Guide to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality Records

Inclusive Dates

1974-1991

Bulk Dates

1988-1991

Call Number

RG 517

Creator(s)

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality.

Quantity

5.00 cubic feet (5 boxes)

Language

Materials in English

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. Medical, educational, and psychological records of living people are closed.

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

In 1987, the 199th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) directed Moderator Isabel Wood Rogers to appoint a special committee to "rethink human sexuality." The Special Committee on Human Sexuality was established in 1988 and charged with reviewing the church's previous statements on sexuality for three years. The committee was also instructed to study biblical, theological, and ethical perspectives on all aspects of human sexuality. Early in the study, the committee requested additional time to complete this mandate. The 200th General Assembly (1988) granted an extension of one year, allowing the committee to report back to the assembly in 1991.

The committee was comprised of sixteen members with John Carey serving as the chair. The members included pastors, presbytery staff, physicians, educators, and theologians. They met several times each year throughout the country to review the church's previous statements on sexuality, discuss statements by other Christian denominations, listen to presentations from scholars, and share their own perspectives.

The committee was also charged with listening to Presbyterians' current thoughts on sexuality. Hearings were held in conjunction with most meetings where presbytery officials could share concerns from church members. Committee members were also divided into small groups to attend local congregations and they issued a questionnaire for the Presbyterian Panel in 1989.

Although the committee reviewed the church's previous statements on homosexuality, their study focused on creating a sexual ethic for all orientations, relationships, and areas of life. Rather than focusing on particular sexual behaviors, the committee discussed whole relationships and advocated for Christians to apply a justice-love ethic to every relationship, including heterosexual marriages.

The Special Committee on Human Sexuality wrote a final report titled "Keeping Body and Soul Together: Sexuality, Spirituality, and Social Justice," as well as a minority report approved by five of the sixteen members. The 203rd General Assembly (1991) rejected both reports and voted to uphold the “definitive guidance” on homosexuality issued by the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. in 1978.

Collection Overview

Correspondence, study materials, meeting minutes, and reports document the work of the Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality.

The Meetings and administration series, 1986-1991 consists of administrative files, including internal correspondence, financial records, and the committee's original mandate. Also included are materials related to committee meetings such as arrangement notes, correspondence, preliminary packets, minutes, and copies of statements/presentations delivered by scholars, theologians, and committee members.

The Study Materials series, 1974-1991 consists of the materials that were either prepared by or used by committee members during their study. There are three folders that contain compiled articles on biblical, scientific, and social studies of human sexuality. (Statements and presentations given by the committee members can be found in Series I: Meetings and administration, 1986-1991.)

The Correspondence series, 1989-1991 consists of letters sent to Stated Clerk James E. Andrews regarding the committee. The letters were written by congregations, pastors, and lay people to share their opinion on the committee's work and the church’s stance on homosexuality. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by the correspondent's last name or the name of the congregation.

The Reports series, 1990-1991 consists of drafts of the Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality’s final report. This includes drafts of the policy statement, framework, and sub-committee reports as well as revisions made by members.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is arranged as follows:

SERIES I: MEETINGS AND ADMINISTRATION, 1986-1991

SERIES II: STUDY MATERIALS, 1974-1991

SERIES III: CORRESPONDENCE, 1989-1991

SERIES IV: REPORTS, 1990-1991

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.

Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Office of the General Assembly in 1991 and Office of the General Assembly Department of the Clerk in 1992.

Processing Information

Collection processed and guide prepared in 2019 by Elizabeth Wittrig, Pam Byers Memorial Fund Project Archivist, as part of the Pam Byers Memorial Collection.

Preferred Citation

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality, RG 517, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality.

Topical Subject

Gay clergy--United States--History--20th century.

Homosexuality--Religious aspects--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Ordination of gay people--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Ordination of lesbians--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Sex--Religious aspects--Presbyterians--History--20th century.

Genre-form

Correspondence. aat

Minutes (administrative records) aat

Publications (documents) aat

Reports. aat

Collection Inventory

Box	Folder	Description	Alternative Formats

		SERIES I: MEETINGS AND ADMINISTRATION, 1986-1991

1	1	Hearing testimonies, 1989-1990
1	2	Internal correspondence, 1988-1990
1	3	Invoices, 1990-1991
1	4	Mandate and prospectus, 1987-1988
1	5-7	Meetings, 1988-1991
1	8	Meeting presentations, study materials, and member statements, 1986-1990
1	9	Member appointments, 1989
1	10	Sub-group visits to local churches, 1988

		SERIES II: STUDY MATERIALS, 1974-1991

1	11-13	Articles, 1978-1991
1	14	Bibliography, 1988
1	15	"Breaking the Silence, Overcoming the Fear: Homophobia Education," published by the Program Agency, 1985	Digital
1	16	"God's Gift of Sexuality: A Study for Young People in the Reformed Tradition," edited by Mary Lee Albert, 1989

2	1	"God's Gift of Sexuality: A Study for Young People in the Reformed Tradition," edited by Mary Lee Albert, 1989
2	2	Pornography, 1987
2	3-4	Presbyterian General Assembly statements, 1977-1988
2	5	Presbyterian Panel questionnaire, 1989
2	6	Protestant denominational statements, 1982-1988
2	7	Sexuality education curriculum, 1985
2	8	Sexual ethics, 1974-1989

		SERIES III: CORRESPONDENCE, 1989-1991

2	9-14	A-C, 1989-1991

3	1-13	D-I, 1989-1991

4	1-15	J-S, 1989-1991

5	1-7	S-Z, 1989-1991

		SERIES IV: REPORTS, 1990-1991

5	8-12	Reports (drafts and revisions), 1990-1991
5	13-14	Sub-committee reports, 1990-1991

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Guide to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality Records

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