In 1997, Presbyterians, along with the rest of the United States, were beginning to learn about the repugnant late term abortion procedure called "partial birth" abortion. That year the General Assembly passed a statement, entirely in keeping with its own abortion policy, that expressed

Lobbying ended by 1997 G.A. action
The PCUSA Washington Office had been lobbying Congress in support of partial birth abortions at the time. When the General Assembly adopted a statement of opposition to the procedure, the Washington Office stopped lobbying for it. Congress voted twice to ban the procedure but then-President Clinton refused to sign the ban into law. There is no national prohibition against partial birth abortions although members of Congress promise to consider legislation against it again under the new President. Because it is still a legal procedure the PCUSA Board of Pensions covers it under their mandatory medical benefits plan.

2002 G.A. gives moral approval to abortion of viable late term babies
At the 2002 General Assembly, commissioners approved the abortion of viable late term babies who could live outside the womb. That Assembly approved the abortion of those babies under virtually all circumstances. The action removes the Church’s moral protection of viable babies who have not yet fully emerged from the birth canal. The Advisory Committees on Social Witness Policy and on Litigation, who jointly presented the new statement, offered no biblical support for the abortion of viable babies. The General Assembly also offered none in giving its moral approval.

Commissioners who voted against the action of the Assembly argued in floor debate that there is neither biblical nor medical support for deliberately taking the lives of babies who could live if they were delivered instead of aborted. Physicians at the Assembly advised that mothers late in pregnancy do not benefit in any way from abortion. They are better served medically, emotionally, and spiritually by live delivery of the baby as the means of terminating a late-term problematic pregnancy.

Last year’s General Assembly action was a serious error. Our denomination became the only denomination to reverse its position on late term abortion. Methodists and Episcopalians have taken specific actions in opposition to partial birth abortion.

Sessions and presbyteries can bring this matter back before the next General Assembly meeting in Denver next May using the overture process. Contact PPL for resources.