Sex Scandal!
On Thursday evening at 5 pm, I received a call from one of the operations directors at the Kenosha Unified School District. He was calling to inform me that the contract Great Lakes Church had with Nash Elementary School was being terminated! I was stunned.
Our advertising mailer that promoted our upcoming series, "Thank God For Sex" was too much for some people and they had made calls to the school district.
Why are we so afraid of the word "sex"? Why does the word "porn" scare us? The fact is that there is a lot of power in those words. Those words (along w/ other sexual terms) are filled with pain, frustration, confusion and more. Over the past 13 years, I've counseled more people whose lives have been destroyed by sex-related issues than anything else. This is serious stuff. We need to talk about sex in a healthy God-honoring way.
I'm honestly not mad at the school district. I suppose they were just doing what they felt they needed to do. I am upset with the fact that we live in 2009 and there are still people who want the church to shut up about the topics that really matter. I'm absolutely committed to making sure we face these things head on, rather than running from them.
This weekend we will be meeting behind the Brat Stop on Hwy 50 at 10 am.
I don't know where we will be meeting next Sunday, but I'm confident everything is going to work out!
Dave
WOW...way to stir the pot, Dave. I agree, no reason to be mad at the school district, but I believe this is the type of attitude that holds the church at a distance in the hearts of ordinary people. We can't talk about sex? Now come-on!
Could it be because you were advertising a sermon series exclusively about SEX at an ELEMENTARY school? This is where the community sends there kids. Did you really think it was appropriate to advertise this specific sermon series to the community that sends there kids to Nash? Why not advertise about the gospel? Why not apologize to KUSD, instead of spinning the situation (i.e. "Sex Scandal")?
This is the way I see it. The service is in a building, that happens to service children Monday through Friday. On Sunday, Great Lakes Church RENTED the building (which I believe that means they pay to use it)for a few hours. It's appropriate to let the community know what this church is about, that happens to have "met" at an elementary school during a time when there was no "schooling" taking place. Oh how I like "". Anyways, if you don't want to talk about sex, or hear about sex (I happen to be singing Salt n Pepa right now) then...don't go. BUT, I'm sure the kids are hearing about sex in Nash at some point, so lets get real here people there is a series about sex being discussed in all of KUSD. I'm going to even throw out there that some kids may even be having sex. I hope the parents upset with this aren't letting their children watch tv, I have a secret, theres tons of sex on that idiot box. O.k. Lord, forgive me for being sarcastic...See ya tomorrow behind the Brat Stop. How ironic
What make this an issue is that 1) this is an elementary school (kindergarten through 5th grade) and 2) GreatLakes is renting this space. Most places have strict rules about who rents space in their facility because the name of their organization (in this case an elementary school) for better or worse is tied to these renters. So when the public advertisement focused on sex (ironic that it was not the gospel) and named an ELEMENTARY public school that is what crossed the line. Not understanding that people would take offense to this, and running it passed KUSD was the church’s fault.
Not being a member of GLC, I did receive your advertising material this past week. As an "outsider" and a member of another church, I say "Kudos to GLC". You are just what we need in this community! A little controversary gets people talking, be it good or bad.
Their will be people who's narrow-mindeness, would slam the doors on others due to their opinions, rather than do things with an open mind and an open heart. I'd like to address a question to GLC: Has any parent of Nash's students, faculity, or KUSD
member ever attended one of your service? Maybe a special invite is in order for these students, faculity, and especially KUSD. I commend you for taking both a risk, and a stand on something very real in our society. I am looking very forward in attending your service on the 8th.
I think you may be misunderstood, I just realized your brother is Ricky Nelson, the marine who was killed while singing "amazing grace "
My sincerest and heartfelt sympathy to you and your mom. Dave, you seem to really love the LORD and want to Serve Christ. That mailing you sent out must have cost a small fortune---it was worded in a way that seemed almost as if condoning free sex, however, I think your intention was to say that GOD forgives the past, but God will accept people even if they are not a virgin before marriage ???? Our society and TV and the media, and music has really perpetuated promisiouity and even the occult, leading more and more young people away from what GOD commands. GOD wants us to be pure to protect ourselves from disease and heartache.
Regarding NASH school, the superintendent did not find the wording acceptable because such free discussion and that raises suspicion of the intentions of your church organization. I understand you are trying to appeal to young people, because many young people do not attend church !
This media circus may in fact benefit you in the long run when people attend your church just to see what you are all about, then they can make up their own mind as to your stance on abortion, the media, morality going downhill in America, and why it is good to be faithful to a spouse, etc.
I am wondering if you do see the danger of the occult , especially the ghost hunting shows on TV and GOD warns against talking to spirits . Also, in much secular music, there is a real deception and anarchy and pulling away from GOD . Much music is about being sexually free .
I will conclude with some advice, just be careful how you broach such controversial subjects and have others look over the choice of words before sending off mailers---- It seems you like to salvage marriages, that is a good thing, however you maybe could have worded it this way for an elementary school " Virginity is a GIFT for your spouse "
or something like that, and the " danger and addiction of Porn and how it can destroy a marraige by being compared to super skinny girls and the images of lust can make people stray
Wording sometimes is so tricky and sometimes the point we try to convey gets misconstrued
I pray in Jesus's name to help you , DAVE make wise choices ,with reading scripture to help you discern how to convey what is in your heart of serving the LORD and bringing others to CHrist !
I agree, the word sex is offending and not appropriate for elementary students.