News (January 2010)

Where We've Been

We ended 2009 with a big bang! After viewing the Passion Works film “Body Without Fear," 80 Penn students heard a panel of sexperts in an event called “Talking about Sex.” Students were encouraged to anonymously ask their private and burning questions to the panel and then sign up for free raffles, enjoy a free lunch and to talk with professionals displaying information about safe sex, sexual health, and sexual assault.

Two beer tastings just got spicier this fall as a Quizzo game of sex questions was introduced between tastings for the enjoyment of the 21 and over crowd who assembled in the CA House. The local microbrewery staff provided the refreshment and the educational tips about brewing while Rev Bev kept them on their toes about what they knew (or didn’t know) about sexuality. Unexpected prizes for the winning teams made for memorable evenings. (And, we also learned they do not know their Bible stories about sexuality either!)

Seminary intern, Bobby Desulme, has been providing chaplaincy at Planned Parenthood on behalf of the sexual justice ministry this semester under the supervision of Rev. Marsh. His work next semester will expand to campus groups Penn for Choice and Penn Medical Students for Choice as he provides support and advocacy for women on this important issue. Top photo shows clergy bartender (Rev Bev) surprising attendees at Planned Parenthood Fall Fundraiser. Second photo shows Rev Bev with the Revs Marvin Marsh (American Baptist) and Deborah Mero (Unitarian) lobbying against Stupak-Pitts amendment to the Health Care Reform Bill in Washington DC.

Our first Sex Symposium at University Lutheran Church in November was called "Young Christians Living In A Hook up Culture: Communicating, Negotiating and Enjoying." To our surprise we attracted seminarian students, a high school student, a pastor and youth group leaders besides college age for discussions on "How to Say Yes and How to Say No," reproductive freedom, on being gay and faithful and a racial minority, reading scriptural texts faithfully, and an intergenerational panel.

The group Secular Penn had the opportunity to focus on the cultural issues of sexual repression when Rev Bev presented “Preachers and Politicians in an Overcrowded Bedroom” at their October meeting. It was followed by a spirited one hour long Q/A and was enthusiastically received even if it was from a person of faith! The same presentation had been given at a conference sponsored by the Bucks County chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State in September.

There was an interfaith panel on sexual justice planned by the Unitarians in Media PA in a day long conference on sexual advocacy. Dr Dale represented the sexuality ministry at Penn and her own perspective as a clergy in the Disciples of Christ tradition.

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Celebrating

This past fall provided an opportunity to celebrate the social justice ministry of the Christian Association under the direction of Rev Dr. Beverly Dale for twenty years.

Former Associate Director Rev Dr. Lawrence Burnley, recalled memories of providing training for conscientious objectors for the first Bush war and the significant theological discussions that emerged with liberation theologians. He noted that Dr. Dale consistently challenged, pushed and supported his spiritual growth both personally and prophetically. In response, and noting the longevity of the ministry since 1891, Dr Dale said “I am honored to stand in the same stream as so many important ministers for justice.” Her twenty years was highlighted with a feature in the newspaper, The Current, a Penn publication the last of week of October.

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Announcing

Podcasts: New “Getting it On” series of podcasts is now available…… These ten podcasts, of two minute reflections, are entitled “Getting it clear” and cover topics of pleasure, emotional bonding, learning the language, hormones and pheromones, guilt, the hook up culture and knowing yourself. These can now be downloaded at www.passionworks.upennca.org.

Movie Review now online: After taking a breather this fall, Rev Bev has taped a new movie review of “He’s Just Not that Into You.” Her take on this movie is that it will show us how to get lost and stay lost in the sexual jungle! Check it out on YouTube.

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Coming Soon...

Watch for video footage on our website… Deb Seeley who is the chief support staff person for the sexuality ministry is putting her videography skills to work developing clips to promote our various programs. As the producer of “Body Without Fear” she has already shown us her capacity to get the word out about the importance of this work. (This 15 minute dvd can be purchased by going to our website, www.passionworks.upennca.org.)

Fraternity Relationship Develops with Passion Works... All new Penn fraternity pledges will have the opportunity to sign up for “Sex at Penn: The Good, Bad and the Ugly” which will be hosted at the comfy CA House. While there are a number of other options for this preparation for membership, we think this discussion and presentation about how to maneuver through the hook-up culture to maximize the “good” and minimize the “bad” and the “ugly” will be quite popular.

Feb 5,19,26 (For fraternity pledges only)

College Women on Being Sexual and Being Faithful... As part of a new noon time series at the Penn Women’s Center Rev Bev representing the sexuality ministry will be asking women to consider before hooking-up how these decisions about sexual expression may conflict with their spiritual identity or violate some of their moral codes. We will explore the question of whether or not women can be sexual, single, moral and faithful all at the same time? And if so, how to do this without having to submit to objectification?

Penn Womens Center, 37^th and Locust Walk noon-1:30 Feb 5, 2010 (Penn women students and staff welcome)

Young Adults in Local Congregations Tackle Sexuality Over Some Brews

United Church of Christ: Always at the cutting edge, the United Church of Christ Youth and Family ministries hosted by Rev Josh Blakesley is hosting our own Rev Bev for a program at Kutztown Tavern. The program which is aimed at young adults (loosely defined as anyone under 35ish) is entitled “Sexy Holiness or Holy Pleasure: Finding the Sacred in the Bedroom” and will feature two characters from her one woman show, “An Irreverent Journey from Eggbeaters to Vibrators” and will be followed by a Q/A and a discussion of sacred sexuality. This monthly series of provocative conversations for progressive Christians and their faith-friendly friends is called “Theology with a Twist.”

Kutztown Tavern, 262 W. Main St, Kutztown, 7 p.m. January 12. For further details of this ministry, join the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25131489803&_fb_noscript

Episcopalians: Not to be outdone, the young adult ministry, known as the Black Sheep, at St Marks Episcopal Church led by Curate Andrew Ashcroft will be focusing on a discussion of a moral framework for sexual decision making, also at a tavern, The Black Sheep. It is called “Moving Beyond the Lust and Plumbing Conversation.” Rev Bev will be using some of her insights from the book she is writing called “Jesus as Lover.”

Black Sheep, 17^th and Locust, 7 p.m. January 13

(Both programs are open to the “young” public with young being defined as 30ish and under.)

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In The Planning Stages

Student Advisory Group for Passion Works: Rev Bev has identified 15 Penn students to advise her on how to develop the sexuality ministry in more concrete ways. The group met in December and will meet again in January.

Bible Study and Sexuality: A group of Penn women living in DuBois House have requested a Bible Study and we have responded with the suggestion that it focus on Jesus and sexuality. They are most enthusiastic about such a study and discussion. Stay tuned for details.

Sexual Decision-Making Discussions: Plans are being made to host a variety of sexuality discussions on campus with fraternities, sororities or individuals who gather a minimum number of their friends. The topics being considered are:

“Me and Pleasure: Is it OK?”
“Releasing Women’s Erotic Potential”
"Beyond Hooking Up to Quality Sex”
“Diversity in the Bedroom…or wherever”
"The Down Side of Porn and the Up Side of Erotica"
........Stay tuned for times and details.

: Planning Sexuality Ministry Event

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Support for PassionWorks

We thank the following organizations and individuals for their contributions to the PassionWorks Ministry:

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (SYRF), The Knutson Foundation (St Olaf College), Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania (The Right Reverend Edward L. Lee, Jr. Assisting Bishop), Dr. Kenneth Haslam, Dr. Rosamund Wendt, Dr. Nancy Krody, Rev. Andrew Barasda, Elizabeth Kurtz, Jim Gerhard, Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.

.The following individuals made contributions honoring Rev Dr Beverly Dale on her 20th Anniversary:

Leona Fields '95 '00, Andrine Wilson '06, Stephen Beitel '93, Elizabeth Hamilton '95, Joan Bauer, Farralon Wilson '05, Irene Wong, and George Lakey.

Donate Online

The Christian Association is a separate 501(c)3 from Penn. As such we do not receive any funding from the University. We rely on the support of people like you who understand the importance of countering the sexual repression in our culture with a liberating message. To support this ministry, please make a donation .

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