Biblical Sexuality Symposium Equips Pastors and Teachers with Biblical Foundation

By Dustin Jones, MA

UCC director of communications

Nearly 200 pastors, teachers, and office staff attended the Biblical Sexuality Symposium, held March 31 – April 3 at Camp MiVoden. The event focused on equipping pastors and teachers with tools and training on how to appropriately respond to LGBTQ+ issues within a Biblical framework. 

“A discussion of human sexuality is one of the most controversial topics of our contemporary culture and such a discussion requires much wisdom and compassion,” said David Jamieson, president of Upper Columbia Conference. 

The genesis of this discussion came from listening to UCC pastors and teachers. In 2019, two years prior to Jamieson arriving, the UCC Office of Education conducted a visioning process. During that process, UCC educators and pastors shared that they were dealing with issues relating to LGBTQ+ and requested tools and training in how to appropriately respond. So began the journey of what it might look like to provide a safe space for gaining clarity on how to uphold the Biblical position on human sexuality as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church while expressing the gracious love of Jesus Christ toward all people. Recognizing that this was a pressing need, conference leadership agreed to host the symposium. 

“I appreciated the UCC leadership providing time and resources for this necessary discussion,” said Donivan Andregg, Upper Columbia Academy teacher. “It is timely, and we cannot look the other way, hoping difficult issues will just go away. I think that the attendees were convinced that no matter the individual perspectives and discomfort with topics, we all need to behave as Jesus would. Treating our brothers and sisters with love and compassion is always appropriate, no matter the lifestyle of another person.”

Michael Carducci, from Coming Out Ministries, provided morning worship each day and shared about how a church loved him and the Spirit moved in his life.

Richard Davidson, Old Testament scholar and author of Flame of Yahweh, led the attendees through what Scripture says about human sexuality. During his six-part series, Davidson addressed not just the Biblical position towards homosexual behavior, but also in regards to adultery, sex outside of marriage, and sexual relations during menstruation. 

On Tuesday, Bill Henson from PostureShift Ministries provided practical guidance that focused on faithfully honoring God and radically loving people. Henson shared several stories of young people he has encountered in his ministry who had attempted to take their own life because of isolation and abandonment due to their lifestyle choice. 

“Post-traumatic stress is a real issue among young people in the LGBTQ+ community,” said Henson. “Whether this trauma is a result of discrimination or other mistreatment, this PTSD is a very real thing that increases the risk of suicide significantly.”

Henson provided examples and scenarios of how church members can maintain their Biblical sexuality position yet reach out in love to minister to LGBTQ+ individuals. He also shared how he holds the same position on Biblical sexuality but has committed his life to reaching this community and teaching and equipping others to reach out as well.

“We must uphold Scripture and under the direction of the Holy Spirit find our way forward to minister to people as Jesus did,” says Jamieson. “Why? Because when we talk about human sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity, we are not just talking about abstract ideas. Rather we are talking about people — people we know and love, our relatives, our neighbors, and in some cases even our own children and grandchildren. We are not just talking about what is happening in our world but what is happening in our own churches, schools, and families.”

On the final day, Todd McFarland, deputy general counsel for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, discussed various legal risks to consider regarding LGBTQ+, including the official Church statements regarding sexuality (see links to statements below). 

To wrap up the symposium, Jamieson stated that often only two options are given concerning the LGBTQ+ community. 

“The narrative that our culture puts forward today regarding marriage and human sexuality is that there are other alternatives beyond God’s original design found in Scripture,” he said. “Our culture reasons that God’s biblical worldview and design for the sanctity of marriage and human sexuality is either antiquated, irrelevant, too restrictive, misunderstood, or all of the above. Our culture says that in regards to this cultural worldview, we have only two options — affirmation or alienation.”

Jamieson continued that through the life and ministry of His son, Jesus, God shows us that there is a third option possible — a God-designed gospel response. 

“We need to submit our desires to Scripture, not Scripture to our desires,” said Jamieson. “We need to minister to everyone around us, like Jesus did, full of grace and truth. We need to be a reflection of God’s redemption and restoration.”

During the post-symposium survey, the attendees gave a 4.4 out of 5 average rating for the overall experience. Bill Henson’s presentation was rated as the most helpful, followed by Richard Davidson and David Jamieson.

“The symposium on human sexuality hosted by the conference was outstanding!” said Myckal Morehouse, pastor of Sandpoint Adventist Church. “It was balanced, it was biblical, filled with compassion and honesty, and I think was above bar in its challenge to every minister and teacher to represent Jesus. Our biblical standards were constantly affirmed, and our need to approach the LGBTQ+ community with humility and love was definitely there. I think the conference administration did a great job in keeping to their commitments and putting together an exceptional symposium.”

 Other Resources

Official church positions regarding sexuality

The purpose is to equip and empower our pastors and educators with education, guidance, and approaches that are Biblically grounded, relationship-based, and grace-filled in 100% harmony with the GC and NAD Statement on Human Sexuality (see news.uccsda.org/GCsexuality).

• Locally-Sponsored Activities Promoting or Supporting Non-Biblical Human Sexuality Lifestyles

• Sexual Behavior

• Homosexuality

• Transgenderism

Biblical Sexuality Symposium Guiding Principles

These guiding principles ensured that this training is 100% in harmony with the GC and NAD statement on human sexuality.

• We believe in and uphold the traditional Biblical view of heterosexual marriage as a loving relationship between one man and one woman for life, male and female.
  
  
• We believe that any sexual activity outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage is defined by scripture as sinful.
  
  
• We believe that homosexual activity, like all sinful behavior, needs to be radically repented of and forgiven by the redeeming grace and power of Jesus Christ.
  
  
• We believe in Christ’s transforming power to live according to Biblical truth as we surrender our will to Him and allow Him to live out His life within us.
  
  
• We believe that Scripture calls us to follow the example of Jesus Christ to love, care for, and minister to all individuals, no matter their circumstances or choices.
  
  
• We believe that we can radically love and accept people without affirming a particular choice of lifestyle that is not in harmony with Scripture.