Not long ago, I attended a Christian writer’s conference. I carried around my manuscript, talked with a publisher, chatted with an agent, smiled and nodded. You understand--I did all the things one does at a writer’s conference. But you’re reading this column because you want to hear about sex, so here’s the scoop.

This particular conference ends with an author’s panel. Conferees write out their questions on mint green paper, the moderator reads the questions and the panel responds.

I had been asked to appear on the panel as a free-lance writer. To my left sat another free-lance writer, and to her left lounged a well-known literary agent and to his left sat the woman who publishes a marketing book. The moderator read the first question and I answered it so eloquently I’m sure the audience was impressed.

Now, I feel that it is necessary to describe myself. I am a minister, a writer of Christian devotions and a great-grandmother. And there I sat with a much-published freelance writer, a literary agent, and a marketing guru. I was so excited and soooo proud.

I smiled and listened intently as the moderator read his next question, “How do you handle sex in a Christian romance without being too explicit?” The room grew quiet.

“Christians have sex?” I said into the silence.

Oh no! Did I say that out loud?

Someone on the panel laughed--I’m sure he did--but the only sound heard from the audience was that of jaws dropping. The other panelists spoke articulately on the topic while I sat with my hands in my lap and my face burning.

When the conference ended I made a vow never to talk about sex in public again. However, I did mention this incident to a friend who said,
“ Dell, Christians do have sex —religiously.”

Rev. Dell Smith Klein writes from her home in the Weaver Mountains of Arizona. dell@smithklein.net