, On Affirming Reproductive Justice, a commissioners resolution. We recognized that [todays Supreme Court] decision was likely to come, he said. In her telling, Planned Parenthood field workers changed womens lives: Poor women with several small children would shed tears when they learned there was a way to stop having babies every year. Despite this background, Howland was opposed to abortion, until in 1965 a teacher of hers at Union Theological Seminary asked whether it was fair for young women to serve as baby factories for adoption services. I fear the tent has collapsed without a center.". Others have embraced culture to a detriment and risk losing the essence of who they are and the rich heritage of our faith. On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, which confirmed a pregnant persons constitutional right to choose whether to terminate during the early months of their pregnancy. Volunteer with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Volunteer for Elected Service at the General Assembly Level. The Christian community must be concerned about and address the circumstances that bring a woman to consider abortion as the best available option. However, I dreaded making the announcements about the discernment meetings as well as giving reports from the meetings to the gathered church in worship. %%EOF The Board of Pensions commitment to mental health parity is huge, Spencer told the committee. Therefore the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) encourages an atmosphere of open debate and mutual respect for a variety of opinions concerning the issues related to problem pregnancies and abortion. . abortion. phs, %PDF-1.5 % In finance, theres a saying often attributed to Warren Buffett that says: When the tide goes out, you see who was swimming naked., A similar application is about to apply to Conservatives and Christians, because many are RINOs and CINOs. The considered decision of a woman to terminate a pregnancy can be a morally acceptable, though certainly not the only or required, decision. Howland changed her mind. Of these two, the Session is looking more closely at ECO, because ECO's theological beliefs are closer to those of most RGAPC church members, and because ECO fully supports the ordination of women. (6), This General Assembly holds this statement as its position on a Christian response to problems that arise late in pregnancies. (8). . By the end of 1972, the CCS had helped between a quarter and . CONTACT INFO. I trust you and my mother. Now its a crisis situation for so many people., What is the Presbyterian Church willing to do? McKinney asked the committee. It has been one of the faster-growing denominations in the United States, growing tenfold since 1983. In a 6 to 3 vote, the Supreme Court overturned the historic Roe v. Wade decision. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion! It also determined that HSB-07, from Hudson River Presbytery, was answered by its action on HSB-06. It means they're as uncomfortable as, God knows, they should be, about excluding gay people from full participation in the life that Jesus so passionately offered to all. Part of HuffPost Religion. When an individual woman faces the decision whether to terminate a pregnancy, the issue is intensely personal, and may manifest itself in ways that do not reflect public rhetoric, or do not fit neatly into medical, legal or policy guidelines. We affirm that abortion should not be used as a method of birth control. Responding to Overture 44, on unscriptural views of marriage, divorce, and infanticide, the commissioners wrote, This Assembly regards the destruction by parents of their own offspring, before birth, with abhorrence, as a crime against God and against nature., A century later the 1962 UPCUSA General Assembly adopted the report of itsCommittee on Responsible Marriage and Parenthoodholding that abortion could not bean individual decision on the part of the physician and couple. Abortion views differ among religions. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Crosby the go-to metaphor on this matter is tent poles. Ligon Duncan argued that by engaging black ministers, "You can see things you didn't see before. Abortion ends the life of a child and offends God. We affirm the ability and responsibility of women, guided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, in the context of their communities of faith, to make good moral choices in regard to problem pregnancies. Over the past 20 years as a pastor, Ive cringed every time I had to clarify for the congregation some confusing message about sexuality coming from our denomination that they may have heard or read about in the media. Humans are empowered by the spirit prayerfully to make significant moral choices, including the choice to continue or end a pregnancy. Dr. Frank Spencer, president of the, Earlier, committee member the Rev. Here is more info on the account that posted that. Meanwhile, the pro-abortion mainline Protestant churches are experiencing disastrous slumps in membership. And in many of these announcements I had to mention the issue of homosexuality. Simply put, abortion is murder. We derive our understanding of human life from Scripture and the Reformed Tradition in light of science, human experience and reason guided by the Holy Spirit. Some of the OB-GYNs Howland referred women to were in England, some in Japan and others in Philadelphia.The Rev. Pastors have a duty to counsel with and pray for those who face decisions about problem pregnancies. endstream endobj 285 0 obj <. Problem pregnancies are the result of, and influenced by, so many complicated and insolvable circumstances that we have neither the wisdom nor the authority to address or decide each situation. Hk*IK=kJ %* ::: f8Xd2-)D :c In the 1990s, amid asystematic campaign of anti-abortion terrorthat would ultimately include the murders of 11 abortion workers, thebombing of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and more than 7,000 acts of violence including arson, bomb threats, bioweapon threats and assault, Presbyterians modified the expansive support of reproductive justice enacted by prior assemblies. MAY 3, 2021; 5-2-21 - 'The Early Church' 5-2-21 - 'The Early Church' 5-2-21 - 'The Early Church'. But beyond that kind of dissembling, Secret Code Fundy Talk, nary a mention will they find of the true and actual reason ECO exists. Maffett bolted out of bed and drove to work to find that his dream was true. Presbyterianism has its roots in the teachings of John Calvin, a leader of the Protestant Reformation. 8. (9), The previous excerpts and the areas of substantial agreement on the issue of abortion have been the cornerstone for the atmosphere of open debate and mutual respect for a variety of opinions during the past 30 years. Problem pregnancies are the result of, and influenced by, so many complicated and insolvable circumstances that we have neither the wisdom nor the authority to address or decide each situation. The following are excerpts from the 1992 policy: There is [both] agreement and disagreement on the basic issue of abortion. If I felt some trepidation over the internal communication that was necessitated by the discernment process, you can imagine the anguish that I felt about how the local media was going to communicate our activity to the community. Boy, for a guy who likes to sidestep the big, hot issues And what deft sidestepping Rev. A report from the Disparities Experienced by Black Women and Girls Task Force also addresses reproductive justice. That said, though, I'm heartened by the leaders of ECO being so afraid of proclaiming their true nature and purpose. Abortion is a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6). But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child. I didn't want anybody, my parents, or anybody to suffer for anything I did. Its not by accidental timing the Supreme Court decision happened today.. PIP: Abortion was frequently practiced in North America during the period from 1600 to 1900. In 2006, the 217th General Assembly approved language that clarified the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) position on problem pregnancies. While their official documentation does not recommend abortion, it does permit abortions for any reason. ECO honchos! The Church should declare to the world and teach its members that abortion should never be used as a convenience or a means of birth control. We anticipate that this will certainly hurt Black people, Indigenous people, people of color more than it will those of us who are white., Committee members also overwhelmingly approved, , On Amending G-2.0284 and Recommendations Regarding a Family Leave Policy, from the. Microsoft Word - EPCECOPCUSA comparisonchart 6 20 2014.docx hb```6N>1AO\N Presbyterian Historical Society ->, Tags: " ^RIKFZ>?8iL^ ..1o%-C/p>V_0hNf4 #>EO, Microsoft Word - EPCECOPCUSA comparisonchart 6 20 2014.docx. Mac OS X 10.10.1 Quartz PDFContext In cases where problems of life or health of the mother arise in a pregnancy, the church supports efforts to protect the life and health of both the mother and the baby. Presbyterian Church (USA) Union For Reform Judaism. 4A4k5e:Hf1Uui0;_ 5d0"S8|Cj0@Ng^qv1TOq8C/}I+ The 1971 report on abortion of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church contains an extended discussion of Exodus 21: 22-25, and the following is a portion of that report: The term yeled in verse 22 never refers elsewhere to a child lacking recognizable human form, or to one incapable of existing outside the womb. You're finally in a situation where you can start learning.". Let us sit in this pain and rise together in anger to fuel the change that is needed., Earlier, committee member the Rev. Humans are empowered by the spirit prayerfully to make significant moral choices, including the choice to continue or end a pregnancy. The committee has two items of business scheduled for its final day on Saturday. Help us to learn the actual things we can actually do for actual people to manifest your love and to exhibit your realm of love and goodness and peace and joy and justice in the world as we are called to do.. WASHINGTON Republicans have spent decades attacking the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, but with the toppling of Roe v. Wade seemingly imminent, their . uuid:8bfbf7cb-a7a3-9741-b42b-427988115653 The last thing I want is for our congregation to be known in the community as the church that hates gay people. For a church in a city that was recently voted The Gayist City in America, such a reputation could have a negative impact on our mission. Additionally, a brief admonition against homosexuality in the context of a worship service can be extremely discouraging to someone who is struggling with same-sex attraction. Presbyterians Pro-Life began organizing in 1984, and had its first exhibit booth at the 1985 General Assembly. We look to our churches to provide pastoral and tangible support to women in problem pregnancies and to surround these families with a community of care. Fortunately, as time has passed, those conversations are getting increasingly rare and I am able to make reference to my church home without feeling that I may be prejudicing anyone against me. We anticipate that people are going to become even poorer. We affirm adoption as a provision for women who deliver children they are not able to care for, and ask our churches to assist in seeking loving, Christian, adoptive families. Weve learned a lot about the RINOs since President Trump came onto the scene in 2015. Q Returns! Currently the PC(USA)'s office of Mission Responsibility Through Investment supports reproductive justice through shareholder activism, and the churchs Social Justice and Peacemaking Unit works with the interdenominational Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. Contention over the PCA's stance against female ordination isn't new.In 2009, the general assembly narrowly voted (446-427) against creating a committee to study women's roles. Please share your thoughts about this article below. During the colonial period, the legality of abortion varied from colony to colony and reflected . If the PCA learns the lessons . The General Assembly "affirms its conviction that neither the Church as the body of Christ, nor Christians as individuals, can be neutral or indifferent toward evil in the world; affirms its responsibility to speak on social and moral issues for the encouragement and instruction of the Church and its members, seeking earnestly both to know the mind of Christ and to speak always in humility . Church pastors are our leaders, said Contina Lundy, co-moderator of the Family Leave Policy Task Force, who spoke to the committee by telephone. We derive our understanding of human life from Scripture and the Reformed Tradition in light of science, human experience and reason guided by the Holy Spirit. Nine years after taking a stand strongly in favor of abortion rights, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has moved toward the political center on the issue by adopting a policy statement that . John Calvin believed that the system of church government used by him and his associates in Geneva, Strassburg, Zrich, and other places was based upon the Bible and the experience . So, what we want to offer you first, O Lord, is our laments our sorrow, the loss and the grief that comes with such a change in our countrys way of doing things But Lord, what we really want to do right now is walk forward into hope. We find it to be consistent with current General Assembly policy on Problem Pregnancies and Abortion (1992), and supersedes General Assembly statements of 2002 and 2003 on late-term pregnancies and abortion.(7). Abortion, Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved. Back in August, Rev. (4), In life and death, we belong to God. Life is a gift from God. Under the specter ofsafe and legal abortion ending in much of the country, let's look at the struggle for reproductive justice inside the PC(USA). At the same time the PC(USA)'s Social Justice and Peacemaking Unit (SPJU) worked to support the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). Here are five pro-life arguments made by Christians: 1. Its the Presbyterian Advocacy and Public Policy Office: Mark Taylor summed it up perfectly with this post: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Trust women, support abortion rights! ECO was formed by pastors and laypeople in response to PCUSA's decision to join the 21st century. We invite you to become a WeLoveTrump insider. NATIONAL POLL: Should Fauci Be Prosecuted For LYING To Congress? Read our full Disclosure. Wake up to the day's most important news. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Abortion is not morally acceptable for gender selection only or solely to obtain fetal parts for transplantation. (6) Minutes of the 217th General Assembly (2006), Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), p. 905 The Church itself has played a. Abortion is not morally acceptable for gender selection only or solely to obtain fetal parts for transplantation. For any choice, we are accountable to God; however, even when we err, God offers to forgive us.(2). No one knows how many chemical abortions add to that number, thanks to drugs such as RU-486 and the "morning-after pill"now available over the counter even to 11- and 12-year-old girls. We may receive compensation from affiliate partners for some links on this site. The majority of men and women in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) no longer oppose homosexuality or same-sex marriage. A reader can search high and low throughout ECO's online site, and nowhere will they find a single, solitary word about gay people or homosexuality. As you may know, this past summer the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) decided to allow the ordination of gay clergy. FAQ states that all life is sacred Ownership of Church Property Held by congregation for . Hours after news of the high courts decision made its way into committee members smartphones, the committee, by wide margins, approved HSB-03, A Resolution on Reproductive Justice from the Advocacy Committee for Womens Concerns, and HSB-11, On Affirming Reproductive Justice, a commissioners resolution. The PCUSA and the PCA have shared history dating back to French theologian John Calvin (1509-1564) and the Protestant Reformation. Affiliate partners for some links on this site Hudson River Presbytery, was answered its... Concerned about and address the circumstances that bring a woman to consider abortion as the Church hates. 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