Euthanasia

Position

Synod has made no official statement on euthanasia. However, in its position on abortion, the church condemned “the wanton or arbitrary destruction of any human being at any stage of its development from the point of conception to the point of death” (Acts of Synod 1972, p. 64). A report on end of life issues presented in 2000 provides guidance on thinking through a biblical position on euthanasia and end of life issues (see www.crcna.org/pages/synodical.cfm).

History

In 1997 Classis Chatham requested the appointment of a committee to study the issue of euthanasia. Since the Committee for Contact with Government of the Council of the Christian Reformed Churches in Canada was already working on a study dealing with end-of-life issues, synod asked it to adapt that study for presentation to a future synod. Its report on "responsibility and community at the end of life" was presented to Synod 2000, and many of its pastoral and public policy recommendations were adopted. The churches were reminded of their responsibilities toward families, members, the health-care community, and public policy.

References

Agenda for Synod 1997, pp. 442-43
Acts of Synod 1997, p. 608
Agenda for Synod 1998, pp. 24-25
Agenda for Synod 2000, pp. 425-48
Acts of Synod 2000, pp. 685-86, 706-9, 724