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Human Sexuality Education Resources
by MaryJane Pierce Norton
What do you believe about God's creation of human beings? If we look to Genesis, we read that after creating humans, God said it was good! But sometimes we have trouble embracing our humanness as a good and worthy part of God's creation. Part of that humanness is our creation as sexual beings — male and female. Thus, as part of the work we do through Christian education, we seek to provide resources for the support of growth throughout the life span. We seek to provide resources that help all ages recognize and celebrate sexuality as a gift from God. We seek to provide resources that look at the forming of healthy relationships.
Congregations may be searching for resources to use in helping children, youth, or adults seek answers to questions about sexuality, form healthy beliefs about relationships, and embrace growth as a part of God's plan. Here is a summary of resources we feel can be used in supporting individual and group study in human sexuality education.
Parenting Resources:
 | Before They Ask, Revised and Updated Edition
written by Vince Isner (Abingdon Press, 1999; ISBN 0687088585; $6.95).
This book is written with the expectation that parents are the primary sex educators of their children. Before They Ask looks at the development of children from birth through age twelve, highlights common questions and concerns of children, and provides parental guidance for answering the questions and concerns of their children. |
 | Talking with Your Child: Conversations for Life, Leader's Guide
edited by Rebecca Laird (Abingdon Press, 1999; ISBN 0687088585; $10.00)
Parent's Book
edited by Rebecca Laird (Abingdon Press, 1999; ISBN 0687088593; $6.00).
This is a 6-12 week parenting study. One chapter deals with sexuality. The Parent's Book includes suggestions for guiding children in making healthy choices and provides information on the ages and stages of sexual development. The Leader's Guide gives lesson guidelines for a parenting class. |
 | Talking with Your Teen: Conversations for Life
Leader's Guide
edited by Lynn Hutton (Abingdon Press, 1999; $10.00)
Parent's Book
edited by Lynn Hutton (Abingdon Press, 1999; $6.00)
This study follows the same format as the study for parents of children. |
 | Let's Listen: Communicating with Your Youth About Faith and Sexuality,
parent resource (Abingdon Press, 1998)
Designed to accompany the teen sexuality resources, this short booklet contains information on sexuality issues, tips for listening to teens, and conversation starters. |
For Children and Youth:
For Leaders of Studies for Children & Youth
 | Created by God: About Human Sexuality for Older Girls & Boys, Leader's Resource Kit
by James H. Ritchie, Jr., (Abingdon Press, 1999; ISBN 0687074088; $49.95).
This notebook includes lesson plans, a CD for songs to use in class, computer graphics for overheads. There are extensive instructions given for planning this training, communicating with the congregation, leading the sessions, and involving the boys and girls as well as their parents. |
 | Let's Be Real: Honest Discussion about Faith and Sexuality
(for teens, Abingdon Press, 1998)
Written as a leader's guide for youth sexuality education, it includes several models for learning experiences with youth in grades 6-12. |
For Adults
 | The Church Studies Homosexuality:
Leader's Kit
by Dorothy L. Williams (Cokesbury, 1994; $15.00)
Study Book
(Cokesbury, 1994; $5.50) This is a six-session study developed within the context of the official position of The United Methodist Church as stated in The Book of Discipline. |
MaryJane Pierce Norton (mnorton@gbod.org) is associate general secretary for the Discipleship Ministries Division of the General Board of Discipleship.
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