A Theology of
Reproductive
Justice
Rev. Matthew
Westfox
Flickr: mharvey75

Luke 1:38
“Then Mary said “Here I
am, the Servant of the
Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.”
Flickr: Shanissinha_

Goals of this Workshop
What is a theology of reproductive justice?

Goals of this Workshop
What is a theology of reproductive justice?
How do reproductive justice issues affect
ministry? What is the relevance of
reproductive justice to communities and people
of faith?

Goals of this Workshop
What is a theology of reproductive justice?
How do reproductive justice issues affect
ministry? What is the relevance of
reproductive justice to communities and people
of faith?
What can clergy and religious leaders
do, prophetically and pastorally, on behalf of
reproductive justice?

Introductions
• Rev. Matthew Westfox
• Ordained Minister, United
Church of Christ
• Associate Pastor, All
Souls Bethlehem
Church, Brooklyn, NY
• National Coordinator for
Field Services, Religious
Coalition for Reproductive
Choice

Who is with us at this table?
Flickr: Andreanna

Flickr: Tom Haymas
Constructing a Theology of
Reproductive Justice
What is Reproductive Justice?

Reproductive:
Health Rights Justice
Flickr: dmason, Steve Rhodes, carf

Reproductive:
Health Rights Justice
Flickr: dmason, Steve Rhodes, carf

Reproductive:
Health Rights Justice
Flickr: dmason, Steve Rhodes, carf

Flickr: Daniel James
Reproductive Justice will be achieved when all people have the
economic, social and political power and resources to make
healthy decisions about our bodies, sexuality and reproduction for
ourselves, our families and our communities in all areas of our lives.

HOLISTIC
VIEW
Flickr: aussiegal

Reproductive
Justice is:
healthy families
parenting with dignity
determining whether
or when to have
children
healthy pregnancies
Flickr: Lawrence Whittemore

Reproductive
Justice is:
healthy families
parenting with dignity
determining whether
or when to have
children
healthy pregnancies
Creating:
healthy and safe
families and
communities
Flickr: Lawrence Whittemore

Justice, Justice, shalt you seek
(Deut. 16:20)
The LORD loves righteousness
and justice; the earth is full of
his unfailing love
(Psalm 33:5)
Blessed are they who maintain
justice
(Psalm 106:3)
When justice is done, it brings
joy to the righteous
(Proverbs, 21:15)
What does the Lord require of
you but to seek justice, love
kindness and walk humbly with
your God
(Micah 6:8)
Flickr: ilkin.

Moving Beyond “Choice”
“Choice” doesn’t always
accurately reflect the
situations women find
themselves in
Flickr: inkyhack

Moving Beyond “Choice”
“Choice” doesn’t always
accurately reflect the
situations women find
themselves in
“Choice” too often
ignores other factors
at work in reproductive
decision making.
Flickr: inkyhack

Moving Beyond “Choice”
“Choice” doesn’t always
accurately reflect the
situations women find
themselves in
“Choice” too often
ignores other factors
at work in reproductive
decision making.
Abortion is the
focus, to the detriment
of other reproductive
issues
Flickr: inkyhack

Reproductive Justice:
Widening Our Focus
Broad Understanding
of Reproduction:
• Abortion
• Adoption
• Birth control
• Parenting in a
multiplicity of possible
family settings
• Infertility treatment
• Pre and post natal
health care
Flickr: lepiaf.geo

Reproductive Justice:
Widening Our Focus
Issues affecting
reproductive decision
making:
• Economic factors
• Immigration and
documentation status
• Religious, social and
cultural barriers
• Domestic violence
Flickr: lepiaf.geo

Building a
Theology:
Where do we
start?
Flickr: iNyar

Lessons from Scripture
and Other Sources
What does The Bible
“really say” about abortion
and reproductive justice?
Flickr: Cr4nberry

Flickr: raymond zoller
Clear away the Rubble
What the Bible does NOT say…

Exodus 21:22-25
“When people who are fighting injure a pregnant woman so that there is a
miscarriage, and yet no further harm follows, the one responsible shall be fined
what the woman’s husband demands, paying as much as the judges determine.
If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for
tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for
stripe.”
(New Revised Standard Edition)
Flickr: swimfast

Now we start to build
How do we use the Bible?
Flickr: Max Barñers

Now we start to build
How do we use the Bible?
Look for Themes, not Proof-Texting
Flickr: Max Barñers

Pillars of a Theology
of Reproductive Justice
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Pillars of a Theology
of Reproductive Justice
Theology
That Values
Life
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Pillars of a Theology
of Reproductive Justice
Theology
of Sacred
Decision
Making
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Pillars of a Theology
of Reproductive Justice
Theology
of Sacred
Sexuality
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Pillars of a Theology
of Reproductive Justice
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Theology that Values Life
• Parable of the mustard
seed.
• Reproductive Justice
Framework- viewing life
in all its complexity.
• Creating conditions that
will sustain and support
life and honor the reality
that not all situations
can.
Flickr: photosavvy

Theology that Values Life
A
Pro-Life
Theology!
Flickr: photosavvy

Theology of Sacred Decision Making
• Sacred gift of free
will, the individual
conscience and
discernment
• Biblical examples of
women as decision
makers
• Mary and the Angel
Gabriel
• Religious Community as
place for discernment
Flickr: Dom Dada

Theology of Sacred Decision Making
Theology
of Sacred
Questioning!
Flickr: Dom Dada

Theology of Sacred Sexuality
• Traditional View: Sex
is sinful, but “saved”
by procreation
• Sex as divine gift
• Stewardship
Flickr: diogo86

Theology of Sacred Sexuality
Theology of
Stewardship!
Flickr: diogo86

Theology of Reproductive Justice
Support
and cherish
life in all its
complexity
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Theology of Reproductive Justice
Sacred
decision
making
Support
and cherish
life in all its
complexity
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Theology of Reproductive Justice
Sacred
decision
making
Support
and cherish
life in all its
complexity
Stewardship of
the sacred gift
of sexuality
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

How does this theology
effect our ministries?
• Justice
• Responsibilities of
Stewardship
• Pastoral Needs
• Congregational and other
ministerial settings
But what do we DO
with this Theology?
Flickr: photosavvy, Dom Dada, diogo86

Taking a Sacred Stand for
Reproductive Justice

Taking a Sacred Stand for
Reproductive Justice
Pastorally

Taking a Sacred Stand for
Reproductive Justice
Pastorally Prophetically

Prophetic Witness
for Reproductive
Justice!
What is the need?
• Challenging public
misconceptions
• Re-frame issues
through a justice lens
• Lending religious
power to supportive
elected officials

Prophetic Witness for
Reproductive Justice!
What can we, as leaders and
communities of faith, do?

Prophetic Witness for
Reproductive Justice!
Raise
religious
voices in the
public square

Prophetic Witness for
Reproductive Justice!
Mobilize
communities
of faith

Prophetic Witness for
Reproductive Justice!
Speak to
Public
Officials
Flickr: kimberlyfaye

Pastoral Response to
Reproductive Justice Issues
• Addressing the pastoral needs of all involved
• Individual people and families whose concerns and needs
are lost in the debate
• Justice means recognizing the sacred uniqueness of each
individual decision
• Women centered, but seeing pastoral needs of all involved

RCRC’S Work for Reproductive Justice
Clergy Organizing
Spiritual Youth for
Local affiliates and clergy
Reproductive Freedom
networks
Multicultural Programs
Clergy Counseling and
Training People of Faith for Real
Congregational Resources

Flickr: unleashedlive

Thank
You!
Rev. Matthew Westfox
Flickr: clappstar