Stances on abortion vary considerably among Christian denominations. The United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist Association, and Metropolitan Community Church hold the most accepting views on abortion, while several other denominations take pro-choice stances accompanied by certain provisos.
Here are the seven of the Christian denominations with the most liberal approaches to abortion.
1. United Church of Christ
Since 1971, the UCC has repeatedly reaffirmed that the availability of safe and legal abortions is consistent with a woman's right to "follow the dictates of her own faith,"
according to a UCC position paper.
SPECIAL: Prayer Changes Your Brain in 4 Amazing Ways
In continuing attempts to keep abortion affordable to all women, in January 2015, the UCC sent out a press release expressing opposition to Home Rule (HR) 7, a proposed law by Congress that would ban federal funding of abortions.
2. Unitarian Universalist Association
Meanwhile,
in a general resolution in effect since 1987, the UUA reaffirmed its longtime belief in women's rights to choose both contraception and abortion as an "expression of their constitutional rights."
Also, in the resolution, the group expresses support for the legislative funding of safe abortions for low-income women. They oppose any moves to deny government funds as a way of restricting access to contraceptive and abortion services.
3. Metropolitan Community Church
In a Statement of Faith issued in 2013, a smaller denomination, the MCC, also goes beyond a pro-choice stance to call on governments to make sure that women "have the right to choose their reproductive health care options and the means to exercise those options at their sole discretion."
4. Presbyterian Church USA
The Presbyterian Church USA and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are essentially pro-choice, too. Both, however, oppose most late-term abortions where the fetus is viable.
Vote Now: Do You Support Tougher Regulations on Abortion Clinics?
While the Presbyterian Church contends that elective abortions can be "morally acceptable," it regards late-term abortions as a "grave moral concern" that should only be performed under rare circumstances,
according to the Association of Christian Churches of South Dakota.
5. Evangelical Lutheran Church
While falling short of demanding federal funding of abortion, the Evangelical Lutheran Church believes that "abortion prior to viability should not be prohibited by law or by lack of public funding."
The Lutheran Church also argues, however, that abortions after the point of fetal viability should be banned unless either the mother's or child's life is at stake, according to a report by
Pew Research Center.
6. Christ Church (Assembly of God)
Taking a more apolitical approach in the realm of Christian views on abortion, the Assembly of God opposes any attempts to "legislate a religious opinion on abortion for all Americans," according to the ACCSD. At the same time, it supports both "the sacredness of life for all persons" and "a woman's right to reproductive freedom."
7. United Methodist Church
Although less liberal on Christian abortion than some other faiths, the UMC supports the legal option of abortion under certain circumstances.
"We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures by certified medical providers,”
according to a UMC statement.
However, the church does not condone abortion as an acceptable method of birth control, gender selection, or eugenics.
SPECIAL: Can Prayer Heal You? Dr. Crandall Discovered the Truth
Related Stories: