'Option of last resort'

The foundation of A Social Statement on Abortion adopted by the 1991 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is: "The strong Christian presumption is to preserve and protect life. Abortion ought to be an option only of last resort. Therefore, as a church we seek to reduce the need to turn to abortion as the answer to unintended pregnancies."

The statement provides guidance: "This church, in most circumstances, encourages women with unintended pregnancies to continue the pregnancy. ... This church recognizes that there can be sound reasons for ending a pregnancy through induced abortion. ... What is determined to be a morally responsible decision in one situation may not be in another."