On October 27, the Southeast Alabama Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America adopted Overture 5, “Condemn In Vitro Fertilization Practices Which Destroy Embryos.” It now goes to the PCA’s 54th General Assembly, where the whole denomination will consider it.
What the Overture Says
The overture begins with compassion. It calls the longing for children “a good and godly desire” and expresses “deep sympathy for couples facing the immense grief of infertility.”
Then it says plainly what happens in IVF clinics. It is “a common practice” to “discard or destroy what the world calls ‘surplus embryos,’” whom the overture calls “these newly formed human beings.”
The overture asks the General Assembly to:
- affirm “the full dignity of every child as human from conception (fertilization), regardless of location”
- condemn “any and all in vitro fertilization (IVF) practices which destroy embryos negligently, recklessly, or intentionally as a grievous violation of the sixth commandment”
- call to repentance “any who would promote or participate in such IVF practices,” and point them “to the grace and forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ”
- call on churches to give “wise, pastoral, ethical guidance” to anyone considering reproductive technologies
Every child is human from conception, "regardless of location."
Alabama Gave Clinics a License
The overture also warns about states “granting civil and criminal immunity to IVF clinics for discarding or destroying embryos, even if done negligently, recklessly, or intentionally, thus granting such clinics a legal license to kill our innocent preborn neighbors.”
Alabama is one of them. In February 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. Within weeks, the legislature passed a law giving IVF clinics civil and criminal immunity for the death of or damage to embryos (1819 News).
On the way, the House tabled an amendment that would have removed immunity from anyone who “intentionally causes the death of an unborn child.” The motion to table passed 65 to 26 (1819 News).
What Comes Next
A church court can call sin what it is. Only the legislature can change the law.
The Equal Protection Act would protect every preborn child under the same homicide laws that protect everyone else. Ask your legislators to cosponsor it.
Sign the petition to End Abortion in Alabama.
The Overture
Sources: Overture 5, Southeast Alabama Presbytery (October 27, 2026); 1819 News, “Alabama Supreme Court rules IVF embryos are protected under Wrongful Death of a Minor Act”; 1819 News, “Alabama House passes IVF immunity bill after lengthy debate”; 1819 News, “Judge dismisses last of three IVF lawsuits”