In May of 2019, the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC) released a statement that it was “compelled to advocate for [the] continuation of safe, legal abortion rights nationwide”, resting on past PC(USA) policy to support this position.
As ACWC’s statement notes, PC(USA) policy in support of a woman’s right to choose dates back to 1970, when its General Assembly adopted a policy stating,
“the artificial induced termination of a pregnancy is a matter of careful ethical decision of the patient … and therefore should not be restricted by law.”
ACWC’s statement also invokes subsequent General Assembly policies affirming this position, in various forms, from 1983, 1992, and 2018.
At the meeting immediately following ACWC’s statement, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) supported ACWC’s application of PC(USA) policy, stating,
“Serving the prophetic calling of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in addressing pressing moral challenges, the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) unanimously affirms and commends the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns (ACWC) position on safe, legal abortion rights.”
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