June 24, 2022
Dear Disciples,
Today’s US Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court ruling granting women reproductive freedom has been met with lament and anger by many, and with celebration by others. For decades, the issue of women’s reproductive rights has been a divisive one in the US, even as Roe v Wade was considered settled law and an established precedent. Hostile debates and even violence have accompanied this debate in recent years, the impacts of which have been felt in our churches as well.
The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has wrestled with the issue of abortion on the floor on many occasions, consistently affirming support for reproductive freedom for women. In these proceedings, the church has consistently affirmed the sanctity of human life. The General Assembly has also wrestled with the fact that there is not agreement within the broader Christian community as to when life begins, and has accordingly raised concerns about legislating a specific religious belief upon all Americans. The General Assembly has also affirmed education for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, and has raised concern about the lack of access to quality healthcare for poor women, including reproductive care, and the inequity that results when that care is not available to all. We have consistently issued a call to action to address these inequities. The General Assembly has also called on congregations to provide spiritual and emotional support for women and families faced with the difficult decisions that unwanted pregnancy can present. The historical record is clear that we have sought to engage the issue of reproductive freedom in all of its complexity, resulting in consistent affirmation of a commitment to reproductive rights for women.
In our commitment to be a reflection of the reconciling love of Christ, we have always valued the importance of respecting our differing theological perspectives, calling ourselves to continue to reflect and educate ourselves on these issues, reminding ourselves that Scripture teaches that God has “reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;” (2 Corinthians 5:18, NRSVue). And so as this Supreme Court decision throws into stark relief strong divisions within our society and our church, I am reminded that the aspiration of our movement for wholeness has been to somehow bear witness to God’s love in ways that model the difficult work of sharing in this common cause of Christ. As individual citizens, there are means by which we can participate to make our voices heard, change policies, impact legislation. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to do that work in ways that yet affirm God’s love for all, even when we disagree.
I pray that we as Disciples will find ways to hold our hearts and be mindful of the great pain that this decision has caused for many, even as we recognize that there are also those who have welcomed this decision. As a woman, I have grown up with the understood right to make my own choices regarding reproduction, and I must honestly confess my lament that today’s decision removes that freedom in many states for my daughter-in-law and my nieces. Our ability to navigate the tension of disagreement can be a powerful witness to the Christ we follow. I hope that you will familiarize yourself with the history of the church’s strong support for reproductive freedom for women, and that our continued wrestling might yet bear witness to the power of God’s limitless love for all.
In Christ,
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens
GA 8954 WEBSTER VS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES
GA 0725 PROACTIVE PREVENTION SEEKING COMMON GROUND ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION
GA 0730 CONCERNING THE ETHICAL PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE IN A RELIGIOUSLY PLURALISTIC SOCIETY
Offering received Sept. 26 & Oct. 3
Michael Price says
It’s difficult to believe that the church condones the murder of innocent children. I cannot and will not give endorsement for the killing of our precious babies.
John James says
Yes, it seems like those who are and have been blessed with good health and more fortunate are rejoicing, while those with poor health and poor situations are catching the losing end. It is sad to see a woman die having to try her best in a losing situation, or a woman who was raped having to be constantly reminded of the terrible event. This is just my opinion.
Ray McKendry says
And yet the child will be so pleased to have life granted to her or him.
Paula reeder says
Well said.. prayers are with you all. I imagine that change will come again in the ebb and flow of our lives. Some we may or may not agree with. But one thing is for certain…there’s a new generation coming and they’re fierce with passion. Shalom
Lois Olena says
Thank you for such a well-considered piece. I appreciate your leadership!
LaTaunya M Bynum says
Thank you Madam General Minister and President. I will share your words with our region.
Karen Dorr says
A beautiful way of addressing the issue.
I worry for my grandchildren and daughter also. We need and deserve personal choices.
Tom Chipman says
Where all creation flourishes….the womb. Jer. 1:5. As a 60 yr member of this denomination I would like for you to present to me the scripture that verifies God’s willingness to end the life of a child I have nearly a hundred at my disposal that suggest ending life in the womb is against God’s law.
Tammi says
I too would like to be made aware of such scripture.
Thank you
Judith Gooding says
This is indeed a difficult pondering when one only wants God ‘s Will to be done on Earth as It is in Heaven. I pray that a bridge can somehow be made. I can understand that God is understanding in some cases of abortion. I also believe war is against the Will of God but I certainly believe God understands the Ukrainian people for defending themselves. It could be that by giving the States control over abortion rights, that work for building a bridge can begin. Having abortion legal under the Federal government forced people against it to participate indirectly by having taxes help pay for them, similar to how the draft forced men to participate in war . Even though one could go through a conscience objection process, it was very difficult to do. In the meantime, I pray fervently for God’s Will to be done on Earth as It is in Heaven.
Lorette says
Genesis 2 tells us that when God created Adam he “breathed into him the breath of life and Adam became a a living being.” So I have taken that to mean that life begins with breath. That is my personal take on it, and I understand and welcome others to have their own beliefs based on their study, prayer, discernment and leading of the spirit. I also agree with our constitution that states that we should have in our political lives a separation of church and state. That the state should not determine what we must believe in our theology, which could be either a more liberal version of Christianity, one of many other religions or no religion at all. For me personally, at age 64, well past my birthing years, I don’t think I would have ever considered having an abortion, but I believe it is not my place to decide for others who may not believe the same way I do. I hope that my church can see their way clear to give others the freedom to make this difficult choice for them selves. Good gives us choice in our lives, even the choice to follow or not follow Christ. We should be willing to follow that example and allow others to choose for their own lives.
Janet Maykus says
Thank you Madame General Minister and President for this thoughtful response. I suppose all times are difficult times in which to lead, but the current fractures in our society seem especially polarizing. May your ministry continue to be blessed as you seek God’s wisdom and courage to lead.
Nicholas Alexander Ruth says
Thank you, Madam General Minister and President. I join with you in both your lament and in the awareness of the complexities of our life together. In my many years of ministry, I have been privileged to sit with people as they consider these weighty issues around reproductive care, and honored to support them regardless of their choices. I have also been grieved many times when people I love and serve loudly profess moralistic judgments without any consideration of the damage they do to people (whom they “know” and love) who have made a choice (sometimes before developing a relationship with God, sometimes after.) This ruling is a dangerous precedent for undermining more and more of our freedoms. I, for one, am calling on my legislators to pass laws to protect our freedoms so they no longer rest on judgments made by the will of the Supreme Court.
Julia says
Thank you for putting this response out for all to read. I too have struggled deeply with the issue and have come to the understanding that “right to choose” does not equate to “I support abortions” I understand that I can never understand another woman’s situation and the factors which drive her decisions. I pray for every woman who has an unwanted pregnancy, and I hope that as a woman of faith my love for others would always outweigh any desire to judge.
Bruce Barkhauer says
We are, at our core, a movement which appeals to reason above our passions as a way to find unity in the Christ we confess. It is possible to deeply value life and to trust individuals in their own discernment, with the full belief that they will use the lens of their faith and the practice of prayer to arrive at the best decision for them and their family. It is our duty to self and to God to live our faith authentically as a witness to what we believe, but never to impose our convictions upon another. We persuade with love not violence or force. Rev Dr Hord-Owens seems to capture this spirit in her thoughtful response.
Fannie Ashley says
Thanks for wonderful words of wisdom. I am grateful for your leadership.
Neil McNeill says
I too am impressed with the wisdom in the letter. Our best “charge” may be in the sentence “ Our ability to navigate the tension of disagreement can be a powerful witness to the Christ we follow.” Having assisted in obtaining abortions in my younger years, I have since seen, grown to productive adulthood, several very premature and sometimes “special needs” babies. I personally have since chosen to default to endorsing the life in the womb (50% female) to grow to have choices.
Praying for God’s guidance and wisdom, and loving all those who have to wrestle with what is “right” in their circumstance, is part of our DOC ministering to this fractured world.
Thank you for verbalizing a viable Church position of a many faceted issue.
Dee says
I watch the online Disciples’ church service in my community, having moved here at the beginning of the pandemic and not yet deciding on a church home. The pastor announced yesterday that he wanted worship to be positive, so he vowed “no mention of politics”. It was like saying, “I get that folks are hurting or rejoicing, but let’s not talk about it”. Not the pastoral acknowledgment I needed. So thanks for this blog post! I would add the same church avoided any mention of Juneteenth, but yesterday the entire “non-political” worship was all about Independence Day. Freedom and independence in this nation for all people, including people of faith is political. For marginalized communities – women, people of color, lgbtq folks, immigrants, the poor, the homeless, all of life is political and yes, sacred. I was overwhelmed with sadness and dismay by this local church and other churches like it who believe “Christian unity” (of the status quo) must be maintained by silencing those who desperately need and want places to reflect, converse, and work for justice. I grieve over the fact that cancer diagnoses among young adults is increasing and that the incidence of women with co-existing cancer and pregnancy is going to rise (my 31 year old pregnant niece, already a mom to young children, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Women like her in states with abortion bans/restrictions cannot end their pregnancies to start early, life-saving treatment that might cure the cancer and extend the mother’s life for years, if not decades. Cancer diagnosis after conception, six weeks, fifteen weeks, twenty weeks of pregnancy does not qualify as endangering the life of the mother. Some treatments can be given and the fetus can be successfully delivered. But if treatment can’t be given and an abortion is not permitted by law, the cancer grows. By the time the baby is born, the hope of a cure or treatment that significantly extends the mother’s life is no longer. I believe the decision to end a pregnancy is aone to be made between a woman and her doctor. The abortion bans are arbitrary and lack compassion to the women who may need to end a pregnancy.
Thank you for the space to comment.
Marcus says
Thanks Dee, Never considered cancer affecting a decision a woman has to make on carrying a birth to term. Certainly this is a serious health issue to the mother. Who will care for the child if a mother dies because of untreated cancer shortly after pregnancy? What if extended family is not available to care for this child. The child will need head start in school, health care, nutrition care, and other services that don’t fit into balanced budgets. What if this child has to grow up with the ugliness of life, and at 12 or 13 commits some evil act, maybe taking another’s life, will we give this child the death penalty?