Comments on: Statement on the Supreme Court Dobbs Decision

By: Ray McKendry

Ray McKendry — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 23:52:58 +0000

And yet the child will be so pleased to have life granted to her or him.

By: Marcus

Marcus — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 17:32:21 +0000

In reply to Dee.

Thanks Dee, Never considered cancer affecting a decision a woman has to make on carrying a birth to term. Certainly this is a serious health issue to the mother. Who will care for the child if a mother dies because of untreated cancer shortly after pregnancy? What if extended family is not available to care for this child. The child will need head start in school, health care, nutrition care, and other services that don’t fit into balanced budgets. What if this child has to grow up with the ugliness of life, and at 12 or 13 commits some evil act, maybe taking another’s life, will we give this child the death penalty?

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 19:58:53 +0000

I watch the online Disciples’ church service in my community, having moved here at the beginning of the pandemic and not yet deciding on a church home. The pastor announced yesterday that he wanted worship to be positive, so he vowed “no mention of politics”. It was like saying, “I get that folks are hurting or rejoicing, but let’s not talk about it”. Not the pastoral acknowledgment I needed. So thanks for this blog post! I would add the same church avoided any mention of Juneteenth, but yesterday the entire “non-political” worship was all about Independence Day. Freedom and independence in this nation for all people, including people of faith is political. For marginalized communities – women, people of color, lgbtq folks, immigrants, the poor, the homeless, all of life is political and yes, sacred. I was overwhelmed with sadness and dismay by this local church and other churches like it who believe “Christian unity” (of the status quo) must be maintained by silencing those who desperately need and want places to reflect, converse, and work for justice. I grieve over the fact that cancer diagnoses among young adults is increasing and that the incidence of women with co-existing cancer and pregnancy is going to rise (my 31 year old pregnant niece, already a mom to young children, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Women like her in states with abortion bans/restrictions cannot end their pregnancies to start early, life-saving treatment that might cure the cancer and extend the mother’s life for years, if not decades. Cancer diagnosis after conception, six weeks, fifteen weeks, twenty weeks of pregnancy does not qualify as endangering the life of the mother. Some treatments can be given and the fetus can be successfully delivered. But if treatment can’t be given and an abortion is not permitted by law, the cancer grows. By the time the baby is born, the hope of a cure or treatment that significantly extends the mother’s life is no longer. I believe the decision to end a pregnancy is aone to be made between a woman and her doctor. The abortion bans are arbitrary and lack compassion to the women who may need to end a pregnancy.

Thank you for the space to comment.

By: Neil McNeill

Neil McNeill — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 12:33:13 +0000

I too am impressed with the wisdom in the letter. Our best “charge” may be in the sentence “ Our ability to navigate the tension of disagreement can be a powerful witness to the Christ we follow.” Having assisted in obtaining abortions in my younger years, I have since seen, grown to productive adulthood, several very premature and sometimes “special needs” babies. I personally have since chosen to default to endorsing the life in the womb (50% female) to grow to have choices.
Praying for God’s guidance and wisdom, and loving all those who have to wrestle with what is “right” in their circumstance, is part of our DOC ministering to this fractured world.
Thank you for verbalizing a viable Church position of a many faceted issue.

By: Fannie Ashley

Fannie Ashley — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 13:30:11 +0000

Thanks for wonderful words of wisdom. I am grateful for your leadership.

By: Bruce Barkhauer

Bruce Barkhauer — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 03:04:54 +0000

We are, at our core, a movement which appeals to reason above our passions as a way to find unity in the Christ we confess. It is possible to deeply value life and to trust individuals in their own discernment, with the full belief that they will use the lens of their faith and the practice of prayer to arrive at the best decision for them and their family. It is our duty to self and to God to live our faith authentically as a witness to what we believe, but never to impose our convictions upon another. We persuade with love not violence or force. Rev Dr Hord-Owens seems to capture this spirit in her thoughtful response.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 19:08:41 +0000

Thank you for putting this response out for all to read. I too have struggled deeply with the issue and have come to the understanding that “right to choose” does not equate to “I support abortions” I understand that I can never understand another woman’s situation and the factors which drive her decisions. I pray for every woman who has an unwanted pregnancy, and I hope that as a woman of faith my love for others would always outweigh any desire to judge.

By: Tammi

Tammi — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 01:19:00 +0000

In reply to Tom Chipman.

I too would like to be made aware of such scripture.
Thank you

By: Nicholas Alexander Ruth

Nicholas Alexander Ruth — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 15:23:49 +0000

Thank you, Madam General Minister and President. I join with you in both your lament and in the awareness of the complexities of our life together. In my many years of ministry, I have been privileged to sit with people as they consider these weighty issues around reproductive care, and honored to support them regardless of their choices. I have also been grieved many times when people I love and serve loudly profess moralistic judgments without any consideration of the damage they do to people (whom they “know” and love) who have made a choice (sometimes before developing a relationship with God, sometimes after.) This ruling is a dangerous precedent for undermining more and more of our freedoms. I, for one, am calling on my legislators to pass laws to protect our freedoms so they no longer rest on judgments made by the will of the Supreme Court.

By: Janet Maykus

Janet Maykus — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 14:05:49 +0000

Thank you Madame General Minister and President for this thoughtful response. I suppose all times are difficult times in which to lead, but the current fractures in our society seem especially polarizing. May your ministry continue to be blessed as you seek God’s wisdom and courage to lead.

By: Lorette

Lorette — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:46:51 +0000

Genesis 2 tells us that when God created Adam he “breathed into him the breath of life and Adam became a a living being.” So I have taken that to mean that life begins with breath. That is my personal take on it, and I understand and welcome others to have their own beliefs based on their study, prayer, discernment and leading of the spirit. I also agree with our constitution that states that we should have in our political lives a separation of church and state. That the state should not determine what we must believe in our theology, which could be either a more liberal version of Christianity, one of many other religions or no religion at all. For me personally, at age 64, well past my birthing years, I don’t think I would have ever considered having an abortion, but I believe it is not my place to decide for others who may not believe the same way I do. I hope that my church can see their way clear to give others the freedom to make this difficult choice for them selves. Good gives us choice in our lives, even the choice to follow or not follow Christ. We should be willing to follow that example and allow others to choose for their own lives.

By: Judith Gooding

Judith Gooding — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 22:45:48 +0000

This is indeed a difficult pondering when one only wants God ‘s Will to be done on Earth as It is in Heaven. I pray that a bridge can somehow be made. I can understand that God is understanding in some cases of abortion. I also believe war is against the Will of God but I certainly believe God understands the Ukrainian people for defending themselves. It could be that by giving the States control over abortion rights, that work for building a bridge can begin. Having abortion legal under the Federal government forced people against it to participate indirectly by having taxes help pay for them, similar to how the draft forced men to participate in war . Even though one could go through a conscience objection process, it was very difficult to do. In the meantime, I pray fervently for God’s Will to be done on Earth as It is in Heaven.

By: Tom Chipman

Tom Chipman — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 13:50:36 +0000

Where all creation flourishes….the womb. Jer. 1:5. As a 60 yr member of this denomination I would like for you to present to me the scripture that verifies God’s willingness to end the life of a child I have nearly a hundred at my disposal that suggest ending life in the womb is against God’s law.

By: Karen Dorr

Karen Dorr — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 02:48:41 +0000

A beautiful way of addressing the issue.
I worry for my grandchildren and daughter also. We need and deserve personal choices.

By: LaTaunya M Bynum

LaTaunya M Bynum — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 00:06:26 +0000

Thank you Madam General Minister and President. I will share your words with our region.

By: Lois Olena

Lois Olena — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 22:42:54 +0000

Thank you for such a well-considered piece. I appreciate your leadership!

By: Paula reeder

Paula reeder — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 22:33:46 +0000

Well said.. prayers are with you all. I imagine that change will come again in the ebb and flow of our lives. Some we may or may not agree with. But one thing is for certain…there’s a new generation coming and they’re fierce with passion. Shalom

By: John James

John James — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 20:29:39 +0000

Yes, it seems like those who are and have been blessed with good health and more fortunate are rejoicing, while those with poor health and poor situations are catching the losing end. It is sad to see a woman die having to try her best in a losing situation, or a woman who was raped having to be constantly reminded of the terrible event. This is just my opinion.

By: Michael Price

Michael Price — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 16:12:24 +0000

It’s difficult to believe that the church condones the murder of innocent children. I cannot and will not give endorsement for the killing of our precious babies.