FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the target age group for the series’ audience?

On the first evening of the series, Birds & Bees (09.13), only adults are invited into the Sanctuary to hear from our guest speaker, Mary Flo Ridley. Anyone under the age of 18 should attend SHINE, TRIBE or PEAK (Children & Student Ministries).

The remainder of the series (09.20 - 11.01) invites all adults and our middle and high school students to join us in the Sanctuary to hear from Dr. Swanson. SHINE, TRIBE & PEAK will run for students who do not wish to attend the lectures. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by their parents.

Do I need to register my kids if they’re only attending the regular Wednesday night programming with Student Ministry’s Tribe & Peak?

No. Students who are on campus for Tribe & Peak do not need to register for the Gender, Sexuality & The Church fall series. HOWEVER, If children are eating dinner with their family in Lee Fellowship Hall prior to the lecture series, they must be registered. Even if they aren’t attending the lectures, students and children must be registered for the series if they plan to eat dinner with their families from 5:30-6:15pm in Lee Fellowship Hall.

Why do I need to pre-register?

By pre-registering, we can plan appropriately for the number of attendees, order ample food, and follow up with you as we near and progress through the series. There will be many resources offered during the series that will only be shared with those who have registered.

Will the series be livestreamed?

No. This is a family moment for our congregation. It is extremely important that we come together as a body of believers to learn and grow together. In addition, much of the content is copyrighted and cannot be streamed in accordance with the terms of our licensing.

Where do I submit questions around Gender & Sexuality for the speakers to address in their content?

Please submit all questions HERE. We value your questions and will do our very best to make sure they’re answered throughout the series. We recognize that this is a sensitive topic and want you to feel comfortable asking questions for yourself or others. For that reason, all submissions are strictly anonymous.

I’m a parent of a young child (ages 1-10) and am only interested in the Birds & Bees lecture on September 13. I have a schedule conflict that Wednesday night. Is there any other opportunity to hear Mary Flo Ridley’s content?

Yes. We will host a repeat of Birds & Bees on Thursday morning, 09.14. There will be a seperate registration for that session. Find out more in the coming weeks at fpco.org/shine or Instagram.

Can I invite friends to attend the Gender, Sexuality & the Church series?

The entire First Pres congregation, along with all of our Christ School and Weekday School families are invited. However, this is a “family” moment for our church. The series is not open to the general public.

If I’m not eating dinner from 5:30-6:15 on Wednesdays, do I still need to pay to attend the series?

No. The cost is only for those joining us for meals. All must register, but the fee is waived for our lecture-only attendees.

Will there be opportunities for open discussions and questions during the lectures?

No. We are running a tight schedule with a packed agenda that cannot accommodate live discussion. However, we’re working to infuse your questions into the content and will specifically address pre-submitted and live questions at the end of each lecture using this link.

All additional questions regarding Gender & Sexuality, or the logistics of the event can be submitted HERE.

We’re excited for you to join us on Wednesday nights, 09.13 - 11.01, as we learn and grow together through God’s Word!