PARO welcomes those who support the full range of reproductive options that ensure that every child is loved and wanted. They are committed to ensuring that the policy of the PC(USA) is articulated, understood, and preserved for future generations.

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Statement on the death of Dr. George Tiller

To the Tiller family and community of supporters,

The Leadership Team of Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO), a ministry of the Presbyterian Health, Education & Welfare Association (PHEWA) offers our condolences and prayers of support in the wake of the tragic murder of Dr. George Tiller. [Read more]

Prayerfully Supporting Women and the Choices They Make

Problem Pregnancies and Abortion

The 204th General Assembly (1992) Response to The Report of the Special Committee on Problem Pregnancies and Abortion
(Majority Report)

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has worked for years to address the diverse opinions concerning individuals and families who face problem pregnancies and the question of abortion. In an effort to be an agent of healing in the life of our denomination, a diverse special committee was formed and composed a majority report, “Problem Pregnancies and Abortion,” that was adopted by the 204th (1992) General Assembly and has remained Presbyterian policy for 15 years. [Read more]

Reproductive health information: Separating fact from fiction

Myths are common in the often heated discussions around reproductive health. PARO is dedicating this space to exploring those myths. Check back often to see additional myths "busted."

Myth: The number of abortions could be reduced by making abortion illegal.

Myth: Women who have an abortion are more likely to have emotional problems.

Myth: The Bible is clear in its opposition to abortion.

Myth: Abstinence-only sex education decreases the likelihood that teenagers will engage in sexual intimacy before marriage.

Myth: Sex education courses are more likely to result in teens having sex than in preventing sexual activity.

Myth: When teens have true faith in Jesus they do not need sex education.

What does pro-choice really mean?

By Sylvia Thorson-Smith

Pro-choice—for choice. So simple and yet so complex.

The most basic definition for pro-choice,and the one offered by Webster’s dictionary, is “favoring the legalization of abortion,” which is clearly what was meant when the term was first used in the mid-1970s. Following the Roe v.Wade decision by the Supreme Court in 1973, the legality of abortion was challenged and increasingly debated. Pro-choice became the common self-description of people who supported the Court’s legalization. Since then, the term has come to describe those who support the right of women to make decisions about the full range of options regarding their reproductive lives.

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This article was originally published by Horizons, the magazine for Presbyterian Women. To learn more, visit Horizons.

Theological Principles

Our Presbyterian Understanding of Scripture
The unique and authoritative witness we have for the revelation of God in Jesus Christ is Scripture … Scripture is not a book of formulas, of directions in a mechanical sense. It is a book of history, of poetry, of letters, of stories, and in the midst of these forms are commandments and teachings … [Read more]

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Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP)
ACSWP, as a servant of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), develops, interprets and monitors policies that encourage and challenge the Church and society to reflect and act in faithful response to God's call to do justice.

PC(USA) Women's Ministries
Women's Ministries is a partnership among a variety of groups working on behalf of women.

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Find more reproductive health Web sites in our resources section.

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