A response to recent Government decisions on assisted dying and abortion
Public Issues Enabler Revd Steve Tinning reflects on our national role
Matters of assisted dying and abortion are clearly issues that many Christians are concerned about and I understand the strong feelings felt by many about the decisions made in the House of Commons over the past week.
Concerning assisted dying, I am encouraged that, for many, the
Baptist Union's resources on this private member’s bill appear to have been helpful - if you haven’t read them, I’d encourage you to do so. They were introduced at an earlier stage in the bill’s legislative process and outline the purpose of the bill, offer some perspectives held by Baptists and point towards wider resources. I think it would be true to say that while the prominent position among Baptists and many other Christians has been to resist legislative change on this issue, it is clear that there are a range of perspectives held by faithful Baptist Christians.
The Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) has also encouraged churches to engage with this issue. We produced a
blog and a
podcast about it and signposted readers toward the resources on our various movements’ websites. However, JPIT has a limited mandate to work explicitly on six areas of public policy, on which our movements have a history of shared concern. These are expressed in our
six hopes for society and address issues around poverty and marginalisation, the economy, climate change, asylum and immigration, peace, and the character of politics.
Neither assisted dying, nor abortion fit comfortably within in these areas, so while we recognise the significance of these issues, we do not have a mandate to draft statements or organise campaigns around them directly.
It is important that where it is possible to speak with a national voice on certain public issues we do so as powerfully, as prophetically and as effectively as possible. Over the years, confidence has been built up on how we speak collectively around certain issues. This confidence is founded in practices of gathered discernment - practices that are fundamental to our Baptist identity. We may not always be unanimous in our discernment, but where the Spirit leads us to consensus and maintains a sense of unity, we should be compelled to speak together in the public square.
Some might argue that we have fallen out of practice of gathered discernment (with a few exceptions), but I have been deeply encouraged by recent conversations, not least at
March’s Baptist Council, where the subject of how we might rediscover the art of gathered discernment have been purposeful and fruitful. It seems to me that regular conversations, deep listening and receptive prayer, plough fertile ground for the Spirit to be heard.
But, of course, it is not only in national spaces where gathered discernment happens. Our Baptist movement is deeply grounded in our local expressions of church. I will always make an argument for the importance and power of local churches, discussing public issues in their contexts and discerning the mind of Christ so they can contribute to national conversations, but also so they can amplify their local voices in the public square too. With this in mind, both the Baptist Union and JPIT encouraged churches to engage with their constituency MPs on assisted dying – asking churches to recognise the deep burden of responsibility felt by MPs on this issue, and express views with compassion, sensitivity and grace.
Concerning the amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, it is regretful that the nature of the legislative process concerning amendments did not afford us the time to produce similar resources about the move to decriminalise abortion (or, indeed, the possibility of reinstating in-person consultation with a medical professional before abortion pills could be prescribed to be taken at home). However, again, I hope most can appreciate there are complex arguments to be heard in these debates and while many of us might hold a strong view, it would be true to say we have not discussed abortion as a movement in recent memory, so the mandate to speak with one voice would be extremely weak.
In 2007 a resource was prepared to help local churches discuss related bills at the time and concluded with these words: ‘Local congregations are encouraged to consider carefully the different arguments regarding the current abortion law. These arguments will need to take account of the fundamental Christian belief that all human life is a gift from God, as well as the complexities that surround the beginnings of life and the particular circumstances that can lead to abortion. It is recognised that there will be a wide diversity of views amongst Baptists, and the expression of these must always reflect a proper pastoral sensitivity.’ I would echo these words today.
I am deeply encouraged that speaking in the public square remains an important part of our Baptist identity. I would encourage all our ministers and churches to create intentional space to discuss the range of issues impacting our society and the wider world,
sign up to the JPIT newsletter, follow our blogs/podcasts, and consider joining the
Constituency Action Network; this will help me support you all more directly in building positive and purposeful relationships with your MPs so our Baptist voices might be amplified all the more.
Public Issues Enabler Revd Steve Tinning 25 June 2025
JPIT have published
a short prayer following the vote on Assisted Dying