Dear Friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ,
Twenty-five years ago, a ministry begun in the United Church of Christ to address the concerns of appropriate education on sexuality for children and youth, especially from a spirituality perspective, which developed into an educational curriculum entitled “Our Whole Lives”. I so believe in the program, I became an OWL Certified Trainer of Trainers for the spirituality and sexuality education curriculums that spans from Pre-K through elementary, junior, senior high schools and young to older adults.
I have the privilege of knowing the Rev Amy Johnson, a dear friend and colleague, who leads the Our Whole Lives program at the National Ministries of the UCC and I asked her to write a reflection on the importance of sexuality education by local UCC congregations.
Rev. Roberto
Here is her reflection:
Why We Need Our Whole Lives
Rev. Amy Johnson, Minister for Sexuality Education & Justice, UCC National Ministries
For over 25 years, the United church of Christ has been in partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Association to develop, publish, and support the ministry of Our Whole Lives, a comprehensive, inclusive, lifespan sexuality education curriculum.
Written by professional sexuality educators, the material provides developmentally appropriate information to children, youth, and adults about their bodies, families, relationships, and more. The curricula are rooted in values: self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice & inclusivity. These values uphold the importance of the dignity and worth of every human, the importance of consent, mutuality, and communication in relationships, the responsibility we have to provide accurate information to our youth and to make responsible choices, and the imperative to continue to work toward a just world for all, by loving and respecting people of all genders, orientations, races, body sizes, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, and religions.
Our Whole Lives transforms and saves lives.
Since its inception, Our Whole Lives has also included companion faith material, so that UCC churches who undertake the ministry can incorporate scripture, prayer, song, and litany into this important work. The result is the creation of trusted communities where young people can bring their questions, learn together about their bodies, their relationships, and their faith, and learn to advocate for the diversity of God’s creation to be healthy and whole.
Like any ministry, Our Whole Lives requires a commitment of time and energy, as well as an initial investment for training and curricula. From years of tending to this lifesaving work, I can say without a doubt that the financial piece (for which there is almost always some help somewhere) is not the hold up for most churches—it’s the commitment of time and energy to get a program going.
But when we choose to be silent about something in the church, we give the message that this is something we don’t or shouldn’t talk about. Even if we are not overtly saying negative or shaming things about sexuality, staying silent implies it’s not OK to talk about or ask questions about. This ends up abdicating responsibility for teaching our youth about such important topics as puberty, health, reproduction, identity, and consent to social media, AI, and our young people’s peers.
Our churches can and must be places where we teach about love and justice, and also about the diversity of what family looks like, how to treat each other with kindness and respect, how to ask for consent and say no if we are uncomfortable or unsafe, and how to talk about things that are hard to talk about. Our Whole Lives provides the words and some ways to do that.
Right now, more than ever, Our Whole Lives is worth the investment. It’s worth committee meetings, and parent outreach, and finding the time that works best for most families. It’s worth a slow start, lots of conversations, and possibly offering the free Parents and Caregivers As Sexuality Educators small group ministry program. It’s worth reaching out to other folks who have already offered Our Whole Lives, creating new partnerships, and finding ways to make it work.
Self-worth.
Sexual health.
Responsibility.
Justice & inclusivity.
Imagine with me a world where all of those things were every person’s truth. Jesus said, “I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) One way to live that out, to be the church right now, is through an Our Whole Lives ministry.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to Rev. Amy at JohnsonA@ucc.org or book a meeting with her here.
Rev. Amy Johnson (she/her) serves as the Minister for Sexuality Education & Justice in the National Ministries for the United Church of Christ. She has trained people in all levels of Our Whole Lives, both nationally and internationally. Amy is passionate about supporting people in organizations and faith communities to create healthier, braver spaces in which people can thrive as their authentic selves.
