Procreation Ethics Series

A joint project of the American Lutheran Church, the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and the Lutheran Church in America, 1983

Foreword by Paul T. Nelson
Artificial Insemination by Edward Schneider
Genetic Manipulation by James H. Burtness
Genetic Screening and Counseling by James Childs
In Vitro Fertilization by Paul Jersild
Surrogate Motherhood by Janet D. McDowell
The Ethics of Prenatal Diagnosis by Edmund N. Santurri
The Nontreatment of Seriously Handicapped Newborns by Hans Tiefel
Suggested Resources by Paul T. Nelson and Edward Schneider

Please note
The document(s) on this page were voted on by a church body which preceded the founding of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Any such statement has the status of a "historical document." These documents may guide the ELCA and inform the work of the Office of the Presiding Bishop and act as policy when sufficient agreement exists and the ELCA has not adopted another statement on the same subject. However, social statements of predecessor church bodies to not constitute ELCA policy, as they have not been voted on by a Churchwide Assembly. When quoting or referring to these documents, please take care to make the non-binding nature of this relationship clear.

For current social policy of the ELCA, click here.