“The confusion surrounding these roles, unique to our time and culture, must be confronted and refuted by the church,” says Sam Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and a contributing author of the proclamation. “By blurring these roles, some men fail to embrace the masculinity for which they were created. Failing to do so dishonors women and the uniqueness with which God created them. This proclamation endeavors to restore the foundational aspects that define manhood and masculinity.” The lines between traditional gender roles have been blurred by various institutions such as media, entertainment and educators. Although the church cannot control their agendas, it is the responsibility of Christian leaders to refute that messaging and clearly communicate their stance on the matter. “By not clearly acknowledging those unique roles, society has raised generations of men to be confused, apathetic and purposeless,” says Harrison. “Too many pastors and leaders have failed to clearly communicate their position on the issue, instead playing both sides of the issue to ensure they aren’t ‘canceled’ and that their pews remain full. We need to clarify what it is to be a man and what it is to be a man of God.”