A study was released Jan. 8 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker, that revealed a serious lack of training among U.S. clergy regarding LGBT issues.
According to the study, Sex and the Seminary: Preparing Ministers for Sexual Health and Justice, seminaries are failing to prepare clergy to address issues around sexuality in their congregations and communities; including dealing with instances of abuse, sexual orientation, conflicts over same-sex marriage, gaps in sex-education, debates over reproductive rights and teen pregnancy. Most denominations currently do not require ministerial candidates to be competent in sexual health and education beyond sexual-harassment prevention, according to the study.
Among other things, the survey showed that over 90 percent of the seminaries surveyed do not require full-semester, sexuality-based courses for graduation; and that seminaries offer three times as many courses in women’s and feminist studies as they do in LGBT studies or other sexuality-related issues.
To read the survey, see www.religiousinstitute.org/SeminaryReport.htm.