Speaking at the 2015 CCIH Annual Conference, Katie Kraft, Advocacy Coordinator, Healthy Families, Healthy Planet, General Board of Church & Society, The United Methodist Church explores why Christians should advocate for the health of women and girls and shares UMC's efforts to train advocates.

1. Transforming the Church & the World:
Advocating for Women & Girls of Sacred Worth

2. Women & Poverty
• Women make up half of the world's
population and yet represent 70% of the
world's poor.
• Children born into poverty:
– 2X more likely to die before age 5
– 3X more likely to not receive an education

3. Cycle of Poverty for Women
Young girl born
into poverty; one
of many children.
Lack of access
to food, water,
education,
health care and
agency.
As a teenager,
she may be
forced into an
early marriage.
In an early
marriage, she
may experience
pregnancy
before she can
sustain one.
Without access to
family planning,
she will be
unable to time
and space her
births.
More children
born into
poverty; poor
maternal health
outcomes.

4. The Facts
Every day…
• 800 women die from pregnancy/childbirth
• 16,000 suffer birth-related injury/ infection
• 8,300 neonatal infants die
• 2,700 children are left motherless
And 99% of these deaths and injuries occur in
the developing world.
Source:World Health Organization

5. The Family Planning Gap
Worldwide, more than 225 million women
would like to delay or prevent pregnancy
but have no access to or education about
modern, safe contraceptive methods.

6. Poor maternal health outcomes
and lack of access to
contraception are both a result of
poverty and driver of poverty.

7. Benefits of Healthy Timing &
Spacing of Pregnancies
• Avoidance of unintended pregnancies
• Improved health for mother and child
• Reduced risk of pregnancy-related
complications
• Recovery and preparation period for
woman
• Empower women and supportive
partners to plan their lives and families

8. The Ripple Effect
• A healthy woman earns and owns more.
• A smaller family has more resources to send
children to school and feed them.
• A well-educated girl delays marriage and
has fewer children.
• A community with healthy women has a
larger, more vibrant workforce.
• Slowed population growth = less strain on
land, resources

9. The Virtuous Cycle of FP
A married
couple who is
able to plan
their family.
They have 3
children; 2 sons
and 1 daughter.
Although not
wealthy, they are
able to send all
of their children
to school.
In order to finish
school, their
daughter delays
marriage.
When she does
get married, she
is able to
practice HTSP.
The virtuous cycle
continues.

10. How can we as Christians be
advocates for family planning?

11. Biblical Basis for Advocacy
• God condemns sins of injustice
• Jesus is a manifestation of God’s desire to
reconcile our brokenness.
• To be a follower of Christ is to serve the
world in a way that brings about
wholeness for all people.
• Bringing wholeness to all people
includes using our voices to proclaim
Christ’s promise of freedom.

12. Advocacy for Women and Girls
• Why does God care about maternal
health & family planning?
– Women & girls are made in the image of
God (imago dei)
– Women and girls are children of God with
sacred worth.
– Lack of access to contraception keeps
women and girls from experiencing health
and wholeness.
– As people of faith we’re called to take action

13. Healthy Families, Healthy Planet
Started in 2010, the Healthy Families,
Healthy Planet project, an initiative of The
United Methodist General Board of Church
& Society, works to mobilize U.S. United
Methodists on the importance of maternal
health and international family planning.

14. HFHP Ambassador Program
• 150 faith leaders in the U.S.
• Ambassador training program
• Regular Ambassador calls & emails
• Advocacy-focused resources
• Community moments

15. Our successes
• HFHP Ambassador Program
– More than 400 events on FP/MH in churches
& local communities
– 150+ articles , op-eds, blog posts about our
work
– Successful network of advocates
• HFHP Bishop Sign-On Letter
– Signed by 20 UMC Bishops

16. United Methodist Resolution
Maternal Health:The Church’s Role
(2012 General Conference)
• Calls upon all local congregations to:
– Support United Methodist projects around the world
working on maternal health and family planning.
– Advocate with policy makers at all levels to improve
maternal health through increased access to
maternal health and family planning services.
– Support local health initiatives that expand access to
information and services for women

17. Go forth!