What Does the Episcopal Church Teach about Abortion and Reproductive Rights?
In recent weeks the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio have passed laws making abortion (and perhaps even a miscarriage) a felony, hoping to challenge Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court with its new conservative majority. Many have asked, “Does The Episcopal Church have an official position on abortion?” Yes we do. This is from our General Convention in 1994:
“Resolved, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirms resolution C047 from the 69th General Convention, which states:
“All human life is sacred from its inception until death. The Church takes seriously its obligation to help form the consciences of its members concerning this sacredness. Human life, therefore, should be initiated only advisedly and in full accord with this understanding of the power to conceive and give birth which is bestowed by God. It is the responsibility of our congregations to assist their members in becoming informed concerning the spiritual and physiological aspects of sex and sexuality.
“The Book of Common Prayer affirms that ‘the birth of a child is a joyous and solemn occasion in the life of a family. It is also an occasion for rejoicing in the Christian community’ (p. 440). As Christians we also affirm responsible family planning.
“We regard all abortion as having a tragic dimension, calling for the concern and compassion of all the Christian community.
“While we acknowledge that in this country it is the legal right of every woman to have a medically safe abortion, as Christians we believe strongly that if this right is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.
“In those cases where an abortion is being considered, members of this Church are urged to seek the dictates of their conscience in prayer, to seek the advice and counsel of members of the Christian community and where appropriate, the sacramental life of this Church.
“Whenever members of this Church are consulted with regard to a problem pregnancy, they are to explore, with grave seriousness, with the person or persons seeking advice and counsel, as alternatives to abortion, other positive courses of action, including, but not limited to, the following possibilities: the parents raising the child; another family member raising the child; making the child available for adoption.
“It is the responsibility of members of this Church, especially the clergy, to become aware of local agencies and resources which will assist those faced with problem pregnancies.
“We believe that legislation concerning abortions will not address the root of the problem. We therefore express our deep conviction that any proposed legislation on the part of national or state governments regarding abortions must take special care to see that the individual conscience is respected, and that the responsibility of individuals to reach informed decisions in this matter is acknowledged and honored as the position of this Church; and be it further
“Resolved, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church express its unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on her decision.”
We here at Trinity have tried to live into this teaching in a number of ways. As part of Ashland’s ecumenical ministry for youth, the Ashland Youth Collective, we have participated with the UCC in offering our young people “Our Whole Lives,” a curriculum on responsible sexuality and relationships. As part of Ashland’s Evolving Congregations gathering, we have sponsored speakers such as the Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, whose most recent book Shameless: A Sexual Revolution plumbs the issue. In preaching and pastoral counseling, we encourage our people to find their own faithful approach to these matters, and listen to their consciences. We have contributed several times over the years to sex and reproductive health education efforts by Planned Parenthood, a major provider in the Rogue Valley of reproductive health and family planning services.
Grace and Peace.
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