies the Our Whole Lives resource for those age levels.Sexuality and Our Faith, written by United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalist Association members, is the accompanying resource used for each of the grade groups: grades K-1, grades 4-6, grades 7-9 and grades 10-12 in the church setting. Each of the grade level resources has separate sections devoted to UCC and UUA faith traditions. By using Sexuality and Our Faith, leaders integrate worship, prayer and discussion of United Church of Christ faith values and principles into the programs for each age group.
One of the primary reasons for teaching sex education in church is that there are few comprehensive programs on the topic in public schools. Most school programs ignore controversial issues involved with sex (which pretty much cuts out most of the content). The Oregonian article talked about how “Our Whole Lives” is different:
"We try to present (teens) with the complexity of the whole thing and trust that in the context of faith they will make responsible decisions," said Todd Smiedendorf of the Forest Grove United Church of Christ, which just finished the course for seventh- to ninth-graders. As in Oregon's school-based sexuality curricula, Our Whole Lives promotes abstinence while providing information on contraception and how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. It also explores sexual activity, dating, homosexuality, abortion, rape, peer pressure, teen pregnancy and more in a value-laden context that emphasizes self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, justice and inclusivity.The openness is welcomed by participants. In school, "They don't tell you anything positive about having sex. Even the topic of sex, it's called, like, the 's-word,' " said Ali Actor, a Forest Grove eighth-grader.
The church program is "more interesting and it's kind of like, more truthful," said Jacki Pope, who also attended the Forest Grove class. "It makes you want to pay more attention."
All the open, honest talk about sex appears to give Our Whole Lives credibility -- and impact.
Pope said that by the time the class ended this month, she had changed her attitude toward sex from noncommittal to "I kind of decided for sure I want to wait."
Our Whole Lives participants often become "the experts" among their school friends, who come to them with sex-related questions, Rick Tangeman said.
Our Whole Lives classes are open to all youth, not just church members, although parents must come to an orientation meeting to view the curriculum materials and sign a permission slip. Some parents might shy away from the "God language" the United Church of Christ uses or the curriculum's teaching that homosexual relationships are part of the normal spectrum of sexual behavior.
The 18 youth who signed up at the Forest Grove United Church of Christ were there almost every session. A low-attendance day was 15.
You can find a wealth of information on the program here.