LATEST NEWS : CRITICS POINT OUT FLAWS IN NEW ANTI-PLEDGE RESEARCH
POSTED: JAN 07, 2009
A new study by social health professionals claiming to find no benefit to abstinence pledges by teens has received wide coverage in the mainstream press. Critics of the research have been quick to point out, however, that the study’s conclusion was reached by carefully choosing data to destroy a straw man. Any abstinence educator worth his or her salt knows that a pledge alone–without support from peers, family, or community–can’t be relied upon to influence a teen for the long term. The study actually reinforces the value of that support in building character and maturity in young people–traits which encourage positive choices in all areas of their lives.
There were many responses to the anti-pledge media blitz. The following are some of our favorites:
“Abstinence Researcher Says New Study Bashing Virginity Pledges is Faulty” by Steven Ertelt (http://www.lifenews.com/nat4687.html)
“Like a Virgin: The Press Take On Teenage Sex” by William McGurn (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123120095259855597.html?mod=djemEditorialPage#printMode)
“7 Factors That Foster Teen Virginity, Pledge or No Pledge” by Bernadine Healy, MD (http://www.usnews.com/blogs/heart-to-heart/2008/12/30/7-factors-that-foster-teen-virginity-pledge-or-no-pledge.html#read_more)
“Talking About Sex-Ed that Works” by Kathryn Jean Lopez (http://townhall.com/columnists/KathrynJeanLopez/2008/12/30/talking_about_sex-ed_that_works?page=1)
We address Teens and Sex each year at our church. We have a unique approach because we address the Taboo issues no one else likes to discuss. We also bring in our parents for a session during the conference. Because of the vast need to discuss this topic; we open our conference and sessions up to all who would like to attend. I have seen some amazing things happen. I have college students that are still holding true to the commitment they made back in 2003, when we first did our conference. We also have some that have not kept their commitments. One thing they cannot deny is the truth they recieved. Whether they embrace it or not their story will never be, I was never told. Many kids or told not to do drugs but they still continue do we stop the message of “Say No to Drugs” because a few choose not to listen? I don’t think so.Fifty one percentof American teens are not having sex. That’s more than half; what could that number look like if there was a strategy developed to help families in our care? I believe we should step up or game and educate parents on how to respond to the crisis in their teens world. It’s not time to shut up but SPEAK UP!
How do you address sex with your Teens?
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In the trenches of local youth ministry for over a decade, Pastor Jeffrey Wallace
(a.k.a. PJ) brings a fresh and relevant approach to how to develop and maintain an
effective, healthy, relevant youth ministry within the local church. [
thanks so much for writing this post. We are starting a sex series tonight. The series will last four weeks. The first week we are talking about the biblical foundation of Sex, God created it and it is good at the right time. The second week we are doing a girls only and guys only sessions where we separate the genders to talk about deep issues relating to each sex. The third week we are inviting the parents in to do some specific things with them such as how to help my student deal with sexual pressures and issues. The final week we will be doing a panel discussion and a commissioned to purity commitment. I think the church has stayed silent on this issue relegating it to main stream media and in turn has failed the family. We need to teach students the right view and help parents guide their students in this way of purity. Thanks again for your post.
Latasha! What up ATL? lol Thanks for the article! I also saw that report and posed the question on the community blog asking people how they are currently addressing the issue of sexuality. Sounds like your approach has been successful – which I define as obedience not by results. I believe wholeheartedly that “just say ‘no’” does not work. We must understand that every “no” implies a “yes” to something else. We must help students realize that they are saying “no” to premarital sex because they are saying “yes” to God’s plan.
Kev