General Statement on Sexuality

A Call to Affirmation
We affirm that sexuality is a good and beautiful gift of God, a gift of identity, and a way of being in
the world as male and female.

We affirm that we can feel positive about our bodies and our sexuality because we are created in
God's image and know our Creator.

We affirm that sexual drives are a real part of our lives, but that the satisfaction of those drives is
not the chief good in life.

We affirm both the goodness of singleness and the goodness of marriage and family in the Lord.

We recognize that sexuality is God's good gift to all persons. We believe persons may be fully human only when that gift is acknowledged and affirmed by themselves, the church, and society. We call all persons to the disciplined, responsible fulfillment of themselves, others, and society in the stewardship of this gift. We also recognize our limited understanding of this complex gift and encourage the medical, theological, and social science disciplines to combine in a determined effort to understand human sexuality more completely.

To the First Presidency and the World Conference:

Background

The Presidency formed the Human Sexuality, Faith, and Community Task Force during the inter-Conference period. This new team combines the previous work of former committees: Homosexuality and the Church, and Human Sexuality.

Committee Charge

WHEREAS, The Bible reveals God's design for humanity, organized around the institution of the family; and

WHEREAS, Scripture reveals that human sexuality is a divine gift declared good in His sight and meant for the enjoyment and fulfillment of men and women within the sacred institution of marriage, and only within that institution; and

WHEREAS, Scripture condemns any abuse of sexuality, including premarital sex, adultery, rape, incest, pornography, promiscuity, prostitution, and homosexuality; and

We affirm God's plan for marriage and sexual intimacy – one man, and one woman, for life. Homosexuality is not a "valid alternative lifestyle." The Bible condemns it as sin. It is not, however, unforgivable sin. The same redemption available to all sinners is available to homosexuals. They, too, may become new creations in Christ.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article by Rev. Jennie Boyd Bull is Part One of a two part series titled "The Eucharist as Embodiment: Toward a Sacramental Theology of Sexuality." The excerpts are taken from her ordination paper. FFO is developing a grass roots Christian Theology of Sexuality. The following does not report an official stand of the commission.

UFMCC's Commission on Faith, Fellowship and Order

By JAMES S. TINNEY
An Address to the 10th International General Conference of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches Meeting in Houston

by Fr. George Morelli

An Orthodox Theology of Sexuality

For Orthodox Christians, no discussion of sex whether it is autoerotic, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, or the current polyamorous sex, can be divorced from an Orthodox theology of sexuality. All sexuality and sexual behavior is based on divine love; a love that is beyond any human feeling, empathy, or ethical standard, and even approaches the essence of God Himself. St John tells us "... for love is of God ... God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).

By Fr. George Morelli

The writer of Genesis said of Adam and Eve: "And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it. Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 1:28; 2:24) St. Paul wrote in Hebrews: "Let marriage be held in honor among all...." (Hebrews 13:4)