The Episcopal Church is often mischaracterized as not having doctrinal expectations on issues. This is actually not true. In the Episcopal Church we have a very high theology of personal conscience. This means that amidst the doctrinal expectations of the church individuals, especially laity, are given an exceptional amount of freedom in regard to their personal belief and practice. When the Episcopal church convenes as a council of the church, General Convention, we do make statements of expectations of where our church stands on an issue. This includes a long history of statements regarding Reproductive Health.
The extent to which we value personal conscience is clear in our statements regarding access to abortion. As resolution 1994-A054 reaffirmed the longstanding doctrine of the church that "that the individual conscience is respected, and the the responsibility of individuals to reach informed decisions in this matter is acknowledged and honored". Now A054 does provide guidance in regards to when an abortion in that "while we acknowledge that in this country it is the legal right of every woman to have a medically safe abortion, as Christians we believe strongly that if this right is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience". In this, however, it still remains ultimately the decision of the individual who is considering an abortion when it constitutes an extreme situation for their short and long term well being and that of their dependents. The decision to have, or not have, an abortion is an issue that is overwhelmingly contextual and not something that can be arbitrated remotely or theoretically. Those not in the specific lived experience of the individual making the decision for themselves at that time and place simply do not have the capacity to place judgement.
The resolutions regarding abortion are only part of the picture when it comes to the Episcopal Doctrine on Reproductive Health. The various resolution that our General Convention has passed over the years shows a holistic approach to lowering the number of abortions in our society by alleviating the various injustices that too often mean that the reality for a pregnant individual does not embody the BCP's assertion that "the birth of a child is a joyous and solemn occasion in the life of a family. It is also an occasion for rejoicing in the Christian community". Our role, as Episcopalians, is to not place a false burden upon every individual who finds themselves pregnant that if they must respond with joy but to place the burden upon ourselves to ensure that every pregnancy is a joyous occasion.
This means that the Episcopal Church encourages comprehensive sexual education. This is named clearly with resolution 1988-A089 "Resolved, That this 69th General Convention call on the Presiding Bishop and the Executive Council to provide and promote the use of materials on human sexuality, birth control and family planning for all age groups as part of this Church's on-going Christian Education curricula as reflective of God's creation; and be it further Resolved, That the topic of abortion be included in the Church's education curricula and that these materials be explicit, with a full understanding of the physical, emotional and spiritual realities and risks involved in abortion; and be it further Resolved, That we encourage the members of this Church to give strong support to responsible local public and private school programs of education in human sexuality." A resolution which we are striving to live into with the most current curriculum These are our Bodies.
This means that the Episcopal Church encourages the use of Birth Control. We see this with 1982-D016 "Resolved, That as a means of world population control this 67th General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirm the right of individuals to use any natural or safe artificial means of conception control". We even go one step further and feel that birth control should be part of government funded health care, Resolution 1991-D059 "Resolved, That this 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church urge that all state Medicaid offices make available the necessary funds to enable the use of Norplant implants by those women who choose to use it". If we are going to name that it is unacceptable to use abortion as a form of birth control we have to advocate for other means of birth control... and we do.
It is also not lost on us that a major reason many individuals seek out abortion is because the economic hardships of medical costs within our country, and elsewhere. That these can and do create extreme situations in which an abortion may be required. To that end we have Resolution 2012-A140 "Resolved, That the 77th General Convention direct the Office of Government Relations to partner with international and domestic efforts to encourage and advocate for legislation, programs, services and advocacy related to improving maternal mental and physical health and infant development; and be it further Resolved, That the congregations and dioceses of The Episcopal Church take action in their own contexts to support and foster maternal and infant health and development, which addresses the mission priority of Alleviating Poverty and Injustice established at the 76th General Convention, and also the Millennium Development Goals; and be it further Resolved, That healthcare institutions and providers in The Episcopal Church whose ministries are associated with maternal health and infant development be urged to support advocacy and to make themselves available as resources to congregations and dioceses for this work." Working to ensure that every individual who finds themselves pregnant has full and comprehensive health care is an essential part of Episcopal Doctrine in regards to Reproductive Health.
The crushing reality of what occurs while we live in a society that continues to fail new families, and the need to alleviate the burden our society often creates for individuals amidst the birth of a child, is seen with Resolution 2000-D082 "Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention recognize that the death of any newborn child is a personal and pastoral tragedy, and that mothers and fathers, who for any reason, fail to take appropriate care of and responsibility for their newborn infants, are in need of appropriate medical, social and pastoral assistance, and intervention; and be it further Resolved, That the General Convention commend those states and communities which are establishing "safe drop off zones" where parents might safely leave babies which they might otherwise simply abandon to the risk of death." This is, obviously, a stop gap measure of how we must make amends for the injustices of a world that does not support families with new infants... it does show, however, how the Episcopal Church considers this an issue that has to be addressed holistically from every quadrant.
The Episcopal Church also recognizes that the lack of parental leave also often creates a burden on families at the birth of a child. To that end we passed Resolution 2015-D030
"Resolved, That the 78th General Convention strongly urges all dioceses, congregations, and other church-related offices and agencies/contexts to establish and make available parental leave policies for birth and adoptive parents, both clergy and lay, in their employ; and be it further Resolved, That the 78th General Convention extend the provisions stated in resolution 2000-C042, to include mention that clergy who give birth have a 12 week benefit that is available through the short term disability coverage provided by the Church Pension Fund; and be it further Resolved, That the 78th General Convention directs the Church Pension Group to increase publicity and knowledge about the provisions provided through the short term disability; and be it further Resolved, That the 78th General Convention directs the Executive Council in consultation with the Church Pension Group to prepare a church wide model policy on parental leave for both birth and adoptive parents for consideration by the 79th General Convention." While this document is one for internal consideration I do not think it is ever too far of a stretch to say that the church is seeking to model ethical practices of employment with such resolution and feels that all employers should take similar steps if they are going to live out their lives within the context of church doctrine.
Finally I want to bring in our most recent resolution regarding domestic violence, a reality which does turn a pregnant individuals context into one that is an extreme cirumstance where an abortion may be considered. In this we are looking at Resolution 2000-C025
"Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention call upon every congregation within the church to designate at least one Sunday each year during one of the following months:
a. April (National Sexual Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Awareness Month) or
b. May (Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month) or
c. October (National Domestic Violence Awareness Month)
for special prayers for all whose lives have been affected by any form of sexual, domestic, or family violence, remembering in particular those who have been violated by sexual misconduct within the church; and be it further Resolved, That the General Convention call upon the National Church Center to make available to every congregation within the church educational opportunities for its members about practical, pastoral, spiritual, and/or theological issues related to the problems of sexual or domestic violence and call upon congregations to make an active and ongoing response to these problems in their local community."
What these resolution cumulate into is, in my mind, a truly “human rights” based argument to bring an end to abortion. One that is grounded in holistic policy that alleviates human suffering and is shown to actually end abortion. Without this type of intersectional relationship to contingent human rights issues in the greater society there can be no way to make a “human rights” based argument regarding abortion, and the laws seeking to strip individuals of personal conscience are as morally abhorrent as they are inept.
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