Local Church Sports Outreach Ministry & Gender Issues #10

Local Church Sports Ministry and Gender Issues
The is the final installment of a series of blogs excerpted from Dr. Linville’s yet to be released book.  They explore the realities occurring in local church Sports Outreach Ministries in relationship to an evolving culture and shifting trends within sport, The Church, and society in general. The end goal is to aide local church Sports & Recreation Ministers to comprehend, and proactively structure, their outreaches with theological clarity, relational love and cultural sensitivity. This blog specifically provides recommendations concerning gender issues for Sports Ministers who are asking: “What’s a Sport Minister To Do.”
 
Recommendations for Local Church Sports Outreach Ministries Regarding Gender-related Issues

• It is recommended Sports Ministry leaders consult with church leaders for the purpose of composing a written statement of belief (doctrines/theology) concerning all gender related issues such as homosexuality, transgenderism and marriage etc. 
• It is highly recommended before finalizing this statement, each church consult:
  • “Protecting Your Ministry – A Handbook for Ministries” (details found below)
  • “What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality” by Kevin DeYoung (details below)
  • Your denominational leaders and legal counsel
•  Based on that statement of belief, church leadership should craft guidelines for policies, procedures and facility accommodations that would include:
  • Criteria for being a church leader and/or a volunteer within the sports ministry of the church
    • It is recommended all leaders be held to the highest Biblical standards in terms of belief and lifestyle, whereas non-leader volunteer opportunities may be open to those who have not yet become members of the church, embraced a Christian lifestyle or become disciples of Christ
  • Criteria for participating in church-sponsored sport, recreation and fitness activities
    • It is recommended churches warmly welcome anyone and everyone to participate in all sports, recreation and fitness activities (of course appropriate precautions should be exercised in rare cases involving participants who are convicted felons, child abusers etc.)

• Same gender leagues
  • It is recommended that all youth leagues be organized for either boys or girls according to birth gender
  • It is recommended all adult sports leagues that include the possibility of physical contact or collision be organized according to birth gender.  This would include sports such as football, soccer, basketball, baseball/softball, rugby, cricket and lacrosse.

• Facility considerations
  • It is recommended that all new construction and any remodeling of restroom/shower facilities be built as “co-gender” facilities to accommodate one person at a time rather than the more traditional multi-person men and women’s restrooms.  (Do keep in mind the need to accommodate those who face physical obstacles and/or the needs of parents with babies and young children).

 
Final Words
The Church has a long history of lovingly and warmly welcoming all people regardless of where they are spiritually.  Jesus is the consummate model… He winsomely engaged the “woman at the well;” eagerly associated with Zacchaeus; protected the “woman caught in adultery;” and lovingly comforted a grieving Mary Magdalene He found weeping at His grave site.  Each of these people were far from being considered a saint.  And while Jesus accepted them as they were, He loved them enough to confront their sin so as to move them to true discipleship that leads to eternal life, personal peace and a fulfilled life.  His Church must do the same…lovingly, warmly and winsomely, welcome all to come and “belong” to the community in the hope that “belonging” will eventually lead to “believing;” which leads to “baptizing;” which leads to “behaving;” which leads ultimately to “becoming” a dedicated disciple of Jesus.  The question a Local Church Sports Outreach Minister should repeatedly ask is: “How would Christ lovingly engage and serve each participant in their Sports Outreach?”
 
The current divide over gender-related issues has caused a division the Church has not experienced since the Reformation and is of the magnitude of previous theological divides that resulted in the creation of three major traditions: Orthodoxy; Catholicism; Protestantism.  While these three traditions have remained divided for centuries, and occasionally flared violent, they found the gospel demands a co-existence that lovingly tolerates the differences.  It is my prayer this current divide will skip right past the violence, hatred and evil, and move quickly to loving toleration.  I specifically challenge all “traditionalist” to set the standard for loving toleration. 
 
“They will know you are my disciples by your Love for one another.” Jesus as recorded in John 13.35
 
 
Next week’s blog will begin a new series – “Local Church Sports Outreach Ministry Syndromes – Leadership Imperatives
 
This blog is an excerpt from Dr. Linville's yet to be released book.  All rights reserved.  For any reproduction right, including copying, computer reproduction, etc. contact:
Dr. Greg Linville at CSRM International C/O The World Outreach Center 5350 Broadmoor Circle N. W. Canton, Ohio – USA 44709 or glinville@csrm.org
 
Other blogs and articles on Local Church Sports, sports theology and ethics written by Dr. Greg Linville are archived at: www.csrm.org
 
A Plea For Grace
This set of blogs has discussed the most socially charged issue of the current day.  The author seeks truth; desires to provide both questions and answers to further the discussion; engage in civil discourse; and most importantly provide a haven for love and grace.  I encourage all readers to: “know your mind, but not have your mind made up.”  As Martin Luther stated, I believe we should be open to being persuaded by Holy Scripture and evident reason (logic).  I start by asking for grace when I don’t use the right term to describe something or someone, and I plead for forgiveness when I offend someone due to my own fallen nature which may lead to unintentional insensitivity, ignorance or hurtful language.  My intent is not to hurt or injure anyone, but rather, it is to seek Christ’s will for all of us who are attempting to follow Jesus as we travel this path together.

Recommended Books & References consulted for this series of Blogs – A select list of references relevant to this week’s blog (see previous blogs for a more extensive list of references)

• What does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality – by Kevin DeYoung
  
• Protecting Your Ministry – A handbook for Ministries – http://thewhiteheadfirm.com/uploads/Protecting_Your_Ministry_ADF_ERLC.pdf