History of OneByOne The main precursor to the inception of OneByOne was a national conference sponsored by a PC(USA) church and Presbyterian Renewal Ministries. The conference, titled, "The Path to Freedom: Exploring healing for the Homosexual," was held in Rochester, NY in November 1994. The focus of the conference was two-fold: (1) to minister to those struggling with homosexuality; (2) to teach the Body of Christ how to support and minister to those seeking to come out of homosexuality. During this conference, church leaders from across the United States expressed a desire to establish a network of ministries to individuals struggling with their sexuality in other church settings. A few months later, the Presbyterian Renewal Network tried a unique experiment. In response to the need for a non-political, ministry-oriented voice to address issues of sexual brokennesss within the PCUSA, they invited a group of PCUSA pastors, elders and lay people to pray and discuss how this need might be met. And, as a result of this January 1995 meeting, OneByOne was conceived. Mission of OneByOne OneByOne's mission is to educate and equip the church to minister the transforming grace and power of Jesus Christ to those in conflict with their sexuality. OneByOne's goal is therefore two-fold: (1) to serve as a resource for educational material; and (2) to help create and/or support local ministries to those struggling with sexual brokenness, including but not limited to homosexuality. OneByOne representatives are available to provide seminars and workshops for church leaders and/or members who want to learn how to minister Christ's compassion without compromising Christ's standards. Philosophy of OneByOne OneByOne firmly believes that Jesus, through his interactions with the woman caught in adultery (John 8), provided the Church with a model for responding to sexual sin. Imagine the scene: Jesus teaching in the temple courts, the audience listening intently with eager hearts. Suddenly, teachers of the law intrude upon their study. They drag in a woman, naked, whom they just caught in the act of adultery. Their question to Jesus is, "Do we stone her as the Law commands?" Can you imagine? Naked, exposed in front of the religious leaders, strangers and friends alike and the Messiah Himself? Jesus' response was unexpected by all, and probably most of all by the woman. In silence, he began writing in the dirt. The Pharisees continued to badger him, demanding that he give a verdict. Finally, he spoke. "If any of you has never sinned, you may stone her." And, then he continued writing in the sand. I suspect that he was compiling a list, a long list of the sins, many of them sexual, that her accusers themselves had committed throughout their lives. None of them could condemn the woman. They all left in silence, until only Jesus and the woman were left. At this point, Jesus stood up, looked her in the eye and said, "If they do not condemn you, then neither do I. Go and sin no more." The story speaks for itself. The Church is not called to condemn. The Church is not called to humiliate or shame. Neither is the Church to compromise Scriptural standards. The Church must respond with repentance and forgiveness for its own sins and the sins of others. The Church must continue to exhort its people to live holy lives. And, the Church must offer forgiveness and restoration to anyone, no matter how horrid we might consider the sin. Restoration is a free gift for all. OneByOne affirms that sexuality is a precious gift from God expressed through both genders, male and female. The union of man and woman in marriage is God's plan for the family. God's gift of sexual intimacy between husband and wife is given for the purposes of pleasure, procreation and celebration of the oneness that reflects the mystery of Christ and the church. OneByOne also recognizes the destructive consequences of the abuse of sexual intimacy including, but not limited to, fornication, incest, pornography, homosexuality, adultery and sexual immorality. However, we also affirm that the Gospel proclaims liberation from all sin, including sexual sin. In recognition of the sexual brokenness that exists within the church community and also in recognition of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, we are committed to help equip the church to be a healing community, by proclaiming His transforming power and implementing Christ-centered ministries of restoration. Finally, OneByOne recognizes that many churches today have a difficult time talking about homosexuality and other forms of sexual brokenness. These can be uncomfortable subjects, yet, historically the Church has responded to the issues within society. No one enters the church free from the sins of society. Sexual brokenness pervades our society. Therefore, we as the Body of Christ must give a redemptive response.