How do religious faith and congregational involvement influence the sexual values and behaviors of teenagers? This book reveals the results of Christian Community’s national study of 5,819 teenagers representing a broad range of religious traditions, ethnic backgrounds, economic levels, and geographic locations.

This book provides:

• an understanding of how teens feel about themselves, their bodies, and their sexuality
• personal, honest feedback from teens about their own experiences, feelings, and insecurities
• a discussion of abstinence and abstinence-only programs
• a look into what teens know about contraception, including where they are learning their information
• information on how many church active teens are having unwanted sexual experiences and how the church can help youth avoid those situations
• a look into gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth and how they relate their sexual orientation to their faith
• ways to build support in your congregation for sexuality education
• guidelines and program suggestions for talking with youth about sexuality
• discussion questions and activities for adults and youth.

Based on Christian Community’s extensive research on teenage sexuality, this book contains factual information and clear guidance to help empower teenagers for the decisions they face about the care of their bodies, dating, sexuality, marriage, and parenting. This book can be used in a variety of ways: for private reading by teenagers; for reading by teens and discussion with their parents; and for class, youth group, or retreat use.

This book includes:

• a survey for teens to see what they already know about their bodies, sex, contraception, and marriage preparedness
• a discussion of “sexuality,” including looking beyond physical acts
• a look at health, including how teens feel about their bodies and appearance
• the good reasons for not moving rapidly in sexual behavior, for abstaining from intercourse, and why abstinence is difficult
• a discussion of masturbation, kissing, touching, oral sex, and intercourse
• a look at life for non-heterosexual youth and why some religious people are negative about homosexuality
• what the Bible says about sex and how we treat each other in relationships
• how to protect against unwanted sex, including harassment, rape, and sexual abuse
• factual information on contraception, pregnancy, STDs, and abortion
• a guide to dating, marriage, and parenting.

Developed to accompany the youth resource described above, this book provides helpful guidance for parents, clergy, youth workers, and community leaders who are concerned about teens and who either want to study the youth resource along with teens or who are looking for a resource about teen sexuality from an adult perspective. This book gives practical advice on talking with teens about sex and also provides session plans for six week, eight week, or thirteen week studies of The Gift of Sexuality.

This important book provides the tools that faith communities need to:

• determine under what circumstances, if any, a convicted sex offender may be involved in the congregation
• determine how to respond if someone in the congregation is accused of a sexual offense
• be sensitive to and supportive of persons in the congregation who have been victims of abuse
• develop and implement strategies that will keep children in the congregation safe and which will prevent sexual abuse from happening.

A Time to Heal shows the unique way that faith communities can make a difference both by protecting and transforming lives. This resource can be used by clergy, lay leadership in churches and synagogues, denominational executives, regional judicatory executives, correctional officials, judges, parole officers, probation officers, and treatment providers.

This book affirms the unique role of congregations in providing sexuality education. This publication explains:

• why religious institutions must be involved in sexuality education
• how churches can provide sexuality education in the congregational environment
• how churches can support sexuality education in the community.

This resource includes an extensive listing of denominational statements on sexuality education and a thorough guide to sexuality resources available from many denominations. This book is a great planning tool for the local church.

This book provides:

• characteristics of sexually healthy faith communities
• characteristics of sexually healthy religious professionals
• guidance on “safe congregation” policies, including the prevention of sexual abuse and sexual harassment
• ideas for worship services and sermons on sexuality issues
• guidance on sexuality counseling by trained religious leaders
• strategies for sexuality education for children, youth, and adults
• information on becoming a welcoming and affirming congregation
• suggestions on how congregations can advocate for sexual and spiritual wholeness in their communities.