Missouri Churches Rally Against Proposed Abortion Amendment
Protecting Life: Will Missouri Churches Unite to Counter 'Reproductive Freedom' Ballot Initiative? - A Call for Christian Vigilance
The Question Remains Unanswered
While we wait for the Secretary of State’s office to slowly count and verify the signatures on each sheet gathered by signature gatherers throughout the congressional districts in Missouri, Missouri Churches are preparing for a ballot question that will ask Missourians to vote on “Reproductive Health.”
If this passes in November, it will become a constitutional right equal to free speech, the right to bear arms, and freedom of religion in the Missouri Consitution. In fact, because this “bodily right” is so contrary to free speech and freedom of religion, it might actually be a threat to both.
Since it is unlikely the ballot language will tell people that Abortion will be legal for up to 9 months and that all matters relating to reproductive health will also include transgender surgery on minors of any age, Christians must be exceptionally clear in their messaging.
Instead, the question will try to convince people that voting yes protects a woman’s constitutional right. To do what? Well, they won’t say it’s to murder another human being. Nor will they say it’s to convince their children to sterilize themselves at five years of age because mommy has decided they aren’t really a boy but are really a girl.
The Christian Response
God doesn’t call us to do nothing in the face of evil. For fifty years, Roe v. Wade made the church impotent against one of the greatest evils in human history. We had turned killing infants into a high-tech, sterilized, industrialized pogram against the weakest members of society. I highlighted how Wash-U turned their school into killing floors, sacrificing children for the wealthy in this article.
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul warns us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (NASB). We must recognize that many things in this world aren’t sterilized, neatly packaged away in words like fetus, cells, or tissues. If God doesn’t see the world like this, Christians shouldn’t either. If God sees each act imbued as a fight in the battle for Heaven or Hell, we should realize he sees the fight for human lives as the same.
We may try to distance ourselves from the reality of abortion, but God hasn’t. This is what God sees—the God who is omnipresent and sees and perceives at levels we don’t even understand.
This video from Choice42 is hard to watch. WATCH IT. If you can be okay with Abortion as a Christian, then you must be okay with this. Do you think the God who created the universe is “okay” with this? The God who knitted you in your mother’s womb? Do you think his wrath is not kindled against a nation that allows this?
The Churches Responses
I contacted several denominations and church groups in our state and area to see what their plans were for dealing with Abortion.
Missouri Baptist Convention
I reached out to my own faith first. I spoke with Rob Phillips about the MBC response. He shared the following information with me.
He said that the Pathway, the state paper, reaches 30,000 homes and hopes to talk to each of those families about this ballot.
He is also working with the Christian Life Commission, which was elected by Commissioners.
They are a voice for Missouri Baptist Causes
They will have a booth in October at their meeting about this Ballot
Timothy Faber, Director of Missions at Lake of the Ozarks, is a Consultant for the MBC and works closely with Jeff City against these measures
They plan to create literature for the churches to pass out
They will address it at their Annual Meeting
They plan to create concise and clear bulletin inserts for churches (digital and print) about this ballot
Assemblies of God World Missions, Northern District
Dr. Paul McDonald shared this letter of doctrine with me from the Nothern Missouri Assemblies of God.
Missouri Synod Office
I spoke with their national headquarters and was directed to their regional offices for Missouri but never received a response. The national headquarters did state they have an internal organization that works diligently against abortion.
Left a message with Sarah on May 28th
Called back on June 20th at 12:55 and left another message with Sarah at 12:55 pm
Missouri Catholic Conference
I spoke with Sister Jeanine on the phone, and she asked for more information. I emailed her but never heard back. I emailed her again, but still no reply.
Spoke with Sister Jeanine on May 29th.
Sent her an email on May 29th
Sent follow up email on June 20th.
Greene County Baptist Association
I spoke with Josh Hall, Director of Missions. He sent this statement.
Thank you for your efforts to combat abortion in Missouri. Greene County Baptists believe every life is sacred, because every person is created in the image of God. We will inform our churches of the upcoming ballot initiative to legalize abortion in our state, and direct them to materials available through the Missouri Baptist Convention and its Christian Life Commission, as well as other helpful resources. We will encourage Greene County Baptists to use their voice and vote to protect the lives of the unborn.
Tri-County Baptist Association
I tried to speak with Phillip Schuford, Director of Missions, and email him, but he never responded.
5/28/24
I emailed when I was told he was out of the office—no Response from Phillip.
His administrative assistant called me back to state this:
Debra called back to say Phil won’t answer this because he believes the association only provides resources and doesn’t direct actions for churches.
The Lamps Are Going Out
When I look at the responses, I am both encouraged and discouraged. I see some efforts by the churches to spread the word and fight against this incredible evil. Yet the time is drawing near. We know what our deadline is. Here is what we must do.
Work together. In Matthew 25:1-13, the wise virgins worked together to keep enough oil. We need to pool our resources across denominational lines. Hiding our resources is akin to hiding our light.
Register our congregations to vote.
Educate our parishioners on abortion and the teachings of God and Christ. Don’t be afraid to tell them that God loves the little ones.
Act like God has called you to be Paul, Peter, or Phillip. And maybe someday, God will use you like he used them.
Vote like Abortion matters to God as much as slavery.
The Language for the Abortion Ballot Initiative
Section 36. 1. This Section shall be known as "The Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative."
2. The Government shall not deny or infringe upon a person's fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which is the right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including but not limited to prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care, and respectful birthing conditions.
3. The right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the Government demonstrates that such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means. Any denial, interference, delay, or restriction of the right to reproductive freedom shall be presumed invalid. For purposes of this Section, a governmental interest is compelling only if it is for the limited purpose and has the limited effect of improving or maintaining the health of a person seeking care, is consistent with widely accepted clinical standards of practice and evidence-based medicine, and does not infringe on that person's autonomous decision-making.
4. Notwithstanding subsection 3 of this Section, the general assembly may enact laws that regulate the provision of abortion after Fetal Viability provided that under no circumstance shall the Government deny, interfere with, delay, or otherwise restrict an abortion that in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional is needed to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.
5. No person shall be penalized, prosecuted, or otherwise subjected to adverse action based on their actual, potential, perceived, or alleged pregnancy outcomes, including but not limited to miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion. Nor shall any person assisting a person in exercising their right to reproductive freedom with that person’s consent be penalized, prosecuted, or otherwise subjected to adverse action for doing so.
6. The Government shall not discriminate against persons providing or obtaining reproductive health care or assisting another person in doing so.
7. If any provision of this Section or the application thereof to anyone or to any circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of those provisions and the application of such provisions to others or other circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
8. For purposes of this Section, the following terms mean: (1) "Fetal Viability". the point in pregnancy when, in the good faith judgment of a treating health care professional and based on the particular facts of the case, there is a significant likelihood of the fetus’s sustained survival outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures. 2) "Government", a. the state of Missouri; or b. any municipality, city, town, village, township, district, authority. public subdivision or public corporation having the power to tax or regulate, or any portion of two or more such entities within the state of Missouri. [2]