Upholding the Sanctity of Life and Opposing RCRC

The following originally appeared in a recent Anglican Action Weekly e-newsletter. If you would like to receive our weekly e-newsletter, register as an IRD User today.

Diocesan conventions across The Episcopal Church (TEC) have been preparing resolutions for the General Convention in Anaheim, California this July. By now, you’ve probably heard some of the standard bad news: of about 40 resolutions that have so far been announced, 19 alone directly relate to either homosexual ordination, same-sex union blessings, or repealing of resolution B033 (2006 General Convention’s call for bishops to “exercise restraint” by not consenting to the consecration of controversial (read: homosexual or Buddhist) candidates for bishop).

The good news is that there are good resolutions too! The courageous dioceses that sponsored them should be commended, even if passage seems unlikely at the national level. One admirable resolution opposes the Episcopal Church’s membership in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice(RCRC). For those unfamiliar with RCRC, this coalition of liberal religious bodies exists solely to slap a religious veneer onto pro-abortion advocacy.

While other mainline churches, such as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the United Methodist Church, have agencies that belong to RCRC, TEC is the only whole Christian denomination holding membership. It’s a unique and unfortunate distinction that RCRC is only too eager to reward through prominent TEC placement on their web site!

At the 74^th General Convention in 2006, the Diocese of Tennessee introduced resolution C-048, which urged the General Convention to rescind TEC’s membership in RCRC. Resolution C-048 was withdrawn from consideration at that convention and no action was taken affecting TEC’s membership in RCRC. However, C-048 was one of many resolutions to be pushed aside in the final hours of the Convention, while all attention was channeled to negotiations surrounding resolution B033.

Even some liberal dioceses have problems with RCRC. In February 2008, the Diocese of San Diego approved resolution 08-07 at their diocesan convention, which questions why RCRC membership came about through a vote of Executive Council and not the General Convention itself. The Resolution calls on General Convention 2009 to “study, discuss, debate, and decide if our affiliation is appropriate.”

Other dioceses have passed similar resolutions at their conventions. In October the Diocese of Dallas passed Resolution 2008 R03-S1 saying: “… Dallas disassociates itself from the affiliation of The Episcopal Church (TEC) with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) and resolutely affirms the normative Christian teaching on the sanctity and dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death.”

Most recently, the Diocese of Central Florida’s standing committee in February adopted a resolution disassociating itself from any connection to RCRC. Those at the denominational level were not amused: John Vanderstar, the member of Executive Council who drafted a resolution to affiliate TEC with RCRC, wrote a strongly worded letter to Bishop John Howe demanding that the diocesan council of Central Florida nullify the resolution disassociating from the abortion group.

Resolutions questioning TEC’s affiliation with RCRC deserve to be discussed and voted upon; even if we understand that they are unlikely to succeed. While the Episcopal Church has an established record of supporting legalized abortion, even it has limits that RCRC unapologetically rejects.

Rev. Kendall Harmon of the Diocese of South Carolina has pointed out, “While the RCRC works for abortion rights in any and all circumstances, The Episcopal Church teaches that moral discernment, on matters related to abortion, is essential.” Resolution A054 adopted by the 1994 General Convention states: “We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.”

This is a starting point, and by shedding light on areas of inconsistency between RCRC’s statements and General Convention’s resolutions, pro-life dioceses can chip away at RCRC’s legitimacy.

I am also happy to report that one of the proposed Canons (Canon 8, Section 4) that the new Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) will consider this summer declares: “God, and not man, is the creator of human life. The unjustified taking of life is sinful. Therefore, from conception to natural death all members and Clergy are called to protect and respect the sanctity of every human life.”

May God use Anglicans both inside and outside The Episcopal Church to witness in defense of all human life!