wfn.org | PCUSA - Language in overture on violence against pregnant women spurs debate

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Language in overture on violence against pregnant women spurs debate

Debate over semantics detracts from intention, one delegate says

> July 6, 2010

> GA219 Communication Center

> by Sandy Sweep

> MINNEAPOLIS

Amid discussion that ranged from amicable to acrimonious on Monday, the Health 
Issues Committee of the 219th General Assembly (2010) of the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) worked through its business of HIV testing, violence against 
pregnant women, coerced abortions and being an HIV- and AIDS-competent 
denomination.

The majority of the debate centered on the overture, ?Making a Statement 
Regarding Violence against Pregnant Women. ?

Young Adult Advisory Delegate Andrew Spencer of the San Jose Presbytery summed 
it up: ?We keep going back and forth with one and two sentences ? we?re losing 
focus of the reason we?re here, and that?s to make a decision on this motion.?

Participants in word wars over terms such as reproductive life and rights 
versus responsible choices, women versus female, and pregnant women versus all 
women eventually came to agreement, and the overture was  approved.

Another overture, ?On Taking a Stand against Forced and Coerced Abortions,? 
passed with virtually no discussion.

?Becoming an HIV and AIDS Competent Church: Prophetic Witness and Compassionate 
Action,? was brought to the committee by the Advisory Committee on Social 
Witness Policy (ACSWP).

ACSWP committee member Kezia Elllison, when asked her response to the commissioners? hour-long discussion on their two-year study, responded, 
?So far, I feel they have a reasonable understanding of what we did ? but we?re not done yet.?

With the omission of the research costs and minor amendments, the overture 
passed.