I don’t think I have been as negative in my posts lately as when I started and much of that comes with the realization that if I believe in the kingdom and in community it would probably help to not dislike the people that make up those things or say so much to disparage them. I say all of that because last week Jenn and the church staff dealt with one of the most difficult moral and ethical decisions concerning abortion that I have heard. A couple found out that their unborn child had a neurological disease known as spina bifida, which inhibits the development of the brain. Theirs was the worst-case scenario. The fetus was growing and healthy yet it had nearly no brain or skull development. The doctors told them that there was a 0% survival rate for their unborn child and it was likely that the child would be still born or die shortly after birth. For the well being of the mother the best option was to terminate the pregnancy. The lack of development of the skull would have made a vaginal delivery precarious at best. How many people who believe that there is never a case to be made for abortion have had to go through something like this? I was very proud of the pastoral staff who gave the couple good advice and told them there would be no condemnation no matter what their choice might be. I was also proud of the Church of the Nazarene for making allowances for these kinds of circumstances in the manual. It was encouraging for me to see the community of faith show compassion and not fall into the traps of legalism or moralism with this extremely difficult situation. There will be guilt and regret involved with any decision that was made but it just couldn’t be boiled down to a right or wrong answer. When the couple went in to have the procedure done the doctor’s informed that there would be a death certificate and burial arrangements would need to be made which added to an already heavy situation. Pray for this family and pray for our community as we walk through this hard time with this family.
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If it would help to connect that couple with Kelly and I let us know. A lot of women have found solace and friendship reading through Kelly's blog following our loss of Elijah www.lifeafterelijah.blogspot.com
Kelly has also exchanged e-mails with some ladies who needed to talk to someone who knew the valley they were walking through.
I think these stories will always grieve my heart heavily and bring tears to my eyes.
Things like this just don't fit into any system. I'm so glad that New Albany's staff recognized that and didn't add to the crushing pain that I'm sure this couple is going through. The next step is to live with them and remind them of God's grace all the time.
I think it would be so healing if they could talk with with James and Kelly. Such is the way of our God, to take all this sickness and pain and bring a healing Word to it.
david - peace and grace to you and jenn as you dig into to the hard earth at NA. we all have so much to learn. you have both been on my heart since we last saw each other.
james - can we catch up sometime? i've been thinking of you and kelly.
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