One mission of CBMW is to help Christians think through secular and ecclesial trends on gender and sexuality. Through this work, we pore over a lot of different news reports and articles as we attempt to wade through the ceaseless flow of information on the web. In our weekly Gender and Sexuality News Roundups, we aim to distill some of the more pertinent information for you.
The articles below are from a wide variety of sectors and publications, organized generally into three categories. They are presented in aggregate, not necessarily endorsed.
If you see an article that you think should be featured in future CBMW News Roundups, you can send it to cbmwoffice@cbmw.org with the subject “News Roundup.”
Ecclesial Trends on Gender and Sexuality
Bishop will appeal restriction on punishing priests for same-sex marriages, challenge convention action, Episcopal News Service (Mary Frances Schjonberg)
“Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has temporarily restricted part of Diocese of Albany Bishop William Love’s ministry because of Love’s refusal to allow same-sex marriages after General Convention mandated liturgical marriage equality in the church’s U.S. dioceses.”
Going Dutch: Netherlands Imports Nashville Statement Controversy, Christianity Today (Kate Shellnutt)
“Latest translation of US evangelical document on LGBT issues divides Dutch Bible Belt and leads to criminal threats against a Christian politician.”
Prosecutors to decide if Nashville anti-gay charter breaches Dutch law, Dutch News (Gordon Darroch)
“The prosecution service is examining whether the Nashville Statement on marriage and sexuality breaches the law after a recent Dutch translation was condemned by equality organizations.”
Kamala Harris’s Outrageous Assault on the Knights of Columbus, National Review (Matthew Continetti)
“No longer is the debate over Christianity in the public square. It is over Christians in the public square. And this is an argument in which people of every faith have a stake in the outcome.”
Methodist university presidents call on denomination to amend LGBTQ policies, Religion News Service (Yonat Shimron)
“The group, which represents presidents of 93 United Methodist-affiliated colleges and universities, urged the denomination to amend its policies and practices to recognize the “sacred worth” of people regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.”
Church of England to offer baptism-style services to transgender people to celebrate their new identity for first time, The Telegraph (Helena Horton)
“This new guidance provides an opportunity, rooted in scripture, to enable trans people who have ‘come to Christ as the way, the truth and the life’, to mark their transition in the presence of their Church family which is the body of Christ.”
An openly lesbian speaker to teach at PCA church on this next Lord’s Day [Updated], Dennyburk.com (Denny Burk)
“A PCA church in St. Louis is hosting an event that includes an openly lesbian speaker named Jay-Marie Hill who is coming to the church to ‘teach us how to not only mourn the tragic deaths of trans folx, but learn to celebrate their lives and humanity.'”
How A Pastor and A Church Changed Their Stance on Women in Ministry, CBE International (Sarah Lindsay)
In 2016, pastor Ray Kollbocker felt convicted to examine the issue of women’s leadership in the church. Two years later, in early 2018, his church opened all of its leadership positions to women.
Secular Trends on Gender and Sexuality
APA issues first-ever guidelines for practice with men and boys, American Psychological Association (Stephanie Pappas)
Thirteen years in the making,” she wrote, “[the guidelines] draw on more than 40 years of research showing that traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful and that socializing boys to suppress their emotions causes damage that echoes both inwardly and outwardly.”
Some Schools Allow Children to Register With a Gender Option Besides Girl or Boy, The New York Times (Donna De La Cruz)
The term “nonbinary” on school forms signals a new inclusiveness, experts say.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis excludes LGBTQ protections from anti-discrimination order, Orlando Weekly (Monivette Cordeiro)
Hours after being sworn in on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an anti-discrimination order for state employees that excluded protections for LGBTQ people.
Believe It or Not, Government Might Improve LGBT Rights in 2019, The Daily Beast (Samantha Allen)
Some states may enshrine pro-LGBT legislation this year, from non-discrimination protections, to recognition of those who identify as non-binary, and bans on conversion therapy.
P&G Challenges Men to Shave Their ‘Toxic Masculinity’ in Gillette Ad, The Wall Street Journal (Alexandra Bruell)
Spot pegged to #MeToo asks ‘Is this the best a man can get?’
Gender and Sexuality Miscellany
Gender reveal can lead to disappointment, Washington Post (Caitlin Gibson)
A survey published last month by Finnish and American researchers found that women generally prefer – and invest more time and resources in – daughters, and men typically feel the same way toward sons, but to a lesser degree.
Small Groups Can Be Safe Havens for Sexual Assault Victims, Christianity Today (Milton Campbell)
Three ways to encourage healthy sharing and listening in these settings
What Does It Mean That Women Should “Remain Quiet”, Crossway (Denny Burk)
The prohibition is not because of deficiency of intellect among women. Nor is it due to some situation specific to the Ephesian church. Because this prohibition is rooted in the order of creation, it is a transcultural principle to be observed for all times and ages.
What Is the Opposite of Homosexuality?, Desiring God (Christopher Yuan)
Why Marriage Is Not My Mission
How Can We Prioritize Our Marriage over Work and Kids, Desiring God (John Piper)
God is the key to your marriage and its proper and due place of prominence. Seek him together.
An update on the Presidential Study on Sexual Abuse, ERLC (Phillip Bethancourt)
The goal of the study group is to equip SBC churches to be places that are safe for survivors and safe from abuse.
3 reasons why we need godly men serving in kids ministry, ERLC (Sam O’Neil)
This ministry is too important to give any demographic a pass. Jesus demonstrated his own heart from children.
The Problem Isn’t Technological: Rebuilding Women’s Reproductive Health, Public Discourse (Weronika Janczuk)
We have the scientific data we need to understand the relationship that a woman’s ovulation has to her overall health, and that healthy ovulatory patterns are a prerequisite to being fertile.
Divorce won’t make you or your kids happy. This January, resolve to keep your marriage intact, USA Today (Beverly Willett)
Divorce is never a happy occasion to be celebrated. So let’s quit the pretense. Before or after Christmas, it’s all the same. Profound heartache will ensue either way, and the repercussions will follow for years to come.
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