MFSA Plumbline: Reproductive Justice
Understanding the Issue
Reproductive justice is a movement led by Black U.S. American women, with significant landmarks in 1989 and 1994. There are four shared tenets of reproductive justice today, as stated by SisterSong, a Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and often shared by the group United Methodists for Reproductive Justice:
“The human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy”
“The human right not to have children”
“The human right to have children”
“The right to parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities”
The reproductive justice movement is inherently intersectional, relating to topics such as economic, racial, and environmental justice. It includes, but is not limited to, autonomy in one’s most obvious reproductive events and decisions, such as those related to pregnancy and abortion.
Values
Seeking justice
God-given free will of each person
Sacredness of every body
Analysis
The legislation on reproductive justice are about abortion, birth control, reproductive healthcare, and sex education. Because of the intersectional nature of reproductive justice, numerous petitions not listed here also relate to this justice area.
A big question for delegates is the Revised Social Principles from the General Board of Church and Society. Do we support them without amendments? And if so, do we reject all other petitions that would edit the Social Principles? The Revised Social Principles reflect a worldwide church with numerous social contexts and the body of Christ in disagreement regarding reproductive freedoms. For the U.S. context, there are some issues regarding accuracy, but we recommend passing the principles without amendment.
Resources
Reproductive Justice, United Methodism, and the 2020 (2024) General Conference
United Methodists for Reproductive Justice is a relatively new organization and an excellent resource. https://www.facebook.com/UM4RJ / https://www.youtube.com/@UM4RJ
Recommended Action
Vote NO on
Vote NO on 20718-CA page 178 ACDA “Opposition to Late-Term Abortion”
Vote NO on 20034-CB page 204 ADCA “Birth Control”
Vote NO on 20035-CB page 204 ADCA “Abstinence”
Vote NO on 20036-CB page 204 ADCA “Abortion Only as a Last Resort”
Vote NO on 20037-CB page 205 ADCA “Amend Paragraph on Abortion”
Vote NO on 20038-CB page 206 ADCA “Abortion”
Vote NO on 20039-CB page 206 ADCA “Abortion”
Vote NO on 20040-CB page 206 ADCA “Amend 161K Abortion”
Vote NO on 20046-CB page 215 ADCA“Social Community Social Principles”
Vote YES on
Vote YES on 20041-CB page 207 ADCA “Update to the Family”
Vote YES on 20730-CB page 209 ADCA “Revised Social Principles-161 and 162”
Vote YES on 20540-CB page 224 ADCA “Support for Adoption in a Global Context-Rewrite”
Vote YES on 20563-CB page 228 ADCA “Discipline Children without Corporal Punishment, Including in Schools and Childcare Facilities”
Vote YES on 20560-CB page 229 ADCA “Maternal Health: The Church's Role”
Vote YES on 20558-CB page 232 ADCA “The World's Population and the Church's Response”
Vote YES on 20788-CB page 1203 ADCA supplement “Approve Use of ‘Our Whole Lives’ Sexuality and Faith Curriculum”
Vote YES on 20795-CB page 1206 ADCA supplement “Putting Children and Their Families First”
Vote YES on 20846-CB page 1242 ADCA supplement “The Right to Reproductive Health Care”
Vote YES on 20847-CB page 1243 ADCA supplement “RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE”
Vote yes, with reservations:
Support with amendment or reservation 20581-CB page 232 ADCA “Healing of Post-Abortion Stress”
Support with amendment or reservation 20598-CB page 236 ADCA “Contraception”
Support with amendment or reservation 20786-CB page 1206 ADCA Supplement “Spontaneous Abortion”
Vote no, though complicated:
Vote NO unless amended 20787 page 1204 ADCA Supplement “Abortion”
This document was prepared in collaboration with Western Methodist Justice Movement (WMJM). MFSA and WMJM are members of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition. Learn more www.lyncoaltion.org.
MFSA Plumblines: Reproductive Justice www.mfsaweb.org
© 2024, Methodist Federation for Social Action