Which non-Catholic denominations are pro-life?

[rwillenborg]

Hello,
If this is in the wrong forum, please just move it. Thank you.
I am trying to reach out to non-catholic churches with the hope that they will want to participate in the upcoming 40 days for life campaign.
I have assembled what I think is a fairly comprehensive list of how major denominations stand. If I am wrong on any of these, or if I’ve missed a denomination, please let me know.
Also, I have an umbrella group ‘evangelical and bible churches’…how on earth do I know which churches are bible or evangelical? Do they have any standard names? And how do I know which of those are pro-life? I think most are. I’ve tried poking around their websites, but I can’t find anything in their mission statements saying something like ‘We’re pro-life!’ Any help on this little endeavor would be greatly appreciated.

 

[StLawrenceFan]

Any truly Christian organizations must be Pro-Life, or they are simply confused hypocrites. Stick with Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodist denominations and you’ll reach pro-lifers.

 

[NotTooSmart]

Hello,
If this is in the wrong forum, please just move it. Thank you.
I am trying to reach out to non-catholic churches with the hope that they will want to participate in the upcoming 40 days for life campaign.
I have assembled what I think is a fairly comprehensive list of how major denominations stand. If I am wrong on any of these, or if I’ve missed a denomination, please let me know.
Also, I have an umbrella group ‘evangelical and bible churches’…how on earth do I know which churches are bible or evangelical? Do they have any standard names? And how do I know which of those are pro-life? I think most are. I’ve tried poking around their websites, but I can’t find anything in their mission statements saying something like ‘We’re pro-life!’ Any help on this little endeavor would be greatly appreciated.

All traditional Chariismatic/Pentecostal denominations (Assembly of God, Church of God, Foursquare), should be 100% pro life and pro traditional marriage.

Come to think of it this should extend to any church that considers itself evangelical and Bible believing.

Mainline denominations are a mixed bag, particularly in some regions of the country. Be careful.

 

[MercyMia]

The vast majority of churches that call themselves Christian are pro-life. Its a real mixed bag out there in terms what churches believe…so it could vary depending on the region or who is in charge. Remember, at one point all Christian denominations were united in their rejection of artificial birth control…so in a number of years who really knows. Even some very pro-life evangelials I know use the pill…which is abortive. Yet, it is more important for them to reject Catholic teachings than to dare reject their right to conracept, so they ignore the evidence.
There are some liberal churches I’m sure who are more lax in their commitment to life…but I think this is on the rare side.

 

[puzzleannie]

don’t know about denoms by name but in general evangelicals are in the lead down here in pro-life work, until recently they ran the only pregnancy testing and pro-life counselling services. Their Christian radio station runs programming like focus on the family and pro-life message in general, and fund-raisers for PTC.

We do have Catholic Nuns who have been running for many years a birthing center which offers health care to indigent mothers and babies, but as far as abortion intervention in an organized way, sadly Catholics have been slow to take the lead in spite of being the majority here. That is changing, is the good news, there is now one Catholic lay-run pregnancy counselling and referral center, and the pro-life movement in general is coalescing and becoming stronger in parishes and in the diocese, with solid support from the bishop who is solidly behind the new Pro-Life organization, and new initiatives all the time. 40 days for life begins this week in several locations, life-chain this Sunday in locations of the major abortion centers, more people taking intervention & rescue training, Project Rachel retreats now local, the stalwarts still meet and pray regularly in front of the abortuaries but now have reinforcements. Pro-Life Conference is 10/10 with Joe Sheidler and other national speakers.

As far as Protestant mainline denominations, here the Baptists are strongest of course, and most pastors and congregations here are solidly pro-life and support such outreach, but are less into carrying signs, protest, prayer chains etc. and more into practical support for mothers and babies. I have seen ads however elsewhere in the state on behalf of other denoms who are solidly pro-death, anti-family in their appeals.

Since there is no broad-based leadership esp among non-denom bodies except their own local pastors, there is no way to make a generalization. Best to become familiar with the scene in your own locality. This is where ecumenism should start IMO

 

[GeorgeSword]

Episcopalians and Anglicans will be a mixed bag, but the more traditional types should be good company.

 

[spoiltvictorian]

Lutherans are pro-life.

Edit: Before anyone says it , even typical ELCA members who actively attend church are probably pro-life, and if they aren’t, your call will make them feel guilty which is good.

 

[1ke]

This website provides the official position of various denominations based on their own position statements. This list is several years old, but it is still accurate to my knowledge.

Individuals within denominations may, of course, have positions at variance with their denomination’s official position.

And, lastly, the “evangelical,” “bible church,” and “non-denominational” churches pretty much are independent. You can only know what an individual congregation’s position is, and that only if you ask. These groups do not have leadership that speaks as an authoritative body.

Also, you may get evasive answers from some “evangelical” groups-- for example Joel Olsteen’s church doesn’t have a position on abortion. When asked point blank in interviews, he has always refused to answer this question. His “church” is about feel good Christianity, therefore he doesn’t touch issues that don’t feel good.

 

[kage_ar]

Any truly Christian organizations must be Pro-Life, or they are simply confused hypocrites. Stick with Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodist denominations and you’ll reach pro-lifers.

While there are pro life people within those groups, the denominations themselves are a different story.

PCUSA allows for abortion:

pcusa.org/101/101-abortion.htm

The smaller PCA seems to be pro life, but the web site is difficult to navigate.

Time is going to run out on me, however a search of the United methodist web site will show they are very pro choice.

Baptist are all over the place.

 

[1ke]

Lutherans are pro-life.

Edit: Before anyone says it , even typical ELCA members who actively attend church are probably pro-life, and if they aren’t, your call will make them feel guilty which is good.

The official position of the ELCA is at odds with your statement above. Typical members may indeed be pro-life, but the ELCA’s position and actions is not consistently a pro-life position.

 

[spoiltvictorian]

The official position of the ELCA is at odds with your statement above. Typical members may indeed be pro-life, but the ELCA’s position and actions is not consistently a pro-life position.

Yeah, I know, which is why I posted that clarification.

 

[1ke]

Any truly Christian organizations must be Pro-Life, or they are simply confused hypocrites. Stick with Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodist denominations and you’ll reach pro-lifers.

Actually on the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are consistently pro-life acknowledging abortion is the killing of a human person and intrinsically evil. The Catholic and Orthodox do not acknowledge any “circumstances” in which abortion can be moral. LCMS and PCA embrace a fully pro-life position also.

Other denominations typically have shades of gray. Most embrace, at a minimum, “life of mother, rape, and incest” and then it goes downhill from there to totally pro-abortion.

Presbyterian:

PCUSA- accepts abortion
PCA - pro-life

Baptists:

Southern Baptist-- has vacillated. Currently, pro-life except they believe in “life of the mother” abortions

American Baptist-- accepts abortion

Methodist Church-- accepts abortion

 

[1ke]

All traditional Chariismatic/Pentecostal denominations (Assembly of God, Church of God, Foursquare), should be 100% pro life and pro traditional marriage.

Come to think of it this should extend to any church that considers itself evangelical and Bible believing.

Mainline denominations are a mixed bag, particularly in some regions of the country. Be careful.

Assemblies of God USA is pro-life.

Four Square has not unified statement.

Church of God has a resolution against “abortion on demand.” It seems they oppose all abortion, but it’s not totally clear.

 

[O.S.Luke]

The official stance of United Methodist is: “We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection.” - from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church

 

[Grace_Seeker]

Any truly Christian organizations must be Pro-Life, or they are simply confused hypocrites. Stick with Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodist denominations and you’ll reach pro-lifers.

I wouldn’t be so quick to make that assumption. I’m a United Methodist and, while I am pro-life, I would not categorize my denomination as being anything specific on this issue. The Book of Discipline leaves lots of wiggle room by saying that “our belief in the sanctity of human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion,” yet then goes on to say in the same paragraph, “we recognize tragice conflicts of life with life that may justify abortions.” And it concludes not taking a stand but saying that “a decision concerning abortion should be made only after thoughtful and prayerful consideration by the parties involved, with medical, pastoral and other appropriate counsel.”

My guess is that in the south most Methodists are pro-life while in the northeast or northwest most are pro-choice. Southern Baptists you might have a little better luck with being more universally pro-life, but not necessarily so among American Baptists. So other groups that are probably pro-life would be Assemblies of God, Four Square Gospel, Free Methodists, Apostolic Christian Church, Independent Christian Churches (but not Disciples nor UCC). For that matter, it is amazing the number of pro-choice Catholics I meet. So, trying to use denominational identity to identify people may not be the tool you think it is. Probably a better tool would be to identify those that listen to Christian radio, which is most definitely demoninated by pro-life people in the parts of the country where I travel.

 

[1ke]

The official stance of United Methodist is: “We cannot affirm abortion as an acceptable means of birth control, and we unconditionally reject it as a means of gender selection.” - from The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church

However, they do affirm this:

“Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother, for whom devastating damage may result from an unacceptable pregnancy. In continuity with past Christian teaching, we recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures.”

 

[NotTooSmart]

Assemblies of God USA is pro-life.

Four Square has not unified statement.

Church of God has a resolution against “abortion on demand.” It seems they oppose all abortion, but it’s not totally clear.

Four Square is a smaller denomination. From the appearance of their web site, I would be surprised if they have anything online.

There is somebody from Four Square here as I recall and I suspect he/she could speak for them.

I would be shocked if they were not as pro-life as Assembly of God.

 

[O.S.Luke]

However, they do affirm this:

“Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother, for whom devastating damage may result from an unacceptable pregnancy. In continuity with past Christian teaching, we recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures.”

Which is extremely rare. It is not a bad statement.

 

[dsears]

It might not be a bad statement (I believe that anything that allows any form of abortion is a bad statement), but the actions of the church show something completely different. The board of church and society of the UMC belongs to the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice. That is the largest religious pro abortion group to my knowledge in the country. That is why I left the UMC, that is why I’m becoming Catholic.

 

[Grace_Seeker]

It might not be a bad statement (I believe that anything that allows any form of abortion is a bad statement), but the actions of the church show something completely different. The board of church and society of the UMC belongs to the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice. That is the largest religious pro abortion group to my knowledge in the country. That is why I left the UMC, that is why I’m becoming Catholic.

Indeed, the UMC is conflicted over this issue. The response of the General Board does not sit well with much of the grassroots of the UMC, but there the conflict also exists in the local church so there isn’t enough of a grassroots movement to actually exert the legislative power it would take to stop them from doing what many of us feel is contrary to our own discipline.

dsears, do you realize that if this was THE reason you left the UMC, that you actually made it more likely for the General Board to have its own way? It’s tantamount to a vote in support of the Boards actions.