March 2013 Newsletter
From the President
My ministry and the ministry of the Religious Institute have changed radically in the past four years because of social media. It’s hard to believe that I have only been on Facebook since 2009 and Twitter since 2011. My day begins now with posting a morning prayer to Twitter to my more than 2300 followers, and I can hardly watch the news or a television program without reaching for my smart phone so I can post my reaction. During snowstorm Nemo, I even led a Twitter worship.
I’m increasingly receiving calls from clergy who are seeking assistance with how to help congregants with issues related to Internet use, such as online affairs or bullying. I also hear from congregations seeking to create policies to keep congregants safe on congregational Facebook and Twitter accounts.
In October, the Religious Institute decided to find out more about how clergy and congregations are adjusting to the Internet by conducting a survey of our clergy members. We discovered that no denomination has developed comprehensive policies on Internet use, although a few adjudicatory bodies have. Here’s a brief synopsis of what we found:
We learned that nearly all clergy are using social media. All respondents (99%) consider themselves to be knowledgeable about the Internet in general, and almost as many—96%—self identify as knowledgeable about social media. In fact, more than half of the clergy use Facebook several times each day (see pie chart).
Congregations are online too, with eight in ten clergy reporting that there is a congregational Facebook page, and 92% have a freestanding web page that is actively used for sharing news, prayer requests and more. Clearly, social media and the Internet are every bit as commonplace in religious life as they are in secular life. We also learned that there are virtually no written policies on how congregations or clergy are to use these technologies. Less than ten percent of congregations have policies on congregational Facebook or Twitter account posting, or policies around online interactions for clergy and staff with congregants. Only 10% had policies around youth and educator online interactions, or an online extension of a “safe sanctuaries” or “safe congregations” policy.
New technologies are also presenting clergy with new ministerial challenges. Many of the clergy reported that they have provided pastoral counseling on a wide range of Internet-related sexuality issues, including Internet-related couples counseling, infidelity, teen use of Internet (both sexual and non-sexual), compulsive Internet use and sexting. Eighty percent of respondents report providing counseling around Internet-related bullying—the highest incidence of Internet-related counseling. A surprisingly high one in four clergy reported counseling a congregant that had been arrested for online behavior.
Clergy were also asked about their personal use of sexually explicit websites. One in five clergy reported intentionally visiting a sexually explicit website in the past six months. An additional 16% replied that they preferred not to answer the question about their personal use of these sites, leading me to think that as many as one in four clergy are accessing erotica on the web.
The Religious Institute believes that congregations need formalized, written policies governing use of social media, web sites, and other Internet technologies. As more of the work of ministry moves online, these needs are only going to become more urgent. Specific policies governing online interactions between adults and minors are just as necessary as policies governing real world interactions between adults and minors. Clergy would also benefit from formalized education on their personal use of Internet technologies, as well as education on how best to counsel congregants with concerns about the Internet or social media.
Internet and social media technologies are an important, even vital everyday part of ministry. It is time for denominations, congregations, and religious professionals to be more intentional about their use.
You can read the full executive summary of the Religious Institute’s Survey of Religious Professionals on Internet and Social Media Use here.
News
Argentine Cardinal Elected Pope
On March 13, Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis.
Read commentary by Catholics for Choice here.
New State Laws Set Up Potential Challenges to Roe v. Wade
On March 15, the North Dakota State Senate passed two anti-abortion bills that would ban most abortions in the state. One bill would prevent abortions as soon as the fetal heartbeat can be detected (about six weeks into the pregnancy), while the other bans abortions when fetal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome are present. Both could create court challenges to Roe v. Wade.
Read more here.
On March 13, the Arkansas House of Representatives overrode the governor's veto of a bill that would make abortions illegal after 12 weeks of pregnancy and may also set up a court challenge to Roe v. Wade.
Read more here.
 Amicus Briefs To Supreme Court of the U.S. Filed Challenging DOMA, Prop 8—UPDATED STORY
The Supreme Court will hear challenges to California's Prop 8 and to the federal DOMA law on March 26th and 27th. Multiple organizations—including the Religious Institute—have joined in amicus briefs on these two United States Supreme Court cases.
Since then, additional amicus briefs have been filed:
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More than 100 Republicans Sign Brief in Support of Marriage Equality
More here.
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Obama Administration Files Amicus Brief on Prop 8
More here.
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More Than 200 Corporations Urge Supreme Court to Strike Down DOMA
More here.
Take Action!
End Unfair Restrictions on Abortion Access
As President Obama prepares to send his federal budget plan to Congress, tell him you want the Hyde Amendment and other unfair restrictions on abortion care for low-income women removed.
Take action here.
Support Marriage Equality
Events are planned nationwide on March 26th and 27th, when the Supreme Court hears challenges to California's Prop 8 and to the federal DOMA law. Pro-LGBT religious and spiritual leaders are particularly needed!
Find out how you can participate at www.lighttojustice.org
New Resources
 Half the Sky
Half the Sky is a new Facebook game that raises awareness of challenges facing women and girls globally, while raising funds via gameplay that make a real-world impact.
Play here.
Catapult
Catapult is a new website that helps raise funds for projects that focus on improving the lives of girls and women worldwide.
Learn more here.
Graphic: Visualization of Support for Same-Sex Marriage by Religious Affiliation
Click to enlarge:
This graphic, created by the Public Religion Research Institute, illustrates opinions on legalization of same-sex marriage by religious affiliation.
Faithful Voices Network
By J. Michael Cobb
Director of Outreach and Communications
As I write this, the month-long speculation on who would be the next Pope has come to an end. Much has been written in the past few weeks on how the next Pope could shape the direction of the Roman Catholic Church on contraception, the role of women, LGBT persons, sexual abuse scandals, and many other issues of reproductive justice. It is far too early to tell how Pope Francis will affect Catholic thinking on these issues, but this moment of change brings to mind the many people working to make their own faith traditions sexually just.
The Religious Institute works with members of a wide variety of faith backgrounds to do just such work. We have worked extensively with the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), including on its Safer Congregations Project. This initiative is designed “to help make congregations safe and welcoming places for all,” including preventing sexual abuse and clergy misconduct, and other ways of bringing about safer faith communities. The Religious Institute is now working to create a “Safer and Responsible Congregation” designation program for the UUA. Last year the Religious Institute provided technical assistance to The United Methodist Church as it became the fourth national denomination to require sexual health training, including sexual misconduct prevention training, for all of its candidates for ministry.
In addition to my work at the Religious Institute, I am also a lay leader and Certified Lay Speaker in The United Methodist Church. I am also a member of Methodists in New Directions (MIND) and Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN). Both of these organizations are dedicated to full welcome and inclusion of LGBTQ people in our denomination, despite language in Methodist governing documents stating that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” Many United Methodists disagree, and are working to change the denomination’s policies to be fully welcoming and inclusive of all people, without regard to sexual orientation or gender expression.
On issues of abuse prevention, LGBT welcome and more, Faithful Voices Network members are working to make their faith communities more sexually healthy, just, and prophetic. Our thoughts this week are particularly with our Catholic friends at Catholics for Choice, Equally Blessed, Call to Action, and many, many others who are prayerfully working for greater accountability and progress in the Catholic Church on sexuality issues. We applaud their efforts, as well as those working for justice in all faiths. They encourage us in our shared work towards sexual and reproductive justice, and we hope they inspire you as well.
Religious Institute News
 Colgate Rochester Crozer Receives Designation as a Sexually Healthy and Responsible Seminary
Congratulations to Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, the latest seminary to meet the Religious Institute’s criteria for a Sexually Healthy and Responsible Seminary. Twenty-three seminaries have now achieved this distinction.
Learn more about Sexually Healthy and Responsible Seminaries here.
Call for Intern Applications
The Religious Institute is accepting applications for a summer intern. This 10-week position carries a stipend. The intern will provide support for ongoing research and updating of Religious Institute materials. It also includes denominational outreach, programmatic and clerical assistance, and other work as assigned. Graduate students in Masters of Divinity, sexuality or public health programs are preferred. The position is located at the Westport, CT offices, one block from the Metro-North train station. Interested applicants can send a resume and cover letter to info@religiousinstitute.org by April 15, 2013.
Thank You For Your Support!
The Religious Institute would like to thank the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock and the Ford Foundation for their recent grant awards. We are grateful for their contributions to our shared work.
Religious Institute on the Road
March 21, 2013, Parenting Workshop, San Francisco Friends School, San Francisco, CA
Rev. Debra W. Haffner is speaking to parents on how to talk to your children from birth through adolescence about sexuality issues.
Read more here.
March 22, 2013, Parenting Workshop, Marin Country Day School, Corte Madera, CA
Rev. Haffner is speaking to parents on how to talk to your children from birth through adolescence about sexuality issues.
Read more here.
April 10-12, 2013, Heartland Unitarian Universalist Minister's Association, Indiana
Rev. Debra W. Haffner will be presenting the “Skills for a Sexually Healthy Religious Professional” workshop at this annual retreat.
Read more here.
April 16-17, Boston University School of Theology, Boston, Massachusetts
Acting Deputy Director Marie Alford-Harkey will be the guest lecturer in Professor Shelly Rambo’s Constructive Theologies class, as well as preaching at Marsh Chapel on "Easter Boldly Proclaimed: Proclaiming Healing" and leading a discussion with students at the Episcopal Chaplaincy program.
Read more here.
April 25-26, 2013, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.
Rev. Haffner will give the keynote address at the Interfaith Prayer Breakfast.
Read more here.
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