What do Bible stories like the Garden of Eden, Ruth, King David, or the Song of Songs tell us about sex? How do we learn from them while our modern contexts and questions change around us?
In Preaching Sex, Gary Harder reflects on what has been taught by church and society about sexuality. He shares 17 of his sermons, reflections, and other resources from over fifty years of preaching, which include theological input from Lydia Harder, to address how we can talk - and even preach - about sex.
Gary Harder explains:
We live in an "overly sexualized world." And yet, it seems difficult to talk freely about sex in the church. What makes for healthy sexuality and deeply intimate relationships? How do we open conversations about sex in our homes and in the church? I never knew how to start these kinds of conversations in my own home with my own children. I found it easier to do this in the churches where I was pastor. Or with couples wanting to get married. Why wasn't I comfortable having these discussions with my own children? I didn't see myself as a radical - definitely not militantly progressive in my views. More like 'boldly biblical.' I was fairly modest or moderate but not meek.
Harder, Gary: - Gary Harder grew up on an irrigation farm in Rosemary, Alberta, a unique town featuring a Buddhist temple, Mormon Temple, and Mennonite Church. Each of these communities had a history of persecution, which created occasions for cooperation and appreciation of each other's heritages.Gary holds degrees from Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC), Goshen College, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, and St. Stephen College in Edmonton (DMin). He has served as pastor at Waters Mennonite Church in Lively, Ontario; Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Indiana; First Mennonite Church, Edmonton, Alberta; and Toronto United Mennonite Church. Gary has served on numerous boards including CMBC, the Leadership Commission of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, and local ecumenical ministerials.Gary and Lydia's partnership has been important to them from the time they studied Greek together in College and discovered that they had many common interests and commitments to church and ministry. They were married in 1964. Besides co-parenting their three children, they have had opportunities to teach together in Asuncion, Paraguay, and also at CMBC, AMBS, and CGUC. They also spent six months in Cairo with MCC. A particular highlight in their retirement was serving as intentional interim co-pastors in three congregations.Gary and Lydia live in Luther Village in Waterloo, Ontario. They delight in their three children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Neufeld Harder, Lydia: - Lydia Neufeld Harder grew up on a fruit farm in Niagara. After a stint of elementary school teaching, she attended CMBC and then went on to several years of homemaking and volunteer work in church and community before entering the academic world, graduating from Newman College (MTh) and Toronto School of Theology (TST) (ThD). She directed the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre and taught as an adjunct faculty member at TST and Conrad Grebel University College (CGUC).Lydia has published two books, Obedience, Suspicion and the Gospel of Mark (Wilfred Laurier Press, 1998) and The Challenge is in the Naming (CMU Press, 2018).
