|
Two controversial Women’s Division petitions relating to teen sexuality and suicide were passed at General Conference 2004. One changed the language in The Book of Discipline to allow for the expenditure of funds for ministry related to the increasing rate of teen suicide, and in support of civil rights for homosexuals. A second petition authorized the formation of a taskforce to publish information and make recommendations regarding issues of teen suicide among youth as it relates to sexual identity. Funding for this taskforce as approved is $375,000. This disciplinary change and taskforce formation is based on the alleged “fact” that teens struggling with sexual identity are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than are other youth. No other reasons for teen suicide are mentioned. Yet teen suicide reports from the major psychological and pediatric associations do not even mention sexual identity or mention it near the bottom of a long list of other risk factors. Other teen suicide factors—family breakup through divorce, alcohol or drug abuse and family dysfunction—are mentioned in all the major health organization publications as the main factors in teen suicide. RENEW’s analysis of the Women’s Division petitions quoted from the following studies which do not identify sexual identity issues as a major cause of teen suicide: The American Psychiatric Association, The National Mental Health Association, KidsHealth, The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The American Academy of Pediatrics. The Women’s Division claim is based on one source, a 1989 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If we truly care that teens are committing suicide at higher rates than ever before, wouldn’t we want to address the top three to five causes for teen suicide rather than going to the bottom of the list, or off the page to focus on homosexuality? We are talking about the souls and lives of young people. Given the documented facts about the causes of teen suicide, it seems there is a political agenda here to promote the acceptance of homosexual practice among teens. One is appalled at the lack of integrity in this program. We must ask if the negative effects of homosexuality in the lives of teens will be honestly evaluated as a cause for teen suicide, or will “blame” be placed upon those who say the lifestyle is “incompatible with Christian teaching?” Are we spending $375,000 to promote a lifestyle among teens that is incompatible with The Book of Discipline and the teaching of Scripture, while neglecting the major causes of teen suicide? “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin….” |
