I grew up in purity culture. I wore the ring. I signed the commitment card. I was handed a box that supposedly represented my virginity and was told not to open it until I got married. Believe it or not, I still have all of it tucked away somewhere—relics of a theology that taught me rules, but not reflection.
Then I started working in mainline churches. And I realized something: progressives don’t talk about sex in church. Or so I thought. Working in progressive church spaces is funny; I’d have one parent say, “Don’t you dare tell my kid that sex is a sin,” and another say, “Can you please tell my teen to stop having sex?” I couldn’t win. And honestly? Neither could our students.
So my assistant director and I decided to do something about it. We created a four-week curriculum on faith and sexuality—one that speaks honestly, affirms LGBTQIA+ identities, and offers students something better than silence or shame. We rooted the series in the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, a framework that invites students to consider Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience when wrestling with life’s big questions—especially when the Bible isn’t crystal clear.
Does God care about our sexual lives? Yes. Because God cares about our whole lives. But what God says about sex isn’t always as black-and-white as we were told growing up. That’s why this curriculum doesn’t aim to give every student the same answer—but to equip them with tools to form their own faithful, thoughtful, Spirit-led convictions. Spoiler alert: those convictions might look different for each student. And honestly? That’s the hope.
After we shared this series with our own students, it was picked up by Reconciling Ministries Network—an affirming branch of the United Methodist Church—and is now being shared with churches across the country. Our prayer is that this becomes a flexible resource for your ministry too. Feel free to adapt, edit, and shape it to meet your context.
Just—whatever you do—don’t stay silent. Our teens are listening. Let’s make sure they hear something worth holding on to.
Series Overview
Week 1: Developing a Faithful & Healthy Sexual Ethic
Bottom Line: We should view sex through a Christian worldview.
This week introduces the Wesleyan Quadrilateral—Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience—as a framework for building a personal sexual ethic. Instead of issuing rules, it invites students to wrestle with how their faith informs decision-making. The big message? Your faith can and should shape your view of sex, but it’s not about fear or shame—it’s about trust, wisdom, and grace.
Week 2: Called to a Higher Standard
Bottom Line: As Christians, we are called to a higher standard. However, we are not to shame others for their decisions.
In this session, we explore how following Jesus means choosing what’s beneficial, not just what’s acceptable. We talk about being intentional in our relationships, valuing people over objectifying them, and embracing grace instead of shame—both for ourselves and others.
Week 3: Valuing Others vs. Objectifying Others
Bottom Line: As Christians, we are called to value others, not objectify them.
This week dives deeper into two key areas: lust and pornography, and consent. It challenges students to think critically about how culture influences their views on sex, and affirms that healthy desire isn’t wrong—but using others for gratification is. We also unpack the dangers of porn, the importance of consent, and why we’re called to treat others with dignity and respect in every interaction.
Week 4: Pastor Panel Q&A
Bottom Line: Pastors answer your questions about faith and sex.
This week is dedicated to your students’ real questions—everything from “Is masturbation a sin?” to “What if I’ve experienced sexual abuse?” to “What does the Bible say about being queer and sexual?” A panel of pastors responds with love, honesty, and theology rooted in grace. This week models what it looks like to have vulnerable, faithful conversations about complicated topics—without fear and without shame.
Heather Lea Campbell 