Biblical Sexuality 

Sexuality and gender

We believe that following Jesus means all areas of our lives are open and surrendered to him for his purposes and glory.

This also applies to our gender and sexuality. Humankind is created in God’s own likeness. All people are image-bearers, who are loved by God, created with dignity, value, and worth, and are an invaluable part of God’s world and church. Both females and males reflect God in significant and distinct ways. We recognize some people are born with an intersex condition (a biological reality) and others experience gender dysphoria (a psychological reality): both are real experiences that can be painful and confusing. As a church, we desire to walk alongside those experiencing such distress and disorientation, with a commitment to listening, compassion, and care, while also holding the conviction of God’s creational design

Christians are called to sexual faithfulness, which means that sexual relationships are for the covenant of marriage only. We support the historic Christian view that marriage is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. We recognize that the covenant bonds of marriage can be broken by sin, and, at the same time, believe that God is in the business of restoring and redeeming all the broken places of this world, including relational brokenness. We recognize the potential challenges and costs involved in singleness and a commitment to sexual faithfulness in celibacy, and want to support those called to this way of living.

We gladly welcome our LGBTQ neighbors and reject all forms of hatred and violence. We believe that Jesus’ approach was always to move towards people in love, and that the call to sexual faithfulness is best supported by being in community with fellow believers and in relationship with God.

* Resources that have helped our thinking Mark Yarhouse & Julia Sadusky - Emerging Gender Identities Tim Keller - The Meaning of Marriage Mark Yarhouse - Sexual Identity and Faith