Adult Nurture on Reproductive Justice: Sunday, January 30
11:45 am -12:45 pm on Zoom
The Texas law banning abortions after the detection of fetal heartbeat and recent Supreme Court hearing on the Mississippi ban after 13 weeks threaten reproductive rights of women guaranteed by Roe v. Wade in 1973. What can people of faith do to protect a women’s right to choose and access to safe reproductive health care? Join us for this timely discussion.
Welcome and introduction by the Rev. Barbara Gerlach, former minister of First Church, who will discuss the history of the struggle to legalize abortion and her involvement with the Clergy Consultation Service prior to Roe v Wade (which provided options counseling and
referrals for safe abortions and advocated for legalization of abortion and the state-of-
the-art abortion clinics).
Understanding Reproductive Justice by Essence Ellis (she/her/hers), Fellow, UCC Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHSSM), who will ground the issue of abortion in the context of reproductive justice at the intersection of racial, economic, and LGBTQ+ justice.
Making Decisions About Our Bodies, Our Lives by the Rev. Kaeley, McEvoy, Associate
Pastor of Westmoreland UCC and member First Church, who will share her experience of having an abortion, the ethical and theological understandings that grounded her decision, and her advocacy work for reproductive justice.
Advocating for Reproductive Justice by Sandy Sorensen, Director of the UCC Justice & Witness Ministries (DC office), who will provide a legislative update on the Women’s Protection Act, states in danger of ending access to legal abortion or have trigger laws to restrict abortion if the Supreme Court rules to end or erode Roe v Wade.
There will be time for Q & A and Rev. Amanda will close in prayer.
