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Ms. Julie Taylor works in the office of Children, Youth and Family Advocacy of the United Methodist Women, and Ms. Amee Paparella is the new Director and Organizer for Women's Advocacy at the General Board of church and Society of The United Methodist Church. On January 18, they posted their article, "Clearly More to Be Done," [such as cleaning house at the UMC] on the General Board of Church and Society website. Co-written, their article serves as their personal response to the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. But given their positions in denominational agencies, their article also functions like an official response of The United Methodist Church to Roe’s anniversary... (The Reporter is to be heartily commended for also carrying, in the same issue, a thoughtful critique of their article by Rev. Teddy Ray.)

That only holds for those who know nothing about how the denomination works.

There IS NO CENTRAL AUTHORITY that represents United Methodism. There is NO bishop in charge. There is NO agency in charge. There is NO board in charge.

The United Methodist Church is made up of geographic areas with presiding bishops, none of whom have any authority over any of the others. The East Ohio bishop has absolutely nothing to do with the Kentucky bishop beyond maybe having lunch together at times.

The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society has no authority to order anyone to do anything. They don't even speak for the denomination. They are a committee that is supposed to be tasked to encourage United Methodists to get involved in the world around them.

They can't call me up and tell me diddly-squat.

There is only ONE denominational voice, and that is the General Conference meeting that takes place for about 2 weeks every 4 years. The statement you read above from our Book of Discipline is the only authoritative statement about the UMC position on abortion. It is authoritative because it was written after voting approved it at the every 4 year General Conference.

It is very weak. It is an improvement over time from what it was back in the 70's.

It would be fully life-oriented if conservative Methodists in the USA and in Africa, Asia, and South America had their way. They are the INCREASING number of Methodists, so presumably, theirs is the voice that will eventually win out.

But, only 2 weeks to change things only once every 4 years makes for very slow going.

So what, exactly, is “reproductive justice”?

Like I have stated before. A woman has the right to choose. When she chooses to have sex and gets pregnant she uses up that right. She doesn’t have the right to commit murder.

You left out the Council of Bishops which meets regularly and oversees the work and positions of the denomination. They are a distinctly liberal bunch who routinely interfere in the activities of the local church.