Not everybody believes that every abortion is morally wrong. But nearly everybody believes that some abortions are morally wrong. Current PC(USA) General Assembly policy (1992) says that there are some instances in which abortion is clearly morally wrong. For example, it says that “abortion should not be used as a method of birth control,” or “for gender selection only,” or “solely to obtain fetal parts for transplantation.”
The policy also states the “five most common viewpoints” among Presbyterians about when a human life begins. Four of the five viewpoints hold that a human life begins at some point prior to birth (according to the Presbyterian Panel findings, roughly a third of us hold that a human life begins at conception). The policy says that “taking human life is sin.” According to current church policy, then, a rather large majority of us Presbyterians hold views about the beginning of life that render abortion a sin—at least at some point in the developmental process before birth.
General Assembly policy is sensitive about the violation of consciences of Presbyterians on abortion. It instructs “the General Assembly Council and the presbyteries to affirm procedures by which particular churches may be assured that their mission funds will not be used in violation of conscience on this issue.”
The Board of Pensions’ medical benefits plan abortion coverage is an obvious area of concern for the violation of conscience. Here’s why. The plan is based on the assumption that no abortion is morally wrong. The plan covers any abortion, for any reason, at any time during pregnancy. The plan is mandatory for all installed pastors. The dues are paid by each local congregation from the tithes and offerings of church members.
No General Assembly ever mandated abortion coverage. But the 1992 General Assembly policy did mandate relief of conscience. In 1998 the Board of Pensions devised a procedure for providing “relief of conscience” for churches. In March of 1999 the board sent a letter to each church explaining that the measure allows churches to choose to provide medical care for adopted newborns as an alternative to abortion.
The Board of Pensions divides the dues stream between those employing organizations (churches) and subscribers (pastors and church employees) who have not sought relief of conscience and those who have been certified by their presbytery of jurisdiction to be relief of conscience employing organizations. All medical claims for abortion procedures and HMO capitation fees shall be paid from the non-relief of conscience dues stream. A dollar amount equal to the cost of abortion claims from the prior year will be set aside from the relief of conscience dues stream and placed in an account to assist in the medical claims of adopted newborn dependents. After payment of those claims and fees, the two dues streams will be joined and all other medical claims and costs will be paid from the merged dues streams.
To obtain “relief of conscience” sessions must submit a written request to their presbytery. It is the presbytery that grants the relief and notifies the Board of Pensions. The request honors the consciences of those in a congregation who do not believe it is moral for their tithes and offerings to be used to pay for abortions. Requesting relief does not change the dollar amount of a congregation’s dues for the medical plan and does not change the plan’s coverage. Abortion coverage continues to be provided for all plan members. For further information, contact PPL at 703-569-9474 or the Board of Pensions at 800-773-7752.
This article first appeared in Theology Matters, Vol. 5, No. 3 (May/Jun 1999).
