wfn.org | General Assembly backgrounder: Abortion

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6516 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

8-May-2001
01160

General Assembly backgrounder:

Abortion

	No issue - save maybe human sexuality - generates more impassioned debate
within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) than abortion. Virtually every year
since 1983, abortion has been on the agenda of the church's annual General
Assembly.

	The 213th General Assembly (2001) is no exception. No fewer than four
presbyteries (district governing bodies) have submitted abortion-related
resolutions (overtures) to this year's Assembly.

	The PC(USA)'s basic policy on abortion was adopted in 1983 and supported
with virtually no reservations a woman's right to choose in cases of problem
pregnancy.

	Over the years, pro-life Presbyterians have persuaded succeeding General
Assemblies to modify the church's policy, most substantially in 1992. While
the PC(USA)'s policy is still basically pro-choice, it opposes abortion as a
means of birth control and gender selection, affirms adoption as a
preferable alternative to abortion in cases of unwanted children, and, by
action of the 1997 Assembly, calls the "intact dilation and extraction"
procedure - commonly called "partial birth abortion" - a "matter of grave
moral concern." In short, the policy states, abortion should be the choice
of last resort in cases of problem pregnancy.

	In recent years, the PC(USA)'s Board of Pensions has established a "relief
of conscience" program, in which the Major Medical Plan dues paid by
congregations that are conscientiously opposed to abortion are segregated so
they cannot be used to pay for abortion procedures.

	Salem Presbytery in North Carolina has submitted an overture calling for a
ban on Board of Pensions funding for intact dilation and extraction
abortions.

	East Tennessee Presbytery is calling on the Assembly to declare its "moral
opposition" to the abortion of fetuses 20 weeks and older except to preserve
the life of the mother.

	East Tennessee Presbytery is also calling for a Medical Benefits Plan
provision requiring parental notification before the Board of Pensions okays
funding for any abortion involving a minor.

	Donegal Presbytery is asking for a biblical and theological study of the
issue of abortion, arguing that previous policies have been developed on the
basis of sociological and public policy concerns. A similar request was
rejected by last year's Assembly.

	All abortion-related overtures have been assigned to the Assembly Committee
on Health and Social Issues.

Editors note: This is a background report designated for journalists and
other guests who will be visiting the General Assembly.

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