Southern Baptists vote to oppose IVF

Photo illustration of in vitro fertilization

The vote suggests that IVF "may be the next front for the anti-abortion movement"

(Image credit: iLexx / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

published 13 June 2024

What happened

The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., voted Wednesday to approve a resolution opposing the use of in vitro fertilization. Unexpectedly, the delegates at the annual conference also narrowly rejected a proposal to enshrine a ban on Southern Baptist churches that allow women to serve as pastors; the amendment needed 66% but got only 61%.

The nonbinding IVF resolution urges Southern Baptists to "reaffirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human being, including those in an embryonic stage," and suggests shunning IVF as not "consistent with that affirmation" because extra embryos are often discarded.

Most white evangelicals, "even those who oppose abortion," support "IVF and how it has allowed countless Americans to start families," The Tennessean said. But the Southern Baptist meetings are "closely watched as a barometer of evangelical sentiment," The New York Times said, and Wednesday's vote suggests IVF "may be the next front for the anti-abortion movement."

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Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.