Happy 5th Anniversary Religious Institute!

Today is the 5th anniversary of the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield and I co-founded the Religious Institute to promote the vision of the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing.

I'm very aware that most new not-for-profit organizations do not make it to their fifth anniversary. Here's some of what we've accomplished:

*The network of the Religious Institute has grown to almost 2500 religious leaders from more than 40 religious traditions.

*We have published theological frameworks on sex education, marriage equality, and abortion.

*We have given over 150 talks on sexuality and religion, reaching close to 10o,000 people.

*We have published three guidebooks on aspects of sexual health for congregations, and a national study of youth development in faith-based communities.

*We have appeared regularly in the media as progressive religious spokespersons on sexuality issues, including such venues as CNN, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, Time, and US News and World Report.

*We have provided courses for seminarians at Meadville-Lombard, Union Theological Seminary, and the Yale Divinity School.

There is of course so much more for us to do. But, for today, I'm going to take a moment to be thankful -- thankful to first Larry Greenfield and now Steve Clapp for being my day-to- day partners, to Kate Ott and Coralie Meade for their ongoing services, to the foundations and the donors who support our work but more importantly our vision, and to the religious leaders and congregations who have opened their hearts and doors and who speak out for sexual health, education, and justice in faith communities and society. You are indeed "Pastors for Sexual Health, Prophets for Sexual Justice."

Happy Anniversary!