There are too many incidents within the church of young females who have been abused by men and then held up for ridicule-asked to go before church and ask God's forgiveness, while the man is not asked to do that. Young women who have had children out of wedlock are told those children are not welcome to be blessed in the church. Educated clergy will see sexuality within the context of the lives of the people of God and become compassionate and understanding. No one chooses to be in a situation to have to have an abortion, but if that is the choice a woman has to make, I believe firmly that God is with her in that moment. And that we as clergy need to be trained to stand with that woman and assure her that God is with her.
Clergy are honestly concerned about teen pregnancy and want to stem the tide.
They want young men and women to feel positive about themselves and feel successful. I have worked with more than 100 clergypersons and have seen and heard the change of heart as they realize that teens make good judgments and are more responsible when they have good information. Even clergy who preach abstinence-only education have reconsidered when they have an alternative that allows teens to learn what God says, how to be caring and respectful of one another, and how those values correlate with biblical truth. Clergy learn that teens may choose not to be sexually active or to be safer and more respectful of their bodies. When the church is leading the effort to educate, our young people feel loved and supported.