United Methodists are as divided over Texas’ new anti-abortion law and its implications as they have long been in conflict over the denomination’s stance on abortion itself.
The UMC’s official stance on abortion recognizes “tragic conflicts of life with life” that may justify abortion in some cases. The church rejects abortion as a means of birth control, eugenics or gender selection. However, the church supports a woman’s right to choose abortion for herself in consultation with her physician and her pastor.
The church’s stance directly conflicts with the new Texas anti-abortion law. The conflict puts United Methodist pastors in a dilemma between upholding the church’s policy or complying with the Texas law, which criminalizes anyone who “aids and abets” a woman to secure an abortion.
Among United Methodist agencies, the General Board of Church and Society is waiting to see how civil responses develop before taking any action, according to a spokesperson. Church and Society is empowered by the General Conference, the only body that speaks for the entire church, to uphold the denomination’s stance on abortion.
Meanwhile, United Methodist Women issued a statement Sept. 13 opposing the Texas law, citing relevant portions of the policy found in the Book of Discipline. A specific conflict is marked in bold below.
“As an organization committed to addressing the needs of women and girls, United Methodist Women today released the statement below comparing the position on abortion taken by The United Methodist Church to that of the recent Texas legislation and highlighting the adverse impact the law will have on women who are poor and marginalized. The group issued the following statement:
“Over a period of many decades The United Methodist Church has crafted a position on abortion that respects the sacredness of life and recognizes tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, holding that in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures (The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2016, ¶161, K ) The United Methodist Church also denounces sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, noting that access to medically safe reproductive health services is necessary for survivors. (The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, 2016, # 3427).
“United Methodist Women affirms these positions and so opposes the new Texas law on abortion as a danger to women and an intrusion on families.
“United Methodist Women, like The United Methodist Church, affirms that women and families need access to the full range of reproductive health care, with the guidance the church provides. United Methodist Women, like the United Methodist Church, believes ‘governmental laws and regulations do not provide all the guidance required for the informed Christian conscience. Therefore, a decision concerning abortion should be made only after thoughtful and prayerful consideration by the parties involved, with medical, family, pastoral, and other appropriate counsel.’
“Instead, the Texas law usurps this critical decision-making process of women and families by banning abortion before most women know they are pregnant. This will have a particularly adverse impact on women and families who have low-incomes and women who are in abusive relationships.
“We pray that legislators in states across the country will make a different choice and allow women to discuss health care needs with their loved ones and health care providers.”
The U.S. Justice Department has filed suit against the state of Texas for violating women’s civil rights to choose abortion. A suit also has been filed by a group of Texas pastors of several denominations alleging the abortion law interferes with their practice of ministry.
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.