The Lutheran Church
The hope of this page is to provide context on the conversations surrounding abortion within the Lutheran Church from 1980-1985. On this page, you will find a more legal-style document in the form of a Synod “Abortion in Perspective: (1984) from the Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod. You will find an article from a seminarian: “The Churches Response to Abortion” (1985) and an article that captures the statements of the American Lutheran Church: “Lutheran Church Exec Committee says abortion is sometimes necessary” (1980).
It is important to note that during the 1980-85 timeframe for this project, it was before the change in the American Lutheran Church denominations. In 1997, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA) declared full communion with three Reformed churches, making it clear there was no longer essential disagreement between the ELCA and the Reformed churches. By declaring full communion, ELCA thus became a more “progressive” denomination of Lutheranism. The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod (LCMS) is not a Reformed tradition. The main differences that are applicable to this project are the social ideas present within the Reformed church, such as abortion, ordination of women, and acceptance of homosexuality. Within the ELCA, there is acceptance of abortion-rights and a welcoming of LGBTQ folx in the church as well as the ordination of women. Conversely in the LCMS homosexuality is viewed as a sin, women are not ordained, and abortion goes against the scriptural message to not murder.
The American Lutheran Church, which existed from 1960-1987, included the ELCA. The source “Lutheran Church Exec Committee says abortion is sometimes necessary” (1980) is from the American Lutheran Church but will be categorized as the ELCA. The article, “The Churches Response to Abortion” (1985) is by a seminarian who studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary, which is associated with the ELCA. The final article, “Abortion in Perspective'' (1984) is from the LCMS. The differences in perspectives seen within these articles are due to the denominational difference between the ELCA and LCMS, which truly came to substantial change and separating during the split of 1997.
With these articles, however, I aim to give a broad scope of the two frameworks of thought from two denominations of Lutheranism during 1980-1985.
Abortion in Perspective (1984)
In this Missouri Synod, the official body of text voted on by lay and clergy persons within the Lutheran Church, it outlines the various considerations when regarding abortion.
Starting with the “medical perspective” it is easy to see their stance is quite similar to Roman Catholics; the verbiage they use, and the descriptions of abortions are meant to curl someone’s hair (so to speak). They explicitly state the IUD as an abortifacient, not a contraceptive, as well as prominently quoting from “a physician’s point of view” that abortion is the “slaughter of countless children.” It is no mistake the biases they are presenting within the medical section.
The Synod then moves into the “legal perspective” dissecting the 1973 Roe V Wade decision as well as the Doe V Bolton case highlighting that at no time in the legal verbiage were unborn children required to be “given protection at any time during pregnancy.” Here, we can quickly distinguish the theological implications of life starting at conception opposed to at quickening or birth. After assessing numerous cases of abortion across the country, they outline seven major “possibilities worthy of Christian support” ranging from affirming women have been granted the “liberty” to abortion, not entitlement, therefore it should not be governmentally funded to working towards the recognition of an earlier date for viability, thus restricting abortion earlier.
Within a theological framework, they emphasize the belovedness of the unborn from conception, and firmly state that abortion at any time goes against the commandment to not murder.
While recognizing that abortion does happen, they conclude with a section for those giving spiritual care. Here, they state abortion should be considered a matter for "crisis counseling," while recognizing the prevalence of abortion and understanding it must be used in times of crisis.
The Churches' Response to Abortion (1985)
This article takes a detailed dive into the various opinions regarding abortion found within Christian denominations in America. Roy J. Enquist, a seminarian at Lutheran Theological Seminary (in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) categorizes various denominations into lettered groups based on their approach to abortion. The categories are as follows:
- Group P, the prohibitionists (abortion is in direct violation of the biblical prohibition against killing, therefore making it not permitted): Orthodox and Roman Catholic
- Group QP, the qualified prohibitionists (seek to affirm a “clear anti-abortion stance, but gives “justifiable” reasons to allow abortion such as rape or incest): Assemblies of God, Christian Reformed, Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod, Southern Baptist
- Group A, the Aretologists (concerned with a variety of values, even allowing abortion to be the moral option in specific cases): American Lutheran Church,* Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church
- Finally Group I, the individualists (prohibits the intrusion of any religious/political institution on individual’s decision making process): American Baptist, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Unitarian Universalist, Church of the Brethren
The American Lutheran Church through an extended process that produced three statements affirms that although “human life from conception (is) created in the image of God,” an induced abortion remains a “tragic option.” This article is an interesting comparison of many American denominations of Christianity, but does a particular job in distinguishing the LCMS and ELCA’s views of abortion and the reader is able to see the various views held between the two.
*For the sake of clarity, this denomination is now the ELCA (as described in the introductory paragraph)
Lutheran Church Exec Committee says abortion is sometimes necessary (1980)
In the period of time before the American Lutheran Church dissolves and the ELCA (part of the ALC) becomes an official Reformed tradition, one can see the attitudes that will eventually lead to the denominational change two decades later.
Within this article, three subjects are discussed: homosexuality, abortion, and anti-apartheid support. Less relevant to this particular project, but still worth noting, is the proposed statement from the committee stating “Christians need to be more sensitive to life as experienced by those who are homosexual” and reaffirming that everyone needs “recognition and acceptance as human beings” that are loved by God. They also proposed the convention call for the “unequivocal rejection of the apartheid” particularly in relation to the US “implementing economic sanctions” against South Africa.
In terms of abortion, they reaffirm their (very Chrisitan theological stance) that life begins at conception and is sacred while also “[deploring] the alarming increase of induced abortions since the “Roe V Wade” decision.” While deploring abortions for selfish or convenient reasons, they do acknowledge there are times when “an induced abortion may be a tragic option.” This opens the conversation to compassionate pastoral care.
While recognizing life is sacred, they do not condemn it in its entirety, allowing for a more open ability for pastoral counseling and acceptance in the church as women navigate family planning or the circumstances of their lives.
Who Wrote the Lutheran Page?
Hi! I am Clare Harbin and I curated the Lutheran portion of this exhibit. I am a senior Theatre and Religious Studies double major and a Cradle Episcoplain who currently serves as the President of the Episcopal Student Fellowship on campus. The Lutheran Church has been interesting to dissect, particularly as I learn about the changes in denominations through time, as well as the future Reformation of the ELCA nearly two decades after this project’s time frame. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, or, if they come up later, reach out to me! My email is clharbin@davidson.edu. If they come up wayyyy later (hello, future Omeka S students) please email anwills@davidson.edu and she can connect us after I lose my Davidson email :).