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Rev. Haffner Blogs on Sex and the Seminary Redux

Submitted by pacyniak on Thu, 02/02/2012 - 4:20pm
When I went to seminary, I was surprised to discover how little information there was about sexuality in my courses, and that preparation for dealing with congregants' sexuality issues was mostly absent. A decade later, the Religious Institute's study, "Sex and the Seminary," found that few of even the most progressive seminaries covered sexuality issues comprehensively, and just one required a course on sexuality issues for graduation. 

Read the full post here!

Meet 2012's Sexually Healthy Seminaries

Submitted by marie on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 9:35am

 February 1, 2012—The Religious Institute, a multi-faith organization dedicated to sexual health, education and justice, has doubled thenumber of United States seminaries, divinity and rabbinical schools that are preparing the next generation of clergy with the training they need to address sexuality issues in ministry. Twenty seminaries now meet a majority of the criteria for a sexually healthy and responsible seminary, compared to just ten in 2009.

 
“When I was in seminary, there was virtually nothing mentioned about sexuality in my courses,” said the Rev. Debra W. Haffner, Executive Director of the Religious Institute. “Through the Religious Institute’s hard work in partnership with these institutions, we are proud to say that the landscape at U.S. seminaries, divinity and rabbinical schools is shifting towards increased sexuality education. These twenty seminaries are the vanguard in ensuring that tomorrow’s clergy are prepared to minister to their congregants, and to be effective advocates for sexual health and justice.”
 

Jan. 20-27: Join the Virtual March for Trust Women Week!

Submitted by cobb on Fri, 01/20/2012 - 1:41pm

The Religious Institute is proud to be part of Trust Women Week, an online mass mobilization for women’s lives and rights. This campaign coordinates more than 50 organizations across the nation, including MoveOn.org and the Trust Women/Silver Ribbon Campaign to let legislators know that reproductive health, reproductive justice and reproductive rights are at the top of our agenda, and should be at the top of theirs, too.

Click here to participate!

Trust Women Week overlaps the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and reasserts our firm commitment to reclaiming the future of reproductive decision-making in 2012. One million participants are expected to join in this action, and a real-time online map will show the location of the virtual marchers. Click here to join the virtual march!

Messages from participants will be delivered directly to members of Congress, governors and state legislators, underscoring that Americans trust women to make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives.

Thank you for being a part of Trust Women Week!

New Resource: Religious Institute En Español

Submitted by cobb on Thu, 12/22/2011 - 1:06pm

The Religious Institute has started the process of translating many of our resources into Spanish, and will be launching a "Religious Institute En Español" section of our web site in the coming weeks.

You can see a preview of this new section here.

Notes from the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Meeting

Submitted by cobb on Thu, 12/15/2011 - 4:43pm

Are you attending this year's Biennial meeting of the Union for Reform Judaism in Washington, DC?

The Religious Institute has a booth and would love to meet you! We will be there from December 14th through December 18th. Stop by our booth and say hello!

New Essay: Sex Education for Politicians – Herman Cain Edition

Submitted by cobb on Tue, 11/29/2011 - 11:57am

Blog posted by Rev. Debra Haffner on November 29th.

I’ve written a version of this column several times before. I think the first one was pre-blogging in a piece on Bill Clinton. Most recently, I wrote a similar blog on Anthony Weiner and John Edwards. Herman Cain is the latest public figure in the long line of men in or seeking public office who have risked their families and careers for sex. In addition to the allegations of sexual harassment that have come to light over the past month or so, a woman is now alleging that she and Mr. Cain had a long-term affair that started over thirteen years ago and ended only when he began his campaign. Surely if the allegations are found to be true, Mr. Cain had to know that they would likely come out during his campaign. Surely he might have remembered what happened to Gary Hart during his run for the Presidency.

Read the full essay here.

New Essay: What we’ve learned from Penn State

Submitted by cobb on Wed, 11/23/2011 - 9:44am

Rev. Haffner has posted a new essay on Penn State, Syracuse, and helping abuse-proof your child in light of the child sexual abuse that's been making headlines over the past month.

Read the essay here, and please consider leaving a comment.

Thank you!

 

November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance

Submitted by cobb on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 3:39pm

The Transgender Day of Remembrance raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people. It publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten while expressing love and respect for transgender people in the face of national indifference and hatred.

There are many ways to observe TDOR in your congregation. Many prayers, promotional materials and other worship resources are available here:

The Crossing from The Crossing on Vimeo.

Religious Institute Calls Clergy to Prophetic Witness at Services Near National Coming Out Day

Submitted by cobb on Mon, 10/03/2011 - 1:29pm
 
For Immediate Release
October 3, 2011 
 
Religious Institute Calls Clergy to
Prophetic Witness at Services Near
National Coming Out Day
 
WESTPORT, CT—The Religious Institute, a multi-faith organization dedicated to sexual health, education and justice, calls on the nation’s clergy once again to speak out in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens and young adults in recognition of National Coming Out Day, which is October 11th. The recent suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy who was subjected to brutal anti-gay bullying after making a video to encourage other gay teens, demonstrates the sad urgency of this call to action, which remains as necessary as it was in the wake of multiple teen suicides in September 2010.
 
“All of us have teens and young adults who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender in our congregations, many who are suffering in silence and are at risk,” noted Rev. Debra W. Haffner, executive director of the Religious Institute. “One study found that 14% of teens in religious communities identify as something other than heterosexual. Almost nine in ten of them have not been open about their sexuality with clergy or other adult leaders in their faith communities.”
 
Studies show that almost six in ten clergy from mainline denominations support the full inclusion and acceptance of LGBT persons, yet other studies have found that eight in ten of even the most progressive clergy don't have programs in their congregations to support LGBT youth.
 
“We have known for more than thirty years that at least one third of all suicides to teens are to gay youth,” Haffner pointed out. “Our young people are dying because we are not speaking out for them. Ask yourself honestly, do the LGBT youth in your faith community know that you welcome and support them? What have you done to make sure that these youth know they are loved and supported, to demonstrate that you understand that they, too, are God's children?”
 
The Religious Institute has created new worship resources in support of National Coming Out Day. They include a responsive reading, prayers, a prayer litany and more, available at www.religiousinstitute.org/lgbtqworship. Additional resources for sermon preparation or religious education are available at www.religiousinstitute.org/resources.
 
###
 
The Religious Institute, based in Westport, CT, is a nonprofit, multifaith organization dedicated to advocating for sexual health, education and justice in faith communities and society. More than 5,300 clergy, seminary presidents and deans, religious scholars and other religious leaders representing more than 70 faith traditions are part of the Religious Institute’s national network.
 
Contact: J. Michael Cobb
phone: 203-222-0055
cobb@religiousinstitute.org

Celebrating DADT Repeal

Submitted by cobb on Wed, 09/21/2011 - 9:35am

On Tuesday, September 20, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) became official, marking the beginning of a new era when all can now serve free from the threat of being fired on the basis of sexual orientation. Many see this as a watershed moment in the movement for LGBT equality.

Read more here.