Seminary Sexuality Education Survey: Current Efforts, Perceived Need and Readiness in Accredited Christian Institutions

Abstract

This study assessed sexuality education for clergy students provided by Christian accredited seminaries and theological schools in the US. The purpose was to identify perceived need, to quantify support and readiness, and ultimately to assist theological institutions with the process of sharing, implementing, or restructuring sexuality education and formation efforts within their professional education. To determine how and whether clergy students are being prepared to address sexuality concerns of their congregants, data were sought from all 183 graduate-level seminaries accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the US. Sixty-nine schools (37%) responded. Questions included: What educational and developmental experiences related to human sexuality are currently being offered? What sexuality-related experiences were offered in the past and if no longer offered, why not? How important is sexuality education as an aspect of formation within the mission of the seminary? How ready is the institution to share, implement, or restructure sexuality education experiences? Open-ended responses indicated that sexuality content is most often combined with other curricular offerings, especially courses in pastoral counseling and ethics. Only 47% of respondents indicated their institution currently offers a stand-alone sexuality course, whereas 85% said that sexuality content is embedded in other courses. Diffusion of innovations theory provided the framework for ranking institutional readiness.

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