16 August 2010

Abortion?

This article was submitted to The Olive Tree from two members at St Paul's in Wellington. Unfortunately, the latest issue is full, so it is on our LCNZ blog with a link to it in the Aug 2010 Olive Tree. Our Lutheran Church of Australia & New Zealand does take a pro-life stand on the issue of abortion. This particular article (as all submitted articles) does however express the opinions of the authors. -- R. Erickson


Abortion?

By Petrus Simons and Leanne Whitfield


In 1977 the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act was passed. It came into effect on 1 April 1978. Under this Act abortion is still a crime, unless two certifying consultants agree that legal grounds apply. If they believe that the health of the pregnant woman is endangered by the pregnancy, an abortion is approved, provided it does not occur after 20 weeks. Recently, Ms Steve Chadwick, Labour List MP, has been preparing a private members bill permitting abortion-on-demand up to the 24th week of pregnancy.

Pro-life people believed that the provisions of the 1977 Act would prevent a normalisation of abortion. Sadly, they were wrong. In 1976, when reporting became obligatory, 4,682 abortions were reported, in 1980 5,945, rising to 11,068 in 1990 and 16,103 in 2000. From 2003 onward it has fluctuated between 18,000 and 19,000. Since the early 2000s around 25 percent of pregnancies have been ending in abortion.

Very often, approval is given on the basis of a threat to the psychic/mental health of the woman concerned. However, the very large number of abortions so approved, suggest that the ground is invoked to circumvent the strict meaning of the Act.

Professor David Fergusson of Otago University, has followed the lives of 1265 Kiwis born in 1977 (630 women) in Christchurch. 25 women had had at least one abortion by age 25. In 2005, the study found that women who had abortions subsequently had significantly higher mental health problems (incl. depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviour and substance abuse) than those who had not become pregnant and those who gave birth (Dominion Post, 7 Jan 2006, A15). The data confirm the results of surveys showing that about 70 percent of women, who have had an abortion, suffer from post-abortion trauma.

Abortions are never risk-free. A Canadian study (published September 2009) showed that the risk of premature birth was 36 percent higher for women who had previously had a first or second trimester abortion, and for women who had had more than one abortion, the risk was 93 percent higher, compared to women who had not had abortions (Dominion Post, 5 Nov. 2009, A10).

Pro-choice advocates have always seen the restrictions of the Act as an unnecessary hurdle. Sometimes they argue that in thinly populated areas it is much more difficult to get an abortion certified than in major centres and that this is inequitable.

However this may be, 18,000 plus abortions a year suggest that the hurdles must be very minor indeed. Our rate exceeds that of countries with high rates of abortion such as the USA, Sweden and Australia.

The key problem is that for many an abortion has become another medical procedure. It is seen as a technical solution to a problem. The widespread use of abortion puts pressure on those who believe that their being pregnant is a problem, to seek abortion as a solution.

Even when a pregnancy is joyfully accepted modern scanning technology may show up a potential problem such as Down's syndrome. Often, this leads to the heart-breaking decision to abort the baby. As a result there has been a decrease in the number of people born with such a condition. The irony is that a great deal more can be done for them than in the past, so that they are able to make a much greater contribution to society. We should ask whether our society is happier or poorer as a result? We ask this question, realising that parents of intellectually handicapped children bear a heavy burden. Nobody would wish such a burden on anyone.

The steep increase in abortions since the 1977 Act has coincided with an equally steep increase in the number of crimes against persons. Is this a coincidence? We doubt it in the belief that the two reflect a change in perception of what it means to be human.

If we get used to relying on modern technology to prevent and solve all problems, we may forget what love is all about: considering and treating those around us who are invalid, intellectually handicapped, or sick as if they were Christ himself. He is the only human since Adam and Eve left Paradise, without any flaws. Each one of us carries the marks of sin, including physical and mental flaws. More importantly, we may confess that Christ has taken all of our burdens on Himself when He went to the cross and rose again on the third day. He, who could not do violence to anybody, was violently murdered in our place.

Christian love we should try to use the best technology available to preserve life and to heal what can be healed even in utero, so as to promote the sanctity of life. We should be thankful for what has become possible in this respect. Life itself, however, will remain beyond our scientific/technological grasp. It is truly a gift from God.

So, what about Ms Steve Chadwick's private members bill? Chris Trotter was rightly upset by this attempt to make it even easier to get an abortion than it already is (Dominion Post, 9 July 2010, B6). He confessed that, personally, after much 'pushing and shoving' he had come to the conclusion, given the responsibility, that the decision to have an abortion should be made by the woman herself and not by others.

She who is pregnant is obviously the most directly involved. But, she is never the only one. Normally, a male person has something to do with it. The two are part of families, have friends, may belong to a faith community, have been educated, counselled by doctors, etc. She who makes the decision does so as a person embedded in a set of cultural practices. Her baby is not just her own, but a separate person with distinct DNA. Overarching all this, there is the Giver of life, whether acknowledged as such or not.

Our culture is thoroughly imbued with a technicistic/economistic spirit. We reduce human beings to machine-like bodies governed by brains that seek to maximise physical and mental outputs. Since we happen to be much more than machines, we get into many problems.

We hope that the church leaders of New Zealand will make a strong stand, defend the sanctity of life and call for a renewal of our culture inspired by the love of Christ. They should be able to do so in the knowledge that their flocks are right behind them in confession and practice.

04 August 2010

LCNZ Update

Greetings in Christ Jesus,

 

The LCNZ Summit held 24 July: It was a big Saturday at Mountainside in Auckland. The Summit was packed with work and visioning for our future. Fifty people, one Spirit. The facilitator, Mr. Shannon Hood, was gifted in keeping all fifty participants from around our church motivated and on task for a full day. At first it seemed that we had taken on too big a job for one day, but things began to fall into place. At the end of it all just about everyone there would have thought it was worth coming. Participants will be getting the notes from the groups and in the general sessions. These notes will come as a mailing. The next Olive Tree will have a comprehensive summary of the Summit. However, let me summarise a few of the main  highlights right now.

 

The opening devotion was under the theme “Immeasurably More Than We Can Ask or Imagine” from Ephesians 3:20-21  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” The central thought was how God has & continues to do far more than we even expect. Three questions were posed for reflection: (1) What are your expectations for the day? (2) What are your expectations for our Lutheran Church of New Zealand? (3) What are your expectations of God and his promises?

 

The day was divided into four sessions:

(1)  Talking about the current situation of the LCNZ

(2)  Creating intentional opportunities

(3)  Where we might see the future of the LCNZ

(4)  Tangible practical things to be done and actions to be taken.

 

Some 20 tangible practical things (point 4) were identified by the fifty participants. They were then ranked in order of importance. Here are a few of the things that ranked high: Faith Inkubators; regional ministry of five regions in NZ; rationalise property and pastoral resources so all regions viable by 2015; grow in greeting and assimilating new New Zealanders; upgrade communications and media; identify train and finance lay leaders. (and more)

 

These results along with the present challenge of moving our national office to Wellington will be a massive amount of change for our LCNZ, but within those changes, and through Christ alone, we will find direction that will lead us forward.  

 

I’d imagine that each person who attended the Summit took something special away with them on that day, and it would be good to hear back from you. If you email me at president@lutheran.org.nz it could be included as another LCNZ Update or possibly incorporated in the Olive Tree summary of the event. The thing that I and others are committed to is putting many of these practical actions into place during 2010 and beyond. One initiative which excites me is the Regional Ministry Model. According to the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Executive Officer, Trevor Ruthenberg,  the New South Wales District has put the regional model into practice already. While attending the Summit Trevor encouraged me to find out in greater detail what they are doing in NSW and how some of that knowledge may inform us in our similar but unique situation.

 

Thanks again to the Mountainside congregation and others who made the day and the fellowship meal possible. It was a joy to stay on and worship at Mountainside that Sunday.

 

Tickets Sold Already: Dear President Robert,

As part of the Botany Lutheran Church [Auckland Chinese] on-going Community Ministry to encompass our annual motto " Transforming lives and connecting into community with love and power of GOD ", we are organising a special concert on the 14th August, 2010 at Botany. The concert is very well received by the community, and we have sold out all our tickets. All proceeds will go to the BLC building fund. A special hymns performance session will be included in the programme, and hopefully this will assist in connecting the audiences to our Lord and spread the gospel. We are profoundly grateful to have such a wonderful opportunity to serve our community and glorify our Lord. Please keep this event in your prayer. God Bless, Henry Chan

 

In The Lutheran: The most recent edition featured an article by Pastor Mark Whitfield about the 150th Anniversary of Australian German Lutherans coming to the Marton area, and another story highlighting the faith and witness of Pastor David and Annie Chiang. This, along with some first-rate articles on congregations coping with the clergy shortage, makes for important reading. I know several LCNZ members get The Lutheran sent from Australia and I would encourage you to bring your copy to church so others can read  it too and maybe subscribe.

 

Some Calendar Dates:

 

August
7 Financial Advisory Committee and LLL Board meetings in Palmerston North (56 Queen St)
14 Lutheran Support ministry Committee in Palmerston North (56 Queen St)
20-21 Council of Synod and Gateway Gift Trust Board meetings (Christchurch)
22 President’s visit and preach at Christchurch
28 Administrators and Treasurer’s Seminar in Wellington
29-2 College of Presidents Retreat in Perth 

 

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus,

 

Pastor Robert Erickson

president@lutheran.org.nz