NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 26, 2024—The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention announced a new resource to serve as a guide for answering questions about gender confusion, produced by the ERLC research team.
“God’s Good Design: A Practical Guide for Answering Gender Confusion” was assembled by the ERLC research team through consultation with pastors and ministry leaders who helped apply the framework to practical situations on the ground.
In the forward of the resource, ERLC President Brent Leatherwood said his hope is that the guide will serve churches who are ministering to people broken by the sexual revolution with the hope of the gospel.
“It is our hope that this theological framework and the practical scenarios will start (or continue) the conversation in your churches about how to serve those broken by the sexual revolution with the hope of the gospel. There will inevitably be questions you face that are not contained here, but this will give you a place to begin, a conversation with your staff; not out of fear or a need to protect ourselves, but rather to ensure that we are ready to offer others an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Pet. 3:15), pointing them to the One who promises that there is a day when the brokenness of our body, our sense of self, and our own failed attempts to be God will be made right.”
Alex Ward, ERLC research associate and project manager for the ERLC’s research initiatives, commented on the launch of the guide.
“Churches are grappling with contemporary gender challenges, navigating questions and scenarios inconceivable just years ago. ‘God’s Good Design: A Practical Guide for Answering Gender Confusion’ is a resource for addressing these issues, offering a theological framework for fidelity to scripture on sexuality, masculinity and femininity. Developed with input from theologians, ethicists, policy experts and ministry leaders, it provides guidance to practical scenarios derived from real church experiences. While not exhaustive, it serves as a guide for churches navigating their unique contexts amid cultural shifts. The theological framework created by these experts also can help orient ministries as they create policies and procedures for how to respond in the future. In a time of many perspectives that err away from God’s desires, the ERLC aims to provide a hopeful message that adhering to God’s design for our bodies and sexuality is ultimately for our good.”
The guide can be downloaded for free online.
The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 13.6 million members and a network of over 47,000 cooperating churches and congregations. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is the SBC’s ethics, religious liberty and public policy agency with offices in Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C.
To request an interview contact Elizabeth Bristow by email at [email protected].
