This Leader Guide contains nine sessions for engaging high school students, (ages 14-18 years) in conversation about faith and sexuality in the These Are Our Bodies program, helping participants and their adult parents or guardians deepen their connection between God, the Bible, and sexuality. Each session uses scripture as an integral piece of the program using the NRSV or Common English Bible translation. Facilitators and small group leaders will find detailed planning information as well as background and useful information to employ the program in your church or community in a variety of settings: youth group, Christian education, camps, or retreats. Comprised of two sections, “The Introduction” provides the goals of the curriculum, describes parts of each lesson, and provides all needed information for leaders to implement the program. The second section offers nine full session plans that have five parts that work together to create a hands-on, interactive approach to learning: Gather, Grow, Grapple, Guide, and Go. These offer creative and playful ways to engage with the material and participants in ways that provide intentional group formation, engage the nature of high schoolers, offer time to wrestle with new material, provide words of blessing and affirmation, and allow time to move from the sessions back into the world. The Facilitator leads each session with the help of Small-Group Leaders who facilitate the games, activities, and discussions.
SESSION 1: This is Our Introduction (John 15:16-17; Luke 2:41-52; Luke 19:45-48)
SESSION 2: This is Our Language (Proverbs 19:2; Ephesians 4:25-32)
SESSION 3: This is Our Value System (Philippians 4:8; Romans 7:14-25)
SESSION 4: This is Our Identity (Psalm 139:13-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
SESSION 5: This is Our Self Image (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:1-11)
SESSION 6: This is Our Relationship (Ephesians 4:25; 1 Corinthians 13)
SESSION 7: This is Our Health (Proverbs 2:10-11; Matthew 13:10-17)
SESSION 8: This is Our Dignity (Matthew 22:37-39; Luke 8:40-56)
SESSION 9: This is Our Theology (Isaiah 30:21; John 14:1-14)
Samantha Clare is the Episcopal lay chaplain to the University of Arkansas and coordinates young adult ministries with St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and has a passion for spreading Jesus' call for social justice. Previously the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at Christ Church, Alameda, California, she has been involved in diocesan sponsored youth events over the past decade, including summer camps, Happening, and the triennial Episcopal Youth Event. She lives in West Fork, Arkansas.
Caren Miles is the Associate for Discipleship Ministries in the Diocese of California, previously having served in congregations in the Diocese of Dallas, New York, and California with children and youth. She ran the Children's Program at General Convention in 2012 and 2015. She has a BA in Political Science from the University of North Texas and over 15 years of life lessons learned in ministry helping children and youth find their identities as beloved children of God. She lives in Alameda, California.
