Course Description and Initial Syllabus

“Human Sexuality and the Faith of Presbyterian Christians”

St. Andrew Presbyterian Church — Sept. 13 through Nov. 1

Teachers: Jeff Charis-Carlson and Pastor Bob David

The national Presbyterian Church USA is in the middle of intense study and reflection concerning the denomination's stance on same-sex marriage and on the ordination of gay and lesbian Elders, Deacons and Ministers of the Word. The real life implications of these theological discussions hit close to home in April, when the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that county recorders should issue marriage licenses to otherwise qualifying same-sex couples.

When two St. Andrew members asked if they could hold their wedding ceremony in the sanctuary of what has been their spiritual home for the past 14 years, the Session was asked to make a determination affecting two church members who worship and pray beside us. During its June meeting, the request was turned down, citing the broader denominational question as one of the reasons. (The couple has since made a similar request of First Presbyterian, who is allowing them to use the sanctuary.)

The Session's decision has raised many difficult and painful questions about the degree to which St. Andrew's gay and lesbian members can participate in the life of the church. When it comes to its gay and lesbian members, how "open and affirming" is St. Andrew? How "open and affirming" should it be?

Last year, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA appointed a Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage. The committee was given two years to study how the theology and practice of marriage have developed in the Reformed tradition and the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community.

This adult education course tries to do something similar over an eight-week period. Throughout this discussion, we hope to hear from class participants’ personal experiences and questions concerning sexuality and the Presbyterian faith. To let that happen, we will be promoting and upholding civil dialogue that acknowledges how we are all made in God's image and how the Holy Spirit dwells within each of us.

The class schedule includes:

Week 1: Sept. 13 (class notes)

• Readings:
• “Guidelines for People of Faith During Times of Disagreement”
• Dawn Mikkelson, “Seeking a God who loves us for who we are”

Week 2: Sept. 20 (class notes will be added after class)

• Readings: Biblical passages usually cited when discussing homosexuality: Creation (Genesis 1-2); Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19); Holiness Code (Leviticus 18 and 20); Sin of Onan (Genesis 38:1-10); Jesus on Divorce (Matthew 19:1-12); Against Nature (Romans 1-2); and Excluded from the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
• In class: Watch first 30 minutes of the documentary, “For the Bible Tells Me So.”
• Discussion questions (to be added)

Week 3: Sept. 27 (class notes will be added after class)

• Readings:
• The legal document complied by for the Session
• Letter from Ann Reppun
• In Class: Watch second 30 minutes of the documentary, “For the Bible Tells Me So.”
• Discussion questions (to be added)

Week 4: Oct. 4

• Readings (from the Presbyterian Coalition)
• Jim Tony, “Is There a Legitimate Way Around the ‘Fidelity-Chastity’ Requirement?”
• N.T. Wright, “Communion and Koinonia: Pauline Reflections on Tolerance and Boundaries”
• Alan Wisdom, “The Myth of Inevitability”
• Discussion questions (to be added)

Week 5:

• In class: Watch and discuss the final 30 minutes of “For the Bible Tells Me So.”
• Discussion questions (to be added)

Week 6:

• Readings
• To be announced
• In-class: Discuss additional questions from class members
• Discussion questions (to be added)

Week 7:

• Guest speakers (If you have a suggestion for whom to invite, contact jcharisc@press-citizen.com)

Week 8:

• Readings
• To be announced
• In-class:
• Discussion questions (to be added)