well actually, we do need some (sex) education
an offering for this fall
When I began talking about sex as a priest, I started having wonderful conversations with parishioners and sometimes strangers about sex. I talked with other priests who shared their feelings of shame and inadequacy when topics of sexuality arose in pastoral conversations. If we are inviting the wholeness of people to come to us, I believe it our duty to prepare ourselves to receive that wholeness. This is especially important if your church proclaims to welcome everyone.
My original intention in starting to work towards becoming a sex educator was to offer education to seminarians, priests, and bishops so that less harm would be done. I am almost finished with my Sex Educator Course, and the final piece is to complete a capstone project. The Episcopal Church prides itself on being grounded in reason, in science, and in logic. However without any education or explicit understanding of healthy human sexuality, most clergy and chaplains are operating out of their own opinions and experiences or the common cultural narratives about sex. This is often inadequate, and being shamed by a clergy person or trusted caregiver can cause real harm. The good news is that there is real science and there are best practices.
If you are either a current or future spiritual care provider, I would like to invite you to join my class on Sex Positive Pastoral Care. We will learn more about our own relationships with sex and become better equipped to support the wholeness of those in our care.
Sex Positive Pastoral Care
This will be a six-week class on Saturdays and each class will be about 90 minutes long. We will be exploring our own locations and expectations around healthy human sexuality, as well as looking at how to best respond to the needs of those who are seeking compassionate care.
There will be readings and invitations for reflection, as well as time to share our own journeys and experiences.
Details:
In order to foster an atmosphere of safety, the full class will not be recorded. However certain parts may be documented in order to fulfill certification requirements.
This class will be every Saturday from September 7-October 12 at 11 AM PST
It will be a sliding scale of $200-500 for all six weeks, but please just email me if that’s too spendy, and we can figure something out.
To sign up please go to https://forms.gle/eUwN15zmCdPFRgs39
Deadline to sign up is September 1.
Hi Kerlin,
I totally understand why you are focusing this first course on those who are chaplains or in pastoral care. I hope in the future you will be able to extend your course to Divinity Schools like CDSP. There are also many MATs or PhDs in Psychology and Counseling, or MDs and Psychiatry who would benefit from this training. You are so good at looking ahead. You have probably already envisioned these programs. Love you lots!
Brilliant, Kerlin! In my work I have heard some drastic stories of pastoral “care” that’s did so much damage. (I’m a sex therapist.) The judgment, shame, and lack of information has lead to people leaving their church altogether.