FIRST-PERSON: Children are to be desired but not by any means possible
Last week, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis overwhelmingly adopted a resolution focused on the dignity of the human embryo and the ethical realities of commonly used reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
IVF, religious liberty resolutions spark clarifications
NASHVILLE (BP) – A flurry of traditional and social media discussion surrounding two SBC resolutions (one on in vitro fertilization, the other on religious liberty) has provoked clarifications among Southern Baptists following the Convention’s Annual Meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis.
31% of churchgoers say their church supports pregnancy care centers
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – Two years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the nationwide right to an abortion. In the aftermath, many churchgoers say they’ve seen their congregations involved in supporting local pregnancy resource centers.
EXPLAINER: 3 upcoming Supreme Court rulings affect vulnerable lives
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliver rulings on three cases important to Southern Baptists by the end of June. Each case centers around the protection of vulnerable lives, including the lives of preborn children and of vulnerable women and children suffering from domestic violence.
ERLC urges Congress to consider pro-life policy priorities during funding negotiations
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) has sent a letter urging Congress to consider three pro-life policy priorities during funding negotiations for the 2025 fiscal year.
Maryland church’s baby shower helps hundreds
CLINTON, Md. (BP) – More than 500 pregnant women and new moms crowded Clinton Baptist Church May 11 for a Community Baby Shower and Resource Fair. The church linked arms with one of its favorite long-time partners, MedStar Health of Southern Maryland, for the win-win event.
EXPLAINER: Ethical and theological considerations on IVF from the SBC
Scripture clearly speaks to the dignity and value of every human being, no matter their location or capacities (Genesis 1:26-28, Exodus 20:13, Joshua 20:3-6, Psalm 139:13, Proverbs 6:16-17, Luke 1:41). This value is not dependent on what one does or contributes but simply on the fact that they are made by God as biological human beings on whom God bestows value.
‘Fruitful’ Jewish crisis pregnancy outreach in Israel launches U.S. site
JERUSALEM (BP) – Nir Salomon, executive director of Efrat crisis pregnancy outreach in Israel, told Baptist Press of an unanticipated outcome of the Israel-Hamas War.
U.S. funding bill mixed bag on pro-life, biblical gender, religious liberty
WASHINGTON (BP) -- The latest Congressional spending package allows federally funded gender transitions and essentially bypasses current restrictions on government-funded abortions, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) told Baptist Press.
EXPLAINER: How Alabama’s IVF bill undermines the dignity of the unborn
In February 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling in favor of parents who had utilized in vitro fertilization (IVF) and had their embryos dropped and destroyed at the fertility clinic. The court stated that frozen embryos created and stored in IVF clinics can be considered children under state law.
