Denominational offices have been producing an extensive and expensive sex education curriculum since the mid-1980s for children and youth from pre-school through high school. Their work has drawn fire from Presbyterians primarily because it encourages the normalization of homosexual behavior and approves abortion decisions. It also takes a weak stance toward marriage.

1998: G.A. affirms sexual purity
In 1998 the General Assembly took a strong position in support of sexual purity. It affirmed to the youth of the church "the good purpose and blessing of God in the expression of sexuality within the bonds of marriage," urged families and congregations to send a clear message "of sexual purity in relation to Christian discipleship" and called youth to personal decisions of sexual purity. That Assembly also

1999: G.A. calls for sexuality curriculum rewrite
The 1999 General Assembly allowed the CMD to continue distributing its current curriculum until a revision could be made and directed CMD to report completion in the year 2001. That Assembly ordered a rewrite of the materials

2000: G.A. directs completion of curriculum rewrite by 2002
Responding to an overture in 2000, the General Assembly gave the CMD permission to reprint and distribute the old curriculum, which does not conform to the denomination's sexual standards "until such time as a practical and thoughtful revision can be made...." It also directed CMD to move "with all deliberate haste" to complete the revisions mandated by the G.A. of 1999, prepare it for review by the GAC prior to the G.A. of 2002 and have it ready for distribution by the end of 2003.

CMD has spent no time in rewrite but much time avoiding compliance with the G.A. directive
This year's response from CMD to the "mandate" of 1999 is that they sought out the opinion of focus groups--which was not part of the G.A.s directive--regarding the G.A.'s order. Lacking clear direction from the focus groups, they say, "it is difficult to respond with categorical precision." They end their response by saying, "The research indicates that a revision of the Human Sexuality curriculum according to its present form would not serve the whole church."

The CMD has clearly failed to respond to the direction of three assemblies and will announce this year that it has no intention of doing what the General Assembly told it to do. Meanwhile, CMD has announced its intent to create a new children's Bible study curriculum (not a sexuality curriculum), and its abandonment of Covenant People due to an overwhelming loss of revenue. The new venture is called We Believe: God's Word for God's People, and will require mission funding of $750,000 per year for two years.

Distribution of the current sexuality curriculum should be ended
It may be that CMD is unable to produce a sexuality curriculum that is faithful to biblical and confessional standards. There are lots of curricula available today at every age level that do meet those standards. Churches have rather abundant resources to draw from in the broad evangelical ecumenical community, making our own denomination's production of sexuality curricula of little urgency. PPL publishes a list of sexuality curricula for all ages and provides review copies of most of the offerings for churches that want to explore the options available.

Despite the availability of other curricula outside the PC(USA), the General Assembly should not allow CMD to continue publishing and distributing a curriculum that clearly opposes the sexual standards of the denomination. Like the PC(USA)'s Covenant People, the sexuality curriculum ought to be withdrawn.

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