The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Religious Institute staff work with clergy, congregations, and denominational bodies on a one-time, short-term, or long-term basis to address sexuality issues. Staff can help choose or plan curricula, develop safe congregation policies, identify local consultants or referral sources, and respond to difficult situations and circumstances around a sexuality issue. The Religious Institute provides keynote speakers and workshop leaders for congregations as well as regional and national meetings on sexuality, spirituality, and religion; sexuality education for youth, parents, and adults; building sexually healthy faith communities; and other sexuality and religion topics. Religious Institute staff assist the media in
The Church of God (Charleston, Tennessee) that the selection process was a departure from what had historically been perceived as "theocratic government" within the body's governing structure and procedure. In 1993, this group which at the time referred to themselves as "The Concerned" called for a "solemn assembly", borrowing an Old Testament term for corporate devotion to prayer to rhetorically emphasize its earnestness. The "solemn assembly" resulted in the formation of The Church of God. The church places particular emphasis upon the word "The" in its title as a statement of this reorganization, believing it is the singular exclusive embodiment of the New Testament Christian church.