COGIC Yanks Sexual Immorality Content From Men’s Training Manual
One of the original Pentecostal churches publicly repudiated a recent manual that encouraged young men to pursue sexual activity before marriage.
The Young Men of Valor Training Manual for Adult Facilitators instructed teens to consider their own beliefs when contemplating premarital sex.
However, a statement from COGIC says some of this content was lifted from a secular source designed for unbelievers:
Unfortunately the section on sexual health in this manual is contrary to Christian teaching—teenagers are counseled to decide when it is right to have sex by consulting their “partners” and their feelings and beliefs. There is no mention of God’s commands, the Bible, prayer or the prohibition of sexual activity outside of marriage. Young men are directed to talk to parents, counselors and others about sexual activity, but they are not directed to consult scripture, pastors, evangelists or other church leaders. The text includes several references, which seems to imply that homosexuality is a permissible choice for teenagers to consider.
The manual, put together by the International Youth Department of the COGIC has been recalled.
IYD President Benjamin Stephens issued an apology to COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles Blake:
Whereas, I am fully aware of the difficult choices that many young men face on a daily basis, it is my charge to teach, preach and distribute doctrine that is wholly consistent with that of the Church in God in Christ. It was under my watch that the Young Men of Valor (2015 Edition) was published that omitted the Church of God in Christ’s well-established theological, biblical and doctrinal information surrounding “sanctified” sexuality. In its stead was clinical information acquired from various (non-Church of God in Christ) professional sources. The 2015 edition clearly represents a lapse in judgement and failure in supervision, and I take full responsibility for it.
Stephens has now been placed under oversight for an “undetermined period of time,” according to the COGIC statement.
All department leaders have been tasked to review their material for content that violates COGIC theology.
“From time to time, God allows troublesome situations to occur so that we will move to a higher level of diligence. Out of the pain of this trying situation, we are applying what we learned to improve our processes, which ultimately makes us more effective,” the statement concluded.
