Position Paper

United Pentecostal Church International

Weldon Spring, Missouri, USA

www.upci.org

ABORTION

(1)

Adopted by the General Conference in 1974

Be it resolved that the United Pentecostal Church International go on record as being opposed to legalized abortion.

(2)

Adopted by the General Conference in 1988

Whereas our world has been wracked for a number of years by the corporate sin of abortion, and

Whereas the United Pentecostal Church International must confront this moral and ethical challenge in our [North] American society, and

Whereas the Holy Bible does provide insight into this climate of sexual permissiveness prevalent in our generation, and

Whereas the Bible acknowledges God as totally involved in the creation of new life (Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-16; Isaiah 44:24), and

Whereas the Bible further acknowledges that a woman is with child at conception (Luke 1:31-36), and

Whereas the church of the living God has a responsibility in protecting the rights of the unborn,

Be it therefore resolved that the United Pentecostal Church International go on record as opposing abortion on demand.

Be it further resolved that we voice our opposition to any legislation at provincial, state, or national levels which would bring about a climate designed to undermine the sanctity of human life, further destroying the moral fiber of our society.

Be it further resolved that we give ourselves to earnest prayer during the time of [the revival endeavor called Global] Conquest for an awakening in our North American society of moral consciousness concerning this issue.

Be it further resolved that we encourage and help provide for proper biblical solutions to this problem and that we continue to reach out through pastoral counseling, through biblically- based maternity care and adoption ministries, and through biblically-based crisis pregnancy services, to those who have been caught or blighted in any way by the effect or contemplation of abortion.

Be it further resolved that we encourage our ministers, churches and other counselors, who assist and counsel those who are faced with unplanned pregnancy situations, to offer a full range of biblically-based alternatives, including maternity care, foster care and adoption, so that more birthmothers will choose life for their babies.

Be it further resolved that we again reaffirm that we want to minister with compassion to those who may presently suffer the trauma of having had an abortion.

(3)

Adopted by the General Board 2009

“General Board declares the third Sunday in January of each year to be Sanctity of Life Sunday and urges all of our churches to join in commencing this year.”