Stand of Philippine Evangelical Churches on FP

A fertile woman theoretically can have 30 children. In a world full of people she should not have that many. The command to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28) was given when there were only two humans! There is no dispute about the need to plan the size of one’s family. The controversy is on how to plan.

We oppose abortion as method. To deliberately kill someone made in the image of God is murder. (Genesis 9:6)

We also reject methods that are abortifacient, that prevent the implantation of the fertilized ovum. Psalm 139 suggests that personhood starts at fertilization. Is the IUD abortifacient? We encourage careful evaluation of the evidence. Conscience dictates that we err on the side of caution.

We say yes to rhythmn and it’s allied methods. However, we are not convinced that these are more “natural” than other methods. It seems “unnatural” for couples to abstain from sex for reasons other than what Paul says in
1 Corinthians 7:5. We affirm that the unitive function of marriage (Genesis 2:18) is as important as the procreative one.

The pill has some undesirable side effects but this seem a matter of medical judgment rather than of conscience. The condom and diagphram, spermicidals and withdrawal, prevent fertilization but are compatible with love-making that married couples are to enjoy.

More permanent contraception such as vasectomy and tubal ligation are usually irreversible. Therefore couples need to carefully weigh the implications.

Every child brought into the world is a gift from God. Parents must act as responsible stewards in planning their families.

Executive Committee
Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC)
August 10, 1993

Shared by:
Moises Maya
Interfaith Partnership for Responsible Parenthood
RGS Kabandana Batch (June 2006)