Guide to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality Records
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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.
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.
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
To browse this collection's digitized materials visit Pearl.
Materials marked "Digital" in the Collection Inventory may not have been digitized in their entirety.
Transferred from the Office of the General Assembly in 1991 and Office of the General Assembly Department of the Clerk in 1992.
Collection processed and guide prepared in 2019 by Elizabeth Wittrig, Pam Byers Memorial Fund Project Archivist, as part of the Pam Byers Memorial Collection.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Special Committee to Study Human Sexuality, RG 517, Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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 |