REPRODUCTIVE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN A POST-ROE LANDSCAPE:

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION IN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES

Reproductive justice and economic justice are two essential sites of the struggle for justice in America today. There is a strong moral and religious case to be made for building collective worker power in the face of the debilitating effects of capitalism, racism, patriarchy, and other systems that perpetrate injustice and erode human dignity. 

Given that conservative Christian groups are leading the legislative and legal fight to overturn or severely weaken Roe v. Wade, it is incumbent on progressive Christian thinkers and activists to alert their faith communities and the public about the health and economic impacts of losing access to abortion healthcare.  Reproductive justice advocates have sounded the alarm that communities of color are already suffering the loss of access to abortion healthcare and to the resources to have and raise children in safe and healthy environments.  Christian communities urgently need to act in solidarity with both of these movements. Yet many congregations are not sure of how they can become more involved. 

The Wendland Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School held a series of four webinars in fall 2022 to address the interrelated issues of reproductive justice and economic justice. We invite church leaders, religious studies scholars and students, congregational members, and activists to learn more about what Christian faith and praxis might contribute to concrete, meaningful collaboration with both movements.

This series has been brought to you by the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School, The Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender, and Sexuality at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Union Theological Seminary, and In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, and the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee

Connections

September 26th, 2022

This webinar frames the entire series by providing an overview of the challenges faced by the reproductive justice and economic justice movements and the ways activists continue to creatively advance these movements in the face of those challenges — thereby transforming society and religious communities. It will be a moderated conversation between a long-time leader in each movement: Dr. Toni Bond, one of the founding mothers of reproductive justice, and Ms. Vonda McDaniel, president of the central labor council of Nashville/Middle Tennessee. Their conversation will be of interest to both congregation members and leaders who are committed to or want to learn about these movements and to activists in either movement who are open to exploring new forms of solidarity and ways that religious communities can be allies in pursuing them.

Faith-Based Activism

October 3rd, 2022

Faith-based activists who advocate for abortion rights have been working diligently to maintain a woman’s right to obtain an abortion, despite loud opposition from Christians who hold opposing views.  Whether in a congregational or organizational context, these activists have procured funding, changed hearts and minds, and supported women during and after obtaining abortions.  In this panel, we will hear from leading faith-based activists about the resources that they need to do their work effectively and how they talk about abortion theologically.  We will also hear about what they believe needs to be done in the current political climate to support women seeking abortions.

Solidarity

October 10th, 2022

Reproductive justice affects us more widely and deeply than is commonly realized. It is not merely a matter of individual rights, as it impacts families and entire communities. More specifically, the lack of reproductive justice is experienced most severely by those communities that are also experiencing the lack of economic justice. These observations point to common interests and therefore to more robust foundations for solidarity that are often overlooked. As the connections between the lack of reproductive and economic justice are clarified (including the question of who does and does not benefit), the potential of building power along these lines comes into view. Those most affected are not just victims but have power, based on the dominant system’s need for productive and reproductive labor, which includes the gestational labor of women. This panel will deepen the discussion and present examples of emerging forms of what has been called “deep solidarity” (Henkel-Rieger, Kwok, and Rieger).

Thinking Theologically

October 24th, 2022

There is an urgency for progressive churches and individuals to support the broad concerns of reproductive and economic justice.  This panel of speakers will offer theological and ethical resources for the interrelated issues of abortion rights, reproductive justice, and empowerment for workers.  Contrary to claims by the Far Right, Christian communities can, in good faith, support the moral self-determination of pregnant persons seeking an abortion.  Abortion rights and reproductive justice are not just issues of sexuality and family building but are also unavoidably economic issues and sites of labor inequality and exploitation. This panel offers the kind of moral reflection on resistance and agency that Christians committed to justice are seeking.