eco presbyterian stance on 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. This action also sought to answer an anti-abortion talking point that the Church's medical coverage paid, as one Presbyterians Pro-Life newsletter put it, 100% of the cost for any abortion at any time, but only 80% of the cost for delivery of a baby. The Relief of Conscience rolls are maintained to this day. ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians is an evangelical Presbyterian denomination in the United States. Daily Delivery, Presbyterians Pro-Life newsletter, June 8, 1988. Here's what they say. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved redefining marriage in the church constitution Tuesday to include a "commitment between two people," becoming the largest Protestant group to formally . history, At the 220th General Assembly in 2012 we affirmed, no law should impose criminal penalties against any [person] who chooses or physician who performs a medically safe abortion, and no law should sanction any action intended to harm or harass those persons contemplating or deciding to have an abortion., We have long held that God alone is Lord of the conscienceand has endowed all humans with the moral agency to make choices. Presbyterians have struggled with the issue of abortion for more than 30 years, beginning in 1970 when the General Assembly, the national governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), declared that "the artificial or induced termination of a pregnancy is a matter of careful ethical decision of the patient . hbbd``b`z$g Z@D D@cAK @Bb``Mg8 % Albany CCS was careful to remain an information provider; women had to contact doctors themselves. It respects the diverse ways that Presbyterians interpret the Bible." So it "respects diverse viewpoints," but considers those viewpoints "an assault on women." How can that be? I do believe it is possible to preach against homosexual activity in a pastorally-sensitive way, but it takes time to develop a message that is balanced and pastoral. A proactive agenda would ensure that everyone, regardless of race, gender identity, age, income, ZIP code, insurance status, disability status, sexuality, and more would have equitable access to abortion care. Topics: Justyou've formed because you believe that gays shouldn't be ordained! 39 0 obj <> endobj 1518 0 obj <>stream 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. 367-368, 372-374, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Resolution on Reproductive Health (2012), The Covenant of Life and The Caring Community & Covenant and Creation: Theological Reflections on Contraception and Abortion (1983; biomedical ethics), Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Luke 23:42, 2023 Presbyterian Mission Agency Privacy Policy | PC(USA) Donor Privacy Policy | GDPR Privacy Policy | Legal Notices. " ^RIKFZ>?8iL^ ..1o%-C/p>V_0hNf4 #>EO, Microsoft Word - EPCECOPCUSA comparisonchart 6 20 2014.docx. Pro-abortion groups endlessly insist that there is no religious consensus on . In fact, early Christian theologians had mixed views on the sinfulness, or not, of abortion, and, in fact, the Bible says little about it except when God himself demanded it. Presbyterian Women is the womens organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 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. The strong stance taken by the Roman Catholic Church has underpinned many of the pro-life groups which have been formed to challenge the legalisation of abortion. 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. .(1) In the years that followed this action, the General Assembly has adopted policy and taken positions on the subject of abortion. But beyond that kind of dissembling, Secret Code Fundy Talk, nary a mention will they find of the true and actual reason ECO exists. These statements, and others, place . (8). 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. Building a New Denomination: More than Just Nimble Structure. 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. We anticipate that people are going to become even poorer. and therefore should not be restricted by law . ECO was formed by pastors and laypeople in response to PCUSA's decision to join the 21st century. The Presbyterian Church celebrates the diversity of all genders and recognizes that access to full reproductive healthcare is a right deserved by anyone who bears children. For more about what Presbyterians believe, visit . Abortion [] Its not by accidental timing the Supreme Court decision happened today.. The strong Christian presumption is that since all life is precious to God, we are to preserve and protect it. It also determined that HSB-07, from Hudson River Presbytery, was answered by its action on HSB-06. It is safe when carried out using a method recommended by WHO, appropriate to the pregnancy duration and by someone with the necessary skills. We affirm that abortion should not be used as a method of birth control. We are ruled neither by bishops in a hierarchical model, nor by members in a congregational model. no law should impose criminal penalties against any [person] who chooses or physician who performs a medically safe abortion, and no law should sanction any action intended to harm or harass those persons contemplating or deciding to have an abortion. Judaism and Islam . "I think the piece that is under-acknowledged is the extent to which this is an issue of religious freedom. The Lewises who eventually had three biological children were told they had to wait five years to adopt due to a shortage of . If they want to take their ball and go play with themselves in the corner, that's certainly their right. The great purpose toward which each human life is drawn is to glorify . Certain parts of the world are already experiencing serious population imbalances as a result of the systematic abortion of female babies.". The 145th General Assembly in June 2019 adopted two recommendations: that presbyteries under the Barrier Act may hold parallel definitions of marriage being "a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons", and that LGBTQI persons may be ordained as ministers and ruling elders. This Supreme Court decision also runs counter to denominational beliefs. Terms of Use Privacy Policy PC(USA) Donor Privacy Policy GDPR Privacy Notice Contact, From Religious News Service photographs, in. %PDF-1.5 % The Biden Administration must use its executive authorities to guarantee reproductive freedom. If we can be considerate of what they give us, then we need them to be healthy in mind, body and spirit in order to lead congregations. The church ought to be able to maintain within its fellowship those who, on the basis of a study of Scripture and prayerful decision, come to diverse conclusions and actions. ECO honchos! Our Reformed Tradition recognizes that people do not always make moral choices, and forgiveness is central to our faith. The Christian community must be concerned about and address the circumstances that bring a woman to consider abortion as the best available option. Lord, so many of us anticipate incredible suffering. While that was certainly not the only reason we ultimately decided to leave, it was the issue that pushed us to enter into a discernment process, and it would have been disingenuous not to mention it. gations (11,333 total). 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.. We believe the artificial or induced termination of a pregnancy is a matter of careful ethical decision of the patient and therefore should not be restricted by law.. Presbyterian Historical Society ->, Tags: Abortion is a personal decision that cannot be summed up in soundbites: The Presbyterian General Assembly use this language to express its stance on abortion. ECO leaders speaking at the conference leveled other complaints against the Presbyterian Church including excessive . However, I dreaded making the announcements about the discernment meetings as well as giving reports from the meetings to the gathered church in worship. The church has a responsibility to provide public witness and to offer guidance, counsel and support to those who make or interpret laws and public policies about abortion and problem pregnancies. . Because we are made in the image of God, human beings are moral agents, endowed by the Creator with the capacity to make choices. The Board of Pensions commitment to mental health parity is huge, Spencer told the committee. , from the Special Committee to Study the Reformed Perspective on Christian Education, is on requiring boundary training for certified Christian educators. 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. The 217th General Assembly (2006) reiterated the role of the church in individual and families lives as they face problem pregnancy issues. Over the past few years, states have passed laws that place extreme restrictions on a pregnant persons legal ability to obtain an abortion, some issuing a complete ban. . If the PCA learns the lessons . 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Thats what the policy is all about, said JoAnne Sharp, co-moderator of ACWC and an advisor to the task force, the balance between family and service to the church., On Thursday, the committee passed three measures strengthening mental health ministry across the denomination. They'll discover ECO's passion for "the right kind of diversity" (which is then carefully stipulated to mean "women, men, young leaders, and every ethnicity"). Abortion is a morally unacceptable alternative for birth control, population control, sex selection, and elimination of the physically and mentally handicapped. 284 0 obj <> endobj The Presbyterian Church (USA) believes that states should not be involved in creating hurdles to accessing abortion. Volunteer with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Volunteer for Elected Service at the General Assembly Level. Humans are empowered by the spirit prayerfully to make significant moral choices, including the choice to continue or end a pregnancy. Poverty, unjust societal realities, sexism, racism, and inadequate supportive relationships may render a woman virtually powerless to choose freely.(9). The opportunity arose because Reverend John Shuck, the pastor the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., presented a resolution asking that the General Assembly endorse the work of The Clergy Letter Project and set aside the second Sunday in February as Evolution Sunday. In a statement, the UK government said the law requires it to implement recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) report in 2018, including. Whether one's stance on abortion access is driven by deeply held views on women's bodily autonomy or when life begins, the decades of research using rigorous methods is clear: there is a. The 204th General Assembly (1992) adopted the most comprehensive policy statement on pregnancy and abortion. Some of the OB-GYNs Howland referred women to were in England, some in Japan and others in Philadelphia.The Rev. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is the largest Presbyterian denomination. While some religious groups, like the Catholic Church or Southern Baptists . PHS RG 519, box 70, folder 11. 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. They're against gay people being ordained as ministers, and so started their own sub-denomination. Has no formal stand. Presbyterians have struggled with the issue of abortion for more than 30 years, beginning in 1970 when the General Assembly, the national governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), declared that the artificial or induced termination of a pregnancy is a matter of careful ethical decision of the patient . 2014-12-31T21:30:50-05:00 and therefore should not be After an abortion law took effect in Texas last fall that allows private citizens to sue someone who performs an abortion or helps someone obtain one after six weeks of pregnancy, Rabbi Mara. Hk*IK=kJ %* ::: f8Xd2-)D :c But, I did not want you or my mother or anybody to know I was pregnant. Human choices should not be made in a moral vacuum, but must be based on Scripture, faith and Christian ethics. 4A4k5e:Hf1Uui0;_ 5d0"S8|Cj0@Ng^qv1TOq8C/}I+ All rights reserved. For decades, the anti-abortion movement has been fueled by Christian leaders, who say life starts at conception. abortion. While this decision does not make abortion illegal, it removes constitutional protection giving states the ability to issue bans. 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. In his memoir, The Ploughhand, Maffett describes his conversion experience. This is no less true for those making decisions about whether and when to have children. . Back in August, Rev. and therefore should not be restricted by law . Abortion is a common health intervention. By Kathleen Sweeney. The Rev. 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. (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. The Protestant Churches on Abortion: Complex, Contradictory, and Challenging. The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) is a theologically liberal, US-based Protestant Christian denomination that claims 1.4 million members and 9,300 congregations. Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO) Essential Tenets 1. You're finally in a situation where you can start learning.". (3), The church also affirms the value of children and the importance of nurturing, protecting and advocating their well-being. The considered decision of a woman to terminate a pregnancy can be a morally acceptable, though certainly not the only or required, decision. 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). We remain a Matthew 25 church led by a savior who said, As you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.. Here was their full post advocating for Abortion, from PCUSA.org: On the very day the Supreme Court took away a womans right to choose in several states, the Health, Safety and Benefits Committee twice voted on items that reaffirm the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)s stand on choice and reproductive justice. The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ+ community. endstream endobj 285 0 obj <. We may not know exactly when human life begins, and have but an imperfect understanding of God as the giver of life and of our own human existence, yet we recognize that life is precious to God, and we should preserve and protect it. The Rev. Let us sit in this pain and rise together in anger to fuel the change that is needed., Earlier, committee member the Rev. Presbyterian polity is reflected in the way Presbyterians address health issues at every level. It's always encouraging when someone can't force their mouth to say what their heart knows is wrong. The teen survived, after massive blood transfusions. They used a variety of methods including the use of black root and cedar root as abortifacient agents. 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