At its 1964 General Conference, the Methodist Church added a statement about "Sex in Christian Life" to the Social Creed (Moore, 2000a). (After 1972, this document became known as the Social Principles). It read in part: "We believe that sexual intercourse within holy matrimony with fidelity and love is a sacred experience and constitutes a needed expression of affection. We also believe that sexual intercourse outside the bonds of matrimony is contrary to the will of God" (Moore, 2000a). (Although I do not know when this statement was deleted from the Social Principles, it does not appear in the 1976 Discipline or thereafter.)

 

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