wfn.org | General Assembly Approves Sexuality Curriculum

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

Reply-To: wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>
7-July-1998 
98216 
 
    General Assembly Approves Sexuality 
    Curriculum for Parents of Young Children 
 
    by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-A sexuality curriculum for parents of young children 
produced by the Curriculum Publishing Program Area (CPPA), "In God's 
Image," was approved by the 210th General Assembly (1998) of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which recently met in Charlotte, N.C. 
 
    In 1993, the 205th General Assembly adopted Overture 98-13 from the 
Presbytery of Detroit to direct the Education and Congregational Nurture 
Ministry Unit, now the Congregational Ministries Division (CMD), to develop 
and provide funds for a human sexuality curriculum for preschool-aged 
children and their parents that could be used by churches and/or parents to 
teach young children about the gift of their sexuality. 
 
    CPPA, the PC(USA)'s curriculum publisher, currently offers resources on 
human sexuality for children in grades two through five - "God's Plan for 
Growing Up" - and for young people in grades six through 12 - "God's Gift 
of Sexuality: A Study for Young People in the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.)." "God's Gift of Sexuality" is a newly revised version of the 
popular curriculum first published in 1989. 
 
    "In God's Image" completes the program. It includes 
 
      "In God's Image: Young Children and Sexuality," a hardcover book 
developed to help parents of young children to understand and gain 
confidence in teaching young children about sexuality within the context of 
their religious faith. "The book helps children develop a sense of who they 
are individually and in relationship to their families and to God," said 
Faye Burdick, the CMD's associate for curriculum development. 
      "In God's Image: A Guide for Congregations," which helps 
congregations explore ways in which they can be a supportive community for 
parents and their young children 
      "In God's Image: Parent's Guide," which equips parents to comfortably 
respond to the questions that young children may raise regarding their own 
sexuality. 
 
    "Both the parent's and congregational guides are written in language 
meaningful to a layperson and reflect current policies of the PC(USA)," 
said Deborah Leacock, the CMD's associate for planning, promotion and 
strategy. "The design team and writers included psychologists, parents, 
pediatric nurses, sexuality educators, public school educators, 
Presbyterian elders, pastors and educators. The design team and writers 
also represented racial/ethnic minorities." 
 
    Those wanting to order any of the resources in the human sexuality 
curriculum can call 1-800-524-2612.  

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  This note sent by PCUSA NEWS
  to the wfn-news list <wfn-news@wfn.org>.
  Send unsubscribe requests to wfn-news-request@wfn.org