Past Presentations by IISF
June 15-18, 2017 - American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, (AASECT)
Las Vegas, NV
Changing the Conversation: A Sexual Empowerment Model for Faith Communities
July 14-16, 2017 - Poly Dallas Millenium, Dallas TX
Opening the Bible to Open Relationships
June 24, 2017 - Libido Talks sponsors a panel discussion
The Atlas Performing Arts Center - Washington DC
Why Wait? Fornicate!"
August 4-6, 2017 - Woodhull Freedom Summit, Arlington VA
Defusing the Power of Toxic Religion for Sexual Advocacy
August 5-Oct 7, 2017 Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster PA
"Ministering in Matters of Sexuality" (PL230)
October 24-Nov 22, 2017 Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster PA
"Body Justice: Current Sexual Topics for the Church" (PL242)
August 4-7, 2016
What the Bible Really Says About Families: A Strategy to Teach that ALL Families Matter
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
Rev Bev shifted her usual focus from sexuality to family diversity in her workshop at the Woodhull Freedom Summit. Her message was that the Bible has no interest in family composition whether it is gender, number of adults, a marriage, or other living arrangements. Rather, the Bible - and Jesus - are focused on loving and righteous relationships and caring for the children. Her message was consistent with the Woodhull initiative that is advocating for political and institutional changes on the basis that "Family Matters" regardless of what we think it is supposed to look like!
June 6-12, 2016
Data and Dogma: Reframing our Conversations to Advance Sexual Health in Religious Communities
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale and Rachel Keller, LSW
Religion has become stigmatized in sex-positive communities in the same way that sex is stigmatized in some religious communities. We explore this tension using Christianity as our religious framework due to its predominant influence on U.S. culture. This workshop purports that we, as sexuality professionals, can increase our impact by reframing sexuality research to be inclusive of religious principles. This is a necessary shift to maximize possibilities for good sexual health and decision-making in diverse communities.
April 1-3, 2016
Finding Good News about Sex, Pleasure, and Diversity in the Bible
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
While the word “gospel” means good news, throughout the ages there has been little positive in the Christian messages about human sexuality or the sexual body. Instead, Western church teachings have focused specifically on sexuality that is marital, monogamous, and heterosexual while minimizing or avoiding the topic of sexual pleasure. In addition, Christian orthodox teachings too often have denounced sexual diversity and freedom. This workshop identifies the impediments of cultural and religious sex negativity but finds arguments for sex positivity in the bible itself. While we acknowledge and deconstruct the currently used by many Christians as “clobber passages” that are meant to restrict and control sexual expression, equal attention is given to those biblical and theological teachings that celebrate the body, women’s power, sensuality, sexual diversity and the pleasure of sexuality in general. At the conclusion, workshop participants are able to identify the basis for Christian sex-negativity and know where to find in the bible the teachings that bring liberation and freedom for our sexual lives. This workshop does not question the legitimacy of Christianity, but deconstructs Christian erotophobia by revealing it to be inconsistent with the gospel that the church preaches. This workshop is taught by a Christian clergy, but one does not have to be a Christian to attend.
August 13-16, 2015
Sexual Freedom and Christianity: Dismantling the Hostilities
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
It is possible to reframe the language to develop not only a sexually affirming moral ethic but also an ethic that promotes sexual freedom by using biblical passages and theological insights from within the tradition. The workshop’s focus is Christian teachings of individual and personal freedom, the role of the individual conscience in decision-making, justice-making and corporate attention to those marginalized within the community. All of this is within the context of the religious understanding of the sacredness of pleasure.
AASECT Annual Conference
Minneapolis MN June 3-7, 2015
Sex-Positive and Faithful as the Middle Ground
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
Too often the cost for sexual healing and body pleasure is the forfeiture of one’s cherished Christian faith because it is sex-negative. This workshop offers a middle ground – the largely unpublicized perspective of sex-positive Christianity. We identify religious teachings that foster fear, sex shame, and body guilt juxtaposed with inclusive teaching that enhances intimacy and sexual self-confidence and promotes diversity, pleasure and moves from judgment to justice.
Catalyst Con East
Washington DC March 27-29, 2015
Deconstructing Christian Erotophobia
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
CatalystCon is a conference created to inspire exceptional conversations about sexuality. It is about reaching out and stimulating those who attend to create those important conversations in their own communities, changing how we as a society talk about and treat sexuality. It is about stimulating the activist that is within all of us and sparking transformation in the way our friends, neighbors, children and even politicians discuss one of the most important aspects of humanity.
Philadelphia, PA. February 20-22, 2015
Sexual Decision-Making Made Easy Using Faith Principles
Rev. Dr. Beverly Dale
Too often those who have decided to explore multi-partnering must either give up their faith or continue to struggle with the dissonance of a sex-negative religion and a sex-positive lifestyle. Having established in previous workshops that polyamory is not inconsistent with Christianity, “Rev Bev,” an ordained Christian clergy, returns with a follow up issue; how to make decisions about sexual freedom and diversity that are both moral and ethical using faith principles? This workshop will explore biblical teaching as guides for moral decision-making to make that process easier. It will also include role plays that allow the audience to playfully interact with one another to practice using them. One need not be religious to use these principles yet those from a sex-negative tradition may well find this approach refreshing.