Difference between revisions of "Episcopal Church"

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==End of Life==
 
==End of Life==
'''Official Statement''' General Convention, ''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991'' (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 386.
+
'''Official Statement''' from General Convention, ''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991'' (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 386.
 
:"Resolved, That the 70th General Convention reaffirms its 1982 resolution (1982-C002a) recognizing and approving the "Living Will" (Advanced Directive) as a beneficial document to be used by individuals as a tool for discussing one's medical wishes before the time of illness and impending death, and encourages both physicians and their patients to more faithfully and honestly pursue such discussions and the execution of such living wills; and be it further
 
:"Resolved, That the 70th General Convention reaffirms its 1982 resolution (1982-C002a) recognizing and approving the "Living Will" (Advanced Directive) as a beneficial document to be used by individuals as a tool for discussing one's medical wishes before the time of illness and impending death, and encourages both physicians and their patients to more faithfully and honestly pursue such discussions and the execution of such living wills; and be it further
 
:Resolved, That this General Convention urges physicians, nurses, families, patients, surrogates and legislative bodies where necessary, to show aggressive commitment to the concept of allowing peaceful death in a setting that enables the patient to maintain control and dignity, free from intrusion of unwanted and inappropriate technology, and also from intolerable suffering because of under-use of available pain medication, including narcotic drugs; and be it further
 
:Resolved, That this General Convention urges physicians, nurses, families, patients, surrogates and legislative bodies where necessary, to show aggressive commitment to the concept of allowing peaceful death in a setting that enables the patient to maintain control and dignity, free from intrusion of unwanted and inappropriate technology, and also from intolerable suffering because of under-use of available pain medication, including narcotic drugs; and be it further
 
:Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health and other appropriate bodies within the Church be urged to continue to study the complex issues surrounding the quality of life and terminal care, and especially the rightness of refusing life-saving treatments and the inappropriate use of technology in prolonging the act of dying or indefinitely sustaining persons who are in a permanent vegetative state." (''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991''<ref>https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-C002</ref>)
 
:Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health and other appropriate bodies within the Church be urged to continue to study the complex issues surrounding the quality of life and terminal care, and especially the rightness of refusing life-saving treatments and the inappropriate use of technology in prolonging the act of dying or indefinitely sustaining persons who are in a permanent vegetative state." (''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991''<ref>https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-C002</ref>)
 +
 +
'''Official Statement''' from General Convention, ''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000'' (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 219f.
 +
:"Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention, mindful of the resolutions on health care of the 69th, 70th, and 71st General Conventions and the resolutions on Principles on the Prolongation of Life of the 70th and 71st General Conventions [SEE BELOW], call upon federal and state lawmakers to:
 +
:*Remove existing legal, financial, and regulatory obstacles to the provision of effective and comprehensive palliative care and pain and symptom management for persons approaching death;
 +
:*Enable timely referrals to hospice for persons approaching death;
 +
:*Promote the development of care grounded in the hospice model of care for those in the advanced stages of a chronic, degenerative illness who are not eligible for Medicare hospice coverage but whose illness has progressed to a point where supportive care related to foreseeable death would be appropriate and beneficial to them and to their families;
 +
:*Improve education and training in palliative care and pain and symptom management for health care professionals; and be it further
 +
:Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention call upon the health care professions to improve the quality of palliative care and pain and symptom management for those near the end-of-life by such measures as:
 +
:*Providing sufficient levels of pain-relieving or sedating medication for those approaching death to alleviate their pain and suffering, with their consent or that of their surrogate;
 +
:*Making timely referrals to hospice care." (''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000''<ref>https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2000-A078</ref>)
 +
 +
'''Official Statement''' from General Convention, ''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 2009'' (New York: General Convention, 2009), pp. 537-538.
 +
:"Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm Resolution 1991-A093a of the 70th General Convention, as amended in Resolution 1994-A056 of the 71st General Convention regarding Principles With Regard to the Prolongation of Life [SEE BELOW]." (''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 2009''<ref>https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2009-D011</ref>)
  
 
===[[Artificial Hydration & Nutrition]]===
 
===[[Artificial Hydration & Nutrition]]===
Line 159: Line 172:
  
 
===[[Physician-Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia]]===
 
===[[Physician-Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia]]===
'''Official Statement:'''
+
'''Official Statement:''' from General Convention, ''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991'' (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 383.
:"" ( {add citation info})
+
:"Resolved, That this 70th General Convention set forth the following principles and guidelines with regard to the forgoing of life-sustaining treatment in the light of our understanding of the sacredness of human life:
 +
:#Although human life is sacred, death is part of the earthly cycle of life. There is a "time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl. 3:2). The resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms death into a transition to eternal life: "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead" (I Cor. 15:21).
 +
:#Despite this hope, it is morally wrong and unacceptable to take a human life in order to relieve the suffering caused by incurable illness. This would include the intentional shortening of another person's life by the use of a lethal dose of medication or poison, the use of lethal weapons, homicidal acts, and other forms of active euthanasia.
 +
:#However, there is no moral obligation to prolong the act of dying by extraordinary means and at all costs if such dying person is ill and has no reasonable expectation of recovery." (''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991''<ref>https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-A093</ref>)
 +
 
 +
'''Official Statement:''' from General Convention, ''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994'' (New York: General Convention, 1995), pp. 289-90.
 +
:"Resolved, That the 71st General Convention amend point two of the eight-point principles and guidelines concerning prolongation of life set forth in Resolution A093a of the 70th General Convention [SEE ABOVE], to read as follows:
 +
:2. Despite this hope, it is morally wrong and unacceptable to intentionally take a human life in order to relieve the suffering caused by incurable illness. This would include the intentional shortening of another person's life by the use of a lethal dose of medication or poison, the use of lethal weapons, homicidal acts, and other forms of active euthanasia. Palliative treatment to relieve the pain of persons with progressive incurable illnesses, even if done with the knowledge that a hastened death may result, is consistent with theological tenets regarding the sanctity of life." (''Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994''<ref>https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1994-A056</ref>)
  
 
===[[Withholding & Withdrawing Treatment]]===
 
===[[Withholding & Withdrawing Treatment]]===

Revision as of 17:20, 11 July 2018

Official Denominational Website: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/

Beginning of Life

Abortion

Official Statement: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982 (New York: General Convention, 1983), p. C-156.

"Resolved, That the following principles and guidelines adopted by the 65th General Convention (1976) and reaffirmed by the 66th General Convention (1979) be reaffirmed by this 67th General Convention:
  1. That the beginning of new human life, because it is a gift of the power of God's love for his people, and thereby sacred, should not and must not be undertaken unadvisedly or lightly but in full accordance of the understanding for which this power to conceive and give birth is bestowed by God.
  2. Such understanding includes the responsibility for Christians to limit the size of their families and to practice responsible birth control. Such means for moral limitations do not include abortions for convenience.
  3. That the position of this Church, stated at the 62nd General Convention of the Church in Seattle in 1967 which declared support for the "termination of pregnancy" particularly in those cases where "the physical or mental health of the mother is threatened seriously, or where there is substantial reason to believe that the child would be born badly deformed in mind or body, or where the pregnancy has resulted from rape or incest" is reaffirmed. Termination of pregnancy for these reasons is permissible.
  4. That in those cases where it is firmly and deeply believed by the person or persons concerned that pregnancy should be terminated for causes other than the above, members of this Church are urged to seek the advice and counsel of a Priest of this Church, and, where appropriate, Penance.
  5. That whenever members of this Church are consulted with regard to proposed termination of pregnancy, they are to explore with the person or persons seeking advice and counsel other preferable courses of action.
  6. That the Episcopal Church express its unequivocal opposition to any legislation on the part of the national or state governments which would abridge or deny the right of individuals to reach informed decisions in this matter and to act upon them. (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982[1])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982 (New York: General Convention, 1983), p. C-157.

"Resolved, That the 67th General Convention of the Episcopal Church strongly condemns the act of abortion when the sole purpose of such action is the selection of the sex of the child; and be it further
Resolved, That this new ability to diagnose serious abnormalities in the fetus before birth is a welcome gift to reduce pain and sorrow in the parents and suffering in the newborn, but that abortion after the diagnosis of non-serious or trivial abnormalities, or abortion in a case where purely cosmetic abnormalities are discovered, is also strongly condemned." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982[2])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Detroit, 1988 (New York: General Convention, 1989), p. 683.

"All human life is sacred. Hence, it is sacred from its inception until death. The Church takes seriously its obligation to help form the consciences of its members concerning this sacredness. Human life, therefore, should be initiated only advisedly and in full accord with this understanding of the power to conceive and give birth which is bestowed by God.
It is the responsibility of our congregations to assist their members in becoming informed concerning the spiritual, physiological and psychological aspects of sex and sexuality.
The Book of Common Prayer affirms that "the birth of a child is a joyous and solemn occasion in the life of a family. It is also an occasion for rejoicing in the Christian community" (p 440). As Christians we also affirm responsible family planning.
We regard all abortion as having a tragic dimension, calling for the concern and compassion of all the Christian community.
While we acknowledge that in this country it is the legal right of every woman to have a medically safe abortion, as Christians we believe strongly that if this right is exercised, it should be used only in extreme situations. We emphatically oppose abortion as a means of birth control, family planning, sex selection, or any reason of mere convenience.
In those cases where an abortion is being considered, members of this Church are urged to seek the dictates of their consciences in prayer, to seek the advice and counsel of members of the Christian community and where appropriate the sacramental life of this Church.
Whenever members of this Church are consulted with regard to a problem pregnancy, they are to explore, with grave seriousness, with the person or persons seeking advice and counsel, as alternatives to abortion, other positive courses of action, including, but not limited to, the following possibilities: the parents raising the child; another family member raising the child; making the child available for adoption.
It is the responsibility of members of this Church, especially the clergy, to become aware of local agencies and resources which will assist those faced with problem pregnancies.
We believe that legislation concerning abortions will not address the root of the problem. We therefore express our deep conviction that any proposed legislation on the part of national or state governments regarding abortions must take special care to see that individual conscience is respected, and that the responsibility of individuals to reach informed decisions in this matter is acknowledged and honored. (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Detroit, 1988[3])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994 (New York: General Convention, 1995), pp. 323-25.

"Resolved, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church reaffirms resolution C047 from the 69th General Convention [SEE ABOVE] . . . and be it further
Resolved, That this 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church express its unequivocal opposition to any legislative, executive or judicial action on the part of local, state or national governments that abridges the right of a woman to reach an informed decision about the termination of pregnancy or that would limit the access of a woman to safe means of acting on her decision." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994[4])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1997 (New York: General Convention, 1998), p. 270.

"Resolved, That this 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church express grave concern about the use in the third trimester of pregnancy of the procedure known as intact dilation and extraction (commonly called "partial birth abortion") except in extreme situations; and be it further
Resolved, That the 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church continue to encourage its Dioceses and Congregations to give necessary aid and support to all pregnant women." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, 1997[5])

Contraception

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Infertility & Reproduction

Reproductive Technology

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Frozen Oocytes

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})


Healthcare & Medicine

Access to Healthcare

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Conscience Issues

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Medical Tourism

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Organ Donation & Transplantation

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982 (New York: General Convention, 1983), p. C-147.

"Resolved, That The Episcopal Church recognize the life-giving benefits of organ, blood, and tissue donation and encourage all Christians to become organ, blood, and tissue donors as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave his life that we may have life in its fullness." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982[6])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 251.

"Resolved, That the 70th General Convention recommend and urge all members of this Church to consider seriously the opportunity to donate organs after death that others may live, and that such decision be clearly stated to family, friends, church and attorney." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991[7])

Privacy of Healthcare Information

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})


Science & Technology

Biotechnology

Animal-Human Hybrids & Chimeras

"" ( {add citation info})

Human Cloning

Official Position:

"" ( {add citation info})

Stem Cell Research

Official Position:

"" ( {add citation info})


Emerging Technologies

Ethical Use of Technology

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})


Genetic Ethics

Gender Selection

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982 (New York: General Convention, 1983), p. C-157.

"Resolved, That the 67th General Convention of the Episcopal Church strongly condemns the act of abortion when the sole purpose of such action is the selection of the sex of the child." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, New Orleans, 1982[8])

Gene Therapy/Genetic Engineering

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Genetic Screening

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Genetic Testing

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Patenting of Human Tissue/Gene Patenting

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})


Human Enhancement

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Cyborgs

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Transhumanism/Posthumanism

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})


Human Research Ethics

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Experimentation on Human Embryos

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 384.

"Resolved, That the 70th General Convention rejects conception for the purpose of providing fetal tissues for therapeutic or medical research usages; and be it further
Resolved, That this 70th General Convention rejects the use of fetal tissues aborted for financial profit for use in therapy and medical research, and be it further
Resolved, That the discussion concerning the use for therapeutic or medical research purposes of tissues from healthy fetuses, aborted to save the life of the mother, be continued during the next triennium." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991[9])


End of Life

Official Statement from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 386.

"Resolved, That the 70th General Convention reaffirms its 1982 resolution (1982-C002a) recognizing and approving the "Living Will" (Advanced Directive) as a beneficial document to be used by individuals as a tool for discussing one's medical wishes before the time of illness and impending death, and encourages both physicians and their patients to more faithfully and honestly pursue such discussions and the execution of such living wills; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention urges physicians, nurses, families, patients, surrogates and legislative bodies where necessary, to show aggressive commitment to the concept of allowing peaceful death in a setting that enables the patient to maintain control and dignity, free from intrusion of unwanted and inappropriate technology, and also from intolerable suffering because of under-use of available pain medication, including narcotic drugs; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health and other appropriate bodies within the Church be urged to continue to study the complex issues surrounding the quality of life and terminal care, and especially the rightness of refusing life-saving treatments and the inappropriate use of technology in prolonging the act of dying or indefinitely sustaining persons who are in a permanent vegetative state." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991[10])

Official Statement from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000 (New York: General Convention, 2001), p. 219f.

"Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention, mindful of the resolutions on health care of the 69th, 70th, and 71st General Conventions and the resolutions on Principles on the Prolongation of Life of the 70th and 71st General Conventions [SEE BELOW], call upon federal and state lawmakers to:
  • Remove existing legal, financial, and regulatory obstacles to the provision of effective and comprehensive palliative care and pain and symptom management for persons approaching death;
  • Enable timely referrals to hospice for persons approaching death;
  • Promote the development of care grounded in the hospice model of care for those in the advanced stages of a chronic, degenerative illness who are not eligible for Medicare hospice coverage but whose illness has progressed to a point where supportive care related to foreseeable death would be appropriate and beneficial to them and to their families;
  • Improve education and training in palliative care and pain and symptom management for health care professionals; and be it further
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention call upon the health care professions to improve the quality of palliative care and pain and symptom management for those near the end-of-life by such measures as:
  • Providing sufficient levels of pain-relieving or sedating medication for those approaching death to alleviate their pain and suffering, with their consent or that of their surrogate;
  • Making timely referrals to hospice care." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Denver, 2000[11])

Official Statement from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 2009 (New York: General Convention, 2009), pp. 537-538.

"Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm Resolution 1991-A093a of the 70th General Convention, as amended in Resolution 1994-A056 of the 71st General Convention regarding Principles With Regard to the Prolongation of Life [SEE BELOW]." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Anaheim, 2009[12])

Artificial Hydration & Nutrition

Official Statements:

"" ( {add citation info})

Definition of Death

Official Statements:

"" ( {add citation info})

Extraordinary Measures

Official Statements:

"" ( {add citation info})

Physician-Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 383.

"Resolved, That this 70th General Convention set forth the following principles and guidelines with regard to the forgoing of life-sustaining treatment in the light of our understanding of the sacredness of human life:
  1. Although human life is sacred, death is part of the earthly cycle of life. There is a "time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl. 3:2). The resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms death into a transition to eternal life: "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead" (I Cor. 15:21).
  2. Despite this hope, it is morally wrong and unacceptable to take a human life in order to relieve the suffering caused by incurable illness. This would include the intentional shortening of another person's life by the use of a lethal dose of medication or poison, the use of lethal weapons, homicidal acts, and other forms of active euthanasia.
  3. However, there is no moral obligation to prolong the act of dying by extraordinary means and at all costs if such dying person is ill and has no reasonable expectation of recovery." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991[13])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994 (New York: General Convention, 1995), pp. 289-90.

"Resolved, That the 71st General Convention amend point two of the eight-point principles and guidelines concerning prolongation of life set forth in Resolution A093a of the 70th General Convention [SEE ABOVE], to read as follows:
2. Despite this hope, it is morally wrong and unacceptable to intentionally take a human life in order to relieve the suffering caused by incurable illness. This would include the intentional shortening of another person's life by the use of a lethal dose of medication or poison, the use of lethal weapons, homicidal acts, and other forms of active euthanasia. Palliative treatment to relieve the pain of persons with progressive incurable illnesses, even if done with the knowledge that a hastened death may result, is consistent with theological tenets regarding the sanctity of life." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994[14])

Withholding & Withdrawing Treatment

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 383.

"Resolved, That this 70th General Convention set forth the following principles and guidelines with regard to the forgoing of life-sustaining treatment in the light of our understanding of the sacredness of human life:
  1. Although human life is sacred, death is part of the earthly cycle of life. There is a "time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl. 3:2). The resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms death into a transition to eternal life: "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead" (I Cor. 15:21).
  2. Despite this hope, it is morally wrong and unacceptable to take a human life in order to relieve the suffering caused by incurable illness. This would include the intentional shortening of another person's life by the use of a lethal dose of medication or poison, the use of lethal weapons, homicidal acts, and other forms of active euthanasia.
  3. However, there is no moral obligation to prolong the act of dying by extraordinary means and at all costs if such dying person is ill and has no reasonable expectation of recovery.
  4. In those cases involving persons who are in a comatose state from which there is no reasonable expectation of recovery, subject to legal restraints, this Church's members are urged to seek the advice and counsel of members of the church community, and where appropriate, its sacramental life, in contemplating the withholding or removing of life-sustaining systems, including hydration and nutrition.
  5. We acknowledge that the withholding or removing of life-sustaining systems has a tragic dimension. The decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment should ultimately rest with the patient, or with the patient's surrogate decision-makers in the case of a mentally incapacitated patient. We therefore express our deep conviction that any proposed legislation on the part of national or state governments regarding the so called "right to die" issues, (a) must take special care to see that the individual's rights are respected and that the responsibility of individuals to reach informed decisions in this matter is acknowledged and honored, and (b) must also provide expressly for the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining systems, where the decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining systems has been arrived at with proper safeguards against abuse.
  6. We acknowledge that there are circumstances in which health care providers, in good conscience, may decline to act on request to terminate life-sustaining systems if they object on moral or religious grounds. In such cases we endorse the idea of respecting the patient's right to self-determination by permitting such patient to be transferred to another facility or physician willing to honor the patient's request, provided that the patient can readily, comfortably and safely be transferred. We encourage health care providers who make it a policy to decline involvement in the termination of life-sustaining systems to communicate their policy to patients or their surrogates at the earliest opportunity, preferably before the patients or their surrogates have engaged the services of such a health care provider.
  7. Advance written directives (so-called "living wills," "declarations concerning medical treatment" and "durable powers of attorney setting forth medical declarations") that make a person's wishes concerning the continuation or withholding or removing of life-sustaining systems should be encouraged, and this Church's members are encouraged to execute such advance written directives during good health and competence and that the execution of such advance written directives constitute loving and moral acts.
  8. We urge the Council of Seminary Deans, the Christian Education departments of each diocese, and those in charge of programs of continuing education for clergy and all others responsible for education programs in this Church, to consider seriously the inclusion of basic training in issues of prolongation of life and death with dignity in their curricula and programs." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991[15])

Official Statement: from General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994 (New York: General Convention, 1995), pp. 289-90.

"Resolved, That the 71st General Convention amend point two of the eight-point principles and guidelines concerning prolongation of life set forth in Resolution A093a of the 70th General Convention [SEE ABOVE], to read as follows:
2. Despite this hope, it is morally wrong and unacceptable to intentionally take a human life in order to relieve the suffering caused by incurable illness. This would include the intentional shortening of another person's life by the use of a lethal dose of medication or poison, the use of lethal weapons, homicidal acts, and other forms of active euthanasia. Palliative treatment to relieve the pain of persons with progressive incurable illnesses, even if done with the knowledge that a hastened death may result, is consistent with theological tenets regarding the sanctity of life." (Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994[16])

Issues of Human Dignity & Discrimination

Disability Ethics

Official Statement:

"" ( {add citation info})

Eugenics

Official Statements:

"" ( {add citation info})


Notes

  1. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-B009
  2. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-A065
  3. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1988-C047
  4. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1994-A054
  5. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1997-D065
  6. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-C024
  7. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-A097
  8. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-A065
  9. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-A096
  10. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1982-C002
  11. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2000-A078
  12. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=2009-D011
  13. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-A093
  14. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1994-A056
  15. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1991-A093
  16. https://episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1994-A056
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