REV. SYLVIA V. REID
Chair, General Assembly & Ministries Council
As we share this Biblical Sexual Ethics paper with the Church of God Movement, I offer my wholehearted support for its thoughtful and prayerful consideration.
It is important to understand that this document did not emerge suddenly, nor was it developed in response to any single recent event, individual, institution, or controversy. Rather, it represents the culmination of work, conversation, study, prayer, and discernment that has taken place within the Church of God Movement for approximately a decade.
Over those years, leaders across the Movement increasingly recognized two related needs. First, there was a need for greater clarity concerning the biblical sexual ethic that has historically informed the faith and practice of the Church of God. Second—and equally important—pastors, credentialing bodies, congregational leaders, and others serving throughout the Movement needed thoughtful pastoral guidance and practical resources for navigating increasingly complex questions surrounding human sexuality.
Those needs helped shape the work that ultimately produced this document.
The intent, therefore, is not merely to state what we believe, but to help equip those entrusted with spiritual leadership to minister faithfully, compassionately, consistently, and responsibly. This paper seeks to bring greater clarity and pastoral guidance to convictions the Movement has previously expressed while providing a framework for their faithful application in the present generation.
As a non-creedal Movement, we also understand the importance of describing what this document is—and what it is not. It is not intended to replace Scripture, become a new creed, or serve as a weapon against individuals or groups. Neither should it be used to demean, diminish, mistreat, or deny the God-given dignity of any person. It is offered as a resource to help our Movement articulate its understanding of biblical sexual ethics and to assist pastors, congregations, credentialing bodies, ministry leaders, and affiliated ministries as they encounter questions requiring both theological conviction and pastoral care.
That distinction matters.
The sexual ethic articulated in this paper is not directed toward one group of people. The call to holiness, integrity, accountability, and ethical sexual conduct belongs to all who follow Christ. Indeed, those of us entrusted with spiritual leadership bear a particular responsibility to live in a manner consistent with the faith we proclaim and the responsibilities we have accepted.
I recognize that matters of human sexuality can evoke deeply held convictions, personal experiences, difficult questions, and, at times, painful emotions. Faithful people may approach portions of this conversation with questions or disagreement. For that reason, I ask that we receive this work in the spirit in which it is being offered—not as an invitation to division, but as an opportunity for prayerful reflection, meaningful conversation, pastoral care, and faithful discernment together.
We are a Movement connected not merely by organizational structures, but by our shared love for Jesus Christ and our commitment to His Church. Even where conversations are difficult, we are called to engage one another with love, humility, grace, truth, and respect.
After years of work by many faithful servants of the Church, we now offer this document to the Movement as part of an ongoing commitment to equip our people for faithful ministry in a changing and complex world.
My request remains simple:
Read carefully. Pray sincerely. Listen graciously. Consider lovingly.
May the Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to honor Christ, care for one another, pursue holiness, and remain faithful to our calling as the Church of God.
No. The framework states that it does not establish a new Church of God teaching. It gathers, explains, and pastorally applies convictions previously expressed through General Assembly actions and credentialing standards.
The Ministries Council of the General Assembly of the Church of God in the United States and Canada approved the framework in September 2026. Church of God Ministries is distributing it on the Council’s behalf.
The Ministries Council determined that there was insufficient time to complete or present the work for the June 2025 General Assembly because of other agenda demands, so the work was tabled.
The earlier actions established important convictions, but committee records and the final framework identified the need to gather those convictions, address contemporary pastoral questions, update the articulation, and provide a more comprehensive theological and pastoral resource.
The wider process included Church of God pastors, theologians, educators, ministry leaders, and professionals with backgrounds in counseling and psychology, law, medicine, public health, sociology, and family studies.
No. The framework expressly dictates that it is not an exhaustive clinical guide, legal policy manual, or response to every pastoral circumstance.
The framework was created primarily for use by credentialed ministers, credentialing bodies, congregational leaders, and affiliated ministries of the Church of God.
As stated by Rev. Sylvia V. Reid, General Assembly & Ministries Council Chair, in reference to this framework, “It is not intended to replace Scripture, become a new creed, or serve as a weapon against individuals or groups. Neither should it be used to demean, diminish, mistreat, or deny the God-given dignity of any person.”
