be received by the Synodical Services Office by Synodical ...

1 Dear Reader:This report from the Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality is made available to the CRC congregations and classes for discussion and careful review. Due to the cancellation of Synod 2021, the deadline for responses to this report, in the form of an Overture or Communication, has been extended to be considered by Synod 2022. Such documents must be processed through a church council and then through classis and then be received by the Synodical Services Office by March 15, 2022, in order to be included on synod s agenda in you have any questions regarding proper procedures, please refer to the Rules for Synodical Procedure (pp.)

2 9-11) available at , or you may contact the Synodical Services Office or the executive director of the CRCNA. Thank you!Mr. Colin P. Watson, Sr. Executive Director of the CRCNA 1700 28th Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1407 Phone: 616-224-0744 or 800-272-5125 Email: FOR SYNOD 2021 Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality 1 Committee to Articulate a Foundation-laying Biblical Theologyof Human SexualityReport OutlineI. IntroductionII. PreambleA. Good sexB. Current contextC. The church s responseIII.

3 A biblical theology of human sexualityA. Introduction: Matthew 19B. Creation: Genesis 1-2C. Fall: Genesis 3D. Redemption: The Old TestamentE. Redemption: The New TestamentIV. Note on science and general revelationV. Pornography: Cultural ContextA. Current contextB. Effects of pornographyVI. Pornography: ScriptureA. ViolenceB. Exploitation of the poorC. RacismD. Sexual sinE. Creation restored, relationships redeemedVII. Pornography: Pastoral careA. Pastoral care for the whole congregationB.

4 Practical next stepsC. MissionD. In conclusionE. Selected resourcesVIII. Gender identity: Cultural contextA. IntroductionB. Use of termsC. Questions of worldviewD. Gender dysphoriaE. Disorders of sex developmentF. Implications of worldviewIX. Gender identity: ScriptureA. Genesis 1-2B. Matthew 19:11-12C. Testimony of PaulX. Gender identity: Pastoral careA. What is pastoral care, and who is responsible for it?B. Goals of pastoral care2 Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality AGENDA FOR SYNOD 2021 C.

5 Care for those with gender dysphoria or who identify as transgender and their families adults and childrenD. Care for those with Disorder of Sex Development (DSD)E. Selected resourcesXI. Homosexuality: Cultural contextA. A word about languageB. ContextXII. Homosexuality: ScriptureA. IntroductionB. The testimony of the Old TestamentC. The testimony of JesusD. The testimony of PaulE. Additional revisionist claimsF. The testimony of progressive voicesG. Conclusion of the biblical evidenceXIII.

6 Homosexuality: Pastoral careA. A word to congregationsB. A word to church leadersC. A word to church members who are attracted to the same sexD. Selected resourcesXIV. Reflections on singleness, premarital sex and cohabitation, polyamory, and divorceA. SinglenessB. Premarital sex and cohabitationC. PolyamoryD. DivorceE. Selected resourcesXV. Sexual desire: Bodies, bonding, and boundaries in the Song of SongsA. Song of Songs helps us recover a theology of the body rooted in creation and resurrection theologyB.

7 The poem addresses the intense longing we feel for a beloved when we are apartC. The song focuses on the uniqueness and value of the beloved oneD. This poetry highlights equity between female and male loversE. Exclusivity of sexual loveF. In the song, God sings the intensity of God s love for usXVI. Confessional statusA. The confessional status of church teaching on sexualityB. ConclusionXVII. RecommendationsAppendices Appendix A: What Can Science Tell Us about the Biological Origins of Sexual Orientation?

8 Appendix B: Disorders of Sexual Development and Their ImplicationsAGENDA FOR SYNOD 2021 Biblical Theology of Human Sexuality 3I. IntroductionSynod 2016, in response to multiple overtures, adopted the following:That synod appoint a new study committee to articulate a foundation-laying biblical theology of human sexuality that pays particular attention to biblical conceptions of gender and sexuality. The central aim of this theological task will be to provide concise yet clear ethical guidance for what constitutes a holy and healthy Christian sexual life, and in light of this to serve the church with pastoral, ecclesial, and missional guidance that explains how the gospel pro-vides redemptive affirmation and hope for those experiencing sexual question-ing, temptation, and In addition to these broad outlines, the study will include the following three components.

9 1) Discussion outlining how a Reformed hermeneutic does or does not comport with readings of Scripture being employed to endorse what are, for the historic church, ground-breaking conclusions regarding human sexual behavior and ) Dialogue with, and potential critique of, untraditional conclusions aris-ing from arguments about a new movement of the Spirit ( , Acts 15), as well as conclusions arising from scientific and social scientific ) Reflection and evaluation of whether or not, with respect to same-sex behavior and other issues identified in the study, it will be advisable for future synods to consider changing the main text of Church Order Article 69 (see Overtures 18, 19, 20, 21, 31, 38).

10 Declaring a status confessionis (see Overture 16). appointing a team of individuals to draft a statement of faith, perhaps in the style of the Contemporary Testimony, on human embodiment and sexuality that reflects and secures the teachings and conclusions of the report (see Overture 28).(Acts of Synod 2016, pp. 919-20)b. The committee will be constituted of up to twelve individuals, CRC mem-bers who represent diversity in gender, ethnicity, binationality, and ministry location, and who adhere to the CRC s biblical view on marriage and same-sex relationships.