Church decisions on the right to life
1980 B.B. 116
8. Affirm the Biblical teaching of the Right to Life, especially as this applies to the unborn child, that all life is sacred to God, and that human life is a gift of God from conception.
(1990) B.B. Min. 241
10. (i) Note 1980 BB Min. 116.8.
(ii) Request the Clerk to express its support to “Right to Life” Australia in its opposition to the planned decriminalisation of abortion in Queensland by the present State Government.
(iii) Request the Clerk to write to the Premier and the Attorney General of Queensland reaffirming 1980 BB Min. 116.8, and that the Assembly opposes any law which allows, or encourages, the destruction of human life by abortion.
1992 B.B. Min. 116
6. (a) Note 1980 BB Min.116.8 and 1983 BB Min.123.17-21.
(b) Declare that personhood is to be considered to occur from the commencement of conception which is from the penetration of the wall of the ovum by a sperm.
(c) Request the Committee to consult with competent Christian medical practitioners prior to the presentation of a report to the next Assembly on the subject of oral contraception.
1992 B.B. Min. 116
8. Request the Board of Governors of St. Andrew’s Hospital to:-
i Discontinue the use of Donor Sperm.
ii Treat the developing embryo as a person from the commencement of conception; which is to be considered as from the penetration of the wall of the ovum by a sperm.
1994 B.B. Min. 199
16. Advise the Premier, Attorney General, Minister for Health, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party and the Media that it regards personhood to commence at conception and that it regards the harvesting of body parts from aborted foetuses as an affront to the sanctity of human life.
1995 B.B 74
8. 1. Note:
(a) Blue Book 1992 Minute 166:
Declare that personhood is to be considered to occur from the commencement of conception which is from the penetration of the wall of the ovum by a sperm.
(b) 1980 BB Minute 116:
Affirm the Biblical teaching of the Right to Life, especially as this applies to the unborn child, that all life is sacred to God, and that human life is a gift of God from conception.
(c) 1983 BB Minute 123.20,21:
20. Affirm that abortion is always unacceptable, except where at least two competent medical authorities (other than the one under consideration to perform the abortion) deem the abortion essential to protect the life of a mother or of her prenatal child (or children), when threatened with immediate death, should the pregnancy continue.
21. Affirm that if and when the rare contingency mentioned in clause 20 should ever arise, everything medically possible also be done to try to ensure the continuation of the lives of all that are thus being threatened.
2. Advise the Premier of Queensland with copies to the Minister for Health, the Attorney General, the Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, the Leader of the Parliamentary National Party, Right to Life Australia, Right to Life Queensland, and the Media, that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland:
(i) regards personhood to commence from the beginning of conception and that the lives of persons created in the image and likeness of God are unique and sacred, and that it has declared its position in this matter and the matter of abortion as follows:-
(a) 1992 Blue Book Minute 166:
Declare that personhood is to be considered to occur from the commencement of conception which is from the penetration of the wall of the ovum by a sperm.
(b) 1980 BB Minute 116:
Affirm the Biblical teaching of the Right to Life, especially as this applies to the unborn child, that all life is sacred to God, and that human life is a gift of God from conception.
(c) 1983 BB Minute 123.20,21:
20. Affirm that abortion is always unacceptable, except where at least two competent medical authorities (other than the one under consideration to perform the abortion) deem the abortion essential to protect the life of a mother or of her prenatal child (or children), when threatened with immediate death, should the pregnancy continue.
21. Affirm that if and when the rare contingency mentioned in clause 20 should ever arise, everything medically possible also be done to try to ensure the continuation of the lives of all that are thus being threatened.
(ii) in the light of media reports of alleged breaking of laws relating to abortion, calls for the vigorous application of the current sections of the Criminal Code dealing with abortion so that the lives of the unborn are better protected; and
(iii) calls upon the Government of Queensland to reframe the laws relating to abortion in accordance with the position held by the Presbyterian Church of Queensland.