Guest of honor Vice-president Kamala Harris was greeted by a round of applause at the National Baptists Convention’s 142nd annual session in Houston, Texas, telling roughly 2000 people in attendance that there’s no conflict in being both Christian and pro-choice, denouncing extremists who are seeking to outlaw abortion.
“As extremists work to take away the freedom of women to make decisions about their own bodies, faith leaders are taking a stand, knowing one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held religious beliefs to agree that a woman should have the ability to make decisions about her own body, and not have her government tell her what to do.
And she will choose in consultation with her pastor or a priest or a doctor and her loved ones. But the government should not be making that decision. In this moment, let us heed the words of First Corinthians; Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous, be strong and do everything in love.”
The National Baptist Convention (NBC) is the largest predominantly Black Christian denomination in the United States and the second largest Baptist denomination in the world. Claiming over 8 million members and 21,000 congregations, they sit between the more conservative National Baptist Convention of America and the openly liberal Progressive National Baptist Convention.
The NBC has has no official position on abortion, and a result many of their congregations are pro-choice. While their president Dr. Jerry Young is professingly pro-life, their denominational policy is to allow each individual congregation to determine its own views on abortion. According to a 2012 Pew Research poll, 57% of National Baptist Convention believe abortion should be legal in all or most situations.
h/t WokePreacherTV
