The Sexuality Series launched in the spring of 2006 with a full semester of events and book groups for students on issues related to relationships and sexuality. The scope of the Series is broad, including events on dating, fashion, women’s health, gender roles, singleness and marriage, purity, homosexuality and the church, global and cross-cultural issues…the span is wide! We originate and collaborate with other departments on the events we offer, and we also provide a listing of local and other Calvin events related to issues of sexuality.
Our hope is that the Series would provide tools, conversation partners and information for students as they seek to live God-honoring sexual lives. We invite you to learn more about the Series through these pages—or better yet, see our schedule and attend an event!
Since its first season the Series has expanded to include a full academic year of events, designed with the insights of the Sexuality Series Advisory Team (our student board) as well as Calvin staff and faculty members.
Why did Calvin Create this Series?
Direct student feedback, given through a 2004 campus climate study, revealed that students wanted more opportunities to discuss sexuality issues from a Christian perspective, but they did not want more classes for credit. They wanted a chance to learn and discuss sensitive issues with informed, trustworthy people.
Calvin’s Sexuality Task Force, which met for two years to research and discuss topics related to sexuality issues and Christian higher education, also recommended that students have more opportunities to learn about sexuality issues in the context of Calvin’s goal of providing a virtues-ethics education.
So in 2005 a brainstorming team of students, faculty and staff generated a list of themes and ideas to be addressed through the Series. That meeting became the backbone of topics and issues that this Series covers. Some of the Series offerings repeat from year to year; others are brand new. Events range from lectures to retreats to films to bookclubs. The Series originates its own programming, collaboratively plans events with other departments, and provides a Web schedule that lists any campus events related to sexuality issues.