Rev. Debra Haffner discusses how sexuality and spirituality relate to justice and equality for LGBT people...
| By Rev. Debra W. Haffner | Contact  The Rev. Debra W. Haffner is the co-founder and director of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. A sexuality educator for more than thirty years and the former CEO of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S., she has been an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister since 2003. She is the author of six books and appears frequently in the national media.
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When people ask what I do for a living, I say that I am a sexologist and a minister - and they laugh. Most people don't speak of sex and religion in the same breath, but to me, sexuality and spirituality are intimately connected. My careers, first in sexual and reproductive health and now in ministry, share a common moral vision: to teach people how to treat one other (and themselves) with love, dignity and respect. In 2001, I co-founded the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, a national, multifaith organization dedicated to promoting sexual health, education and justice in faith communities and society.
DECLARING A NEW SEXUAL ETHIC
Before entering seminary, I was president and CEO of SIECUS (the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.). In 1999, we convened a group of 20 theologians to draft a seminal statement - The Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. This statement called for a new sexual ethic, "focused on personal relationships and social justice rather than particular sexual acts." It challenged the nation's religious leaders to help put an end to sexual and social injustice.
Today, the Religious Declaration has been endorsed by more than 3,500 clergy, theologians and religious educators from more than 50 faith traditions. The founding document of the Religious Institute, it continues to inspire our efforts to create sexually healthy congregations and a sexually just society.
A THEOLOGY OF SEXUAL JUSTICE
The Religious Institute has continued to convene theologians and clergy from multiple faith traditions to address issues where progressive religious voices are urgently needed. We have developed a series of Open Letters to Religious Leaders, intended to help them address sexual justice in their congregations and communities.
The Open Letters articulate a theological argument for sexual justice and social action, including:
> Full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in faith communities and society.
> Removing the barriers that exclude same-sex couples from civil and religious marriage.
> Advocacy for women's moral agency and reproductive rights.
> A responsible approach to adolescent sexuality that recognizes the formation of sexual identity as a key developmental task.
> Comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education throughout the life span.
HONORING LGBT PEOPLE OF FAITH
An important focus of our work is guiding progressive religious leaders toward a new understanding of sexual and gender diversity, and promoting the full equality of LGBT persons in all areas of religious and public life.
Working with denominations and clergy, we advocate for welcoming and affirming congregations, ordination of LGBT persons and marriage for same-sex couples. Working with policy makers and the media, these religious leaders promote the civil rights of LGBT persons, including anti-discrimination laws, access to health care, adoption rights for LGBT individuals and couples, and marriage equality.
Our recent work on behalf of the LGBT community includes:
> Publication of A Time to Seek, a congregational study guide on sexual and gender diversity;
> A national campaign to enlist clergy support for marriage for same-sex couples, which attracted more than 2,200 signatories to our Open Letter on Marriage Equality in advance of the vote on Proposition 8 in California; and
> A groundbreaking national survey of progressive clergy on LGBT and sexual justice advocacy in their congregations, denominations and communities.
In 2009, we will publish A Time to Every Purpose, a guide for preaching, education and advocacy in sexual justice, as well as a new resource to help move clergy and congregations beyond tolerance and toward more vocal, assertive advocacy for their LGBT congregants. We also will launch the second phase of a major initiative among the nation's seminaries to better prepare future clergy to address sexuality issues - including LGBT issues - in ministry. And we will be on the ground at the general conventions of at least six major denominations, advocating on behalf of LGBT inclusion.
We believe that the full embrace of LGBT persons goes to the heart of what our various faiths teach us - to create communities where each person can flourish. We welcome your support as we work to put this teaching into action.
