SEXUALITY AND PROCLAMATION:

3.746 SEXUALITY AND PROCLAMATION

Three (3) credit course

Spring Semester, 2002
Instructor:  S. K. Hedahl/ shedahl@ltsg.edu
Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA  17325

              "Bearing witness at the crossroads of history and hope…"                                --From LTSG Vision Statement

 And the Word became flesh and lived among us…. John 1:14

I. RATIONALE

 The Christian faith views life as an incarnational, evolving commentary on bodies, words and the Word of God.  This course takes seriously new resources and possibilities for preaching, and the newly emerging twenty-first century configurations of information and faith through both word and image. Course participants will explore a variety of resources on proclamation and sexuality and preach sermons on these topics using pertinent biblical and extra-biblical texts. 

II. OBJECTIVES

By semester's end, the participants will have gained experience in

1.  Preaching on sexuality issues and realities within the context of biblical texts.

2.  Developing standards for discerning the difference between useful and     irrelevant materials on sexuality for use in preaching.

3.  Identify resources and methods for introducing problematic materials on sexuality in the pulpit and in discussion groups in a variety of ministry settings.

4.  Identifying the Church's available resources and views on matters related to sexuality.

III. STRATEGIES

Each student will

1.   Preach five sermons during the semester on a topic(s) of their choice.

Sermons are to be 13 minutes or longer.  Given the visibility of the homosexuality topic you must preach one of your sermons on that subject

2.   Select appropriate lectionary or non-lectionary texts on which to base all your sermons.

3.   Produce a final annotated bibliography of materials related to those sources you found most

helpful.  The bibliography can include materials from denominational, legal, medical, theological, cultural, artistic, governmental, anthropological and other sources. Bibliography length - five pages or more. This due on the last day of class.  Extensions granted only in extreme emergencies.

4.   Participate in class discussions and do so with language usage then, as well as in  proclamation, that is compassionate, thoughtful, creative and inclusive.

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SEXUALITY AND PROCLAMATION:

                        Spring Semester, 2002

A.  Suggested Topics for Proclamation/Research:

abortion(genetic)
homosexuality
marriage
blessings of sexual relationships
inter-racial marriage
domestic violence
incest
child abuse
divorce
responsible sexual behavior (e.g. for a confirmation retreat)
blended families
still births
celibacy (chosen, vocational)
singleness (chosen, vocational, through death of a partner)
AIDS
"living together"
sexuality and those physically challenged
pornography
marriage of mentally challenged
teen-age pregnancy
day care/parenting
teenage sexuality
surrogacy
touch/ing

Related as either 'background' or 'foreground' topics:

love
community
faithfulness
forgiveness
grace
hospitality [this is a theological reality!]
justice
responsibility
choice
sin
violence
commitment
boundaries
images
advocacy

YOU are welcome to add to this list!!