Starting a Pro-Life Committee
in Your Church

Every church in America, regardless of denomination, should have its own active pro-life committee. Starting church-based pro- life committees is usually a simple and direct process, if you follow these guidelines:

Overcome the Inertia - - MAKE IT HAPPEN - - Start at Square #1 - - Determination and polite persistence can make all the difference between success and failure. Above all else, develop a strategy to build a committee in your church and stick with it.

Identify Other Pro-Lifers in Your Church - - Finding one or more pro-life church members to work with you will be a great help in building a functioning church-based pro-life committee.

Obtain Support from Your Pastor - - Plan a meeting with your Pastor and consider the following key points in advance:

* How does your Pastor respond to new activities in the church?

* What is your Pastor's present position on abortion?

* Anticipate concerns he may have and have answers ready.

Have a meeting with Your Pastor - - Present your proposed pro- life activities in a way that your Pastor is most likely to endorse. These should including the following:

* Prepare a pro-life sermon.

* Support the formation of a church pro-life committee.

* Develop a reconciliation program for women who have had abortions.

Support Your Pastor When He Is Criticized for Giving a Pro-Life Sermon - - Have pro-life church members profusely thank your pastor after he has given a pro-life sermon and encourage him to continue his pro-life activities.

Form a Church Pro-Life Committee - - Identify two to four pro- life people to form the leadership of the committee. Plan on regular meetings and fix a date (such as the first Tuesday of each month). At your first meeting plan a calendar of events and activities for the upcoming year. Be sure to include educational activities and petition drives on partial-birth abortion (petition forms are available from NRLC).

Conduct a Variety of Pro-Life Projects - - Conduct several pro- life projects, including baby showers for abortion alternatives groups in your area. In addition, appoint someone on the committee to establish a liaison with your local National Right to Life-affiliated chapter. One key project your church group should consider in 1999 is to conduct a fundraising drive for National Right to Life's Partial-Birth Abortion Ban or Child Custody Protection Act Media Education Campaign. This will help NRLC continue to run educational ads.

Church-based pro-life committees are excellent ways to expand the pro-life base in your community. DO NOT assume that pro-life committees cannot be formed in denominations which are not pro-life. Many pastors within these seemingly pro-abortion denominations are very pro-life. With a little encouragement they can become very active pro-life leaders.

Find square #1, pray and begin. Be patient, expect success, and be politely persistent. Above all, never stop trying. The Bible is filled with stories about how patience and persistence eventually are rewarded.