Sarah knew about the United Methodist pro-choice Social Principles from General Conference, but admittedly did not think very much about the issue before her placement with the Religious Coalition. She says that she sought out the internship so that she could learn how United Methodist theological principles apply to the pursuit of social justice. She told me, "Faith motivates me to work for justice. I serve God by serving men and women. Getting involved in the internship was the next step in my faith journey."

Sarah says that her placement with the Religious Coalition's Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom program provided that opportunity and so much more. Her internship helped her grow in her faith because she had the chance to ask questions, challenge herself, and strengthen of her faith.

One experience in particular led to this transformation-when she traveled with the Religious Coalition to an abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas to be part of a pro-choice Peaceful Presence while anti-choice demonstrators picketed the clinic and attempted to shut it down. This is how Sarah recalls that experience:

"Being in Wichita for Peaceful Presence was the most intense and challenging faith experience of my life. I knew their songs [the religious songs of the anti-choice demonstrators]. They [anti-choice people] looked like people in my church. The passages they read were ones I had grown up reciting. And yet the God they claimed to be theirs was so different from the God I knew. They preached about God's judgment, but not the God of justice and unconditional love that allows us to make choices. They were yelling, shoving graphic pictures [of supposedly aborted fetuses] in our faces, while we stood silently and peacefully as a religious pro-choice presence. I was there to empower those women who entered the clinic--to let them know that not all religious people condemn them for making the difficult decision to have an abortion.

Ironically, I understood that the anti-choice demonstrators were there to fight for justice too. The difference between them and us is that they believed that their way was best; that they were right and we were wrong. Our message was one of peace, love, compassion, and mercy. The situation proposed two very opposing views of God and justice. I had to ask myself questions to understand the differences, including what is justice to God; how am I called to fight for justice; what role can I play in serving a just God; am I right; am I wrong; and, how am I supposed to know?

At one particular moment, I was able to derive some sort of answer to these questions. The anti-choice demonstrators were playing a very popular contemporary Christian song, and I felt so alone and vulnerable. I took a deep breath, to help clear my mind from the perplexities running through my head. One of the other pro-choice supporters touched my back. At that moment, I felt such an amazing connection to him, and to God. I felt so empowered! God was telling me to do this, and He was with me. He told me to hold my sign up high. I lifted the sign, and I held my head up high and smiled. I felt an amazing and rejuvenating spiritual strength. I knew that the issue was much greater than here and now - and that there is so much more to work for. From that single experience, I took ten giant leaps in my faith journey. I learned that I have the God-given power to do so much good in the world."

Pro-choice because of our faith, not in spite of it!

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This website is a project of Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom, a program of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC). The contents of this website and linked websites do not necessarily reflect the positions of the RCRC or the member faith groups of the RCRC.
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