wfn.org | Task force considers morality of new embryonic stem cells

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

May 7, 2002      News media contact: Joretta Purdue7(202)
546-87227Washington     10-71B{210}

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The Bioethics Task Force of the United Methodist Church
continued to struggle with moral questions related to stem cell research,
particularly regarding the source of embryonic stem cells, at its most
recent meeting.

The task force will submit any recommendations that it develops to the
denomination's Board of Church and Society, which is responsible for
coordinating the group's work. The board may use the task force's
recommendations in its own report to the church's highest legislative body,
the General Conference. Meeting in Pittsburgh in 2004, the General
Conference could change, accept or reject the board's proposals.

At its May 3-4 session, the 10-member task force decided to seek funding to
continue the work outlined in a resolution written by a predecessor group,
the Board of Church and Society's task force on genetic science. That work
includes making resources on stem cell research available and promoting
discussion throughout the church.
 
In a discussion dominated by the three ethicists present, the group resumed
its effort to frame a statement on the status of embryos. It went on to
consider what should be done with the thousands of existing frozen human
embryos left over from in vitro fertilization. In that process, ova are
fertilized with sperm outside the body before introduction into the mother's
womb.

General Conferences have not addressed that process beyond calling for "a
ban on medical and research procedures which intentionally generate 'waste
embryos,' which will knowingly be destroyed when the medical procedure is
completed." That statement, in a lengthy resolution called "New Developments
in Genetic Science," was adopted in 2000.

"What do we do with the more than 200,000 embryos that exist (in the United
States) but are not going to be implanted?" asked Sondra Wheeler, who
teaches Christian ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary, a United
Methodist-related school in Washington. "How do I honor their potentiality?"

The Rev. Rosetta Ross said she believes the loss occurs when the decision is
made not to implant the embryos, so she does not have a problem with them
being used for stem cell research. Ross is an associate professor of ethics
at the United Seminary, a United Church of Christ school in Minneapolis.

The Rev. Amy Laura Hall objected, saying that willingness to use these
embryos carries the danger of reducing the moral sensibility of the society
and the church that consents to such use. Hall is an assistant professor of
ethics at the Divinity School at Duke University, also a United
Methodist-related institution. 

Task force chairman William D. Scott III, who teaches chemistry at the
University of Mississippi, pointed out that because frozen embryos
deteriorate over time, "doing nothing is a decision."

Several members expressed regret that the church has not spoken out on this
issue. Midway through the meeting, the group amended the draft of its
statement to say the church has "acceded to and remained silent about the
overproduction and stockpiling of embryos left over from reproductive
technologies, such as in vitro fertilization. ... We have thus failed to
show due reverence and regard for embryonic life." 

The group decided at one point that using the surplus embryos for stem cell
research would be morally acceptable, noting that many in the scientific
community believe such research offers the best hope of curing such diseases
of age as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Task force members began working on
guidelines for decreasing the thousands of excess embryos generated each
year and found they needed to consult with one or more clinicians. 

At one point, Hall told the group that allowing research on the unused
embryos is incompatible with the group's call for repentance and reverence
for embryonic life.
 
"I'm amazed at the range of different theological positions on this," said
James Chin, a physician whose career has been largely in public health.

Others in the group who participated in the meeting included the chaplain at
the University of Philippines who has taught physics, an agricultural
geneticist who heads United Methodist University in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, a neurobiology student at Stanford University, and a professor
of sociology at the University of Arkansas who is also a minister.  Another
ethicist from Duke Divinity School, who shares a position on the task force
with Hall, was not present.

The three ethicists at the meeting were asked to develop a brief theological
statement and circulate it to the other members before the next meeting. The
task force will meet again Oct. 13-14, after the board's fall meeting.

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United Methodist News Service
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