2026 Calvary Presbytery Petition to Prohibit Abortion

Today in Greenwood, South Carolina, Calvary Presbytery conducted its 168th Stated Meeting. Commissioners representing the Presbytery’s 45 churches and mission works comprising over 10,000 members residing in Upstate South Carolina unanimously adopted a petition to state and federal lawmakers to prohibit abortion.

The full text of what passed at the Presbytery meeting appears below, including the text of the letter that will be sent by email and post to each U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator, State Representative, and State Senator representing districts within the geographic bounds of Calvary Presbytery. Calvary Presbytery comprises 12.5 counties in Upstate South Carolina: Edgefield, Saluda, Newberry, Laurens, Spartanburg, Greenville, Pickens, Oconee, Anderson, Abbeville, McCormick, Greenwood, and the western half of Cherokee. Constituencies include both U.S. Senators from South Carolina; U.S. South Carolina Congressional Districts 3, 4, 5; S.C. State House Districts 1–14, 16–25, 27–40, 82, 83; and S.C. Senate Districts 1–14, 25.

“Pro-Life Petition to Lawmakers to Prohibit Abortion in Our Land”

Whereas, it is the duty of the civil magistrate at every level of government to enact and enforce laws that uphold justice by preserving and protecting human life (WCF 23.3); and,

Whereas, the United States Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) has overturned its prior decision in Roe v. Wade (1973), ending nearly 50 years of federal constitutional protection for so-called “abortion rights” in our land; and,

Whereas, the matter of the legality of abortion in our land is being considered by both houses of the South Carolina State Legislature; and,

Whereas, the protection of human life from conception is a matter of grave moral import affecting all of society from the family to the federal level;

Therefore, be it resolved that Calvary Presbytery send the following letter as a timely and “humble petition” (WCF 31.4) through its Clerk’s Office to those Federal and State lawmakers representing constituents living within Presbytery’s bounds, and recommend that local Sessions do the same for their respective legislative districts:

Dear [Representative or Senator]:

Greetings in the Name of the Triune God from Calvary Presbytery, of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

As a regional Church body that recognizes the burden and responsibility you bear in civil leadership, we pray for you as you represent us when making difficult decisions.

Of those difficult decisions for which we pray, the protection of unborn children in our land is one of our great concerns. We petition you to consider the following, which we believe to be true:

1. That all human authority is granted by God, who is Himself the authority of all things in heaven and on earth. This is an important reminder for all who rule as the civil magistrate (Romans 13:1).
2. That it is the duty of the civil magistrate to be a terror to all bad conduct and to every evil practice (Romans 13:3).
3. That all human life is sacred, is made in the image of God, and that the unjust taking of human life (at any stage of life) is murder (Genesis 1:26–27; 9:5–6).
4. That the practice of abortion, except when the life of the mother cannot otherwise be saved, is an unjust taking of human life and is a terrible evil in the sight of God which He prohibits, hates, and condemns (Leviticus 20:1–5; 1 Kings 11:7, etc.).
5. That biblically, theologically medically, and scientifically, it is clearly demonstrated that “all human life” includes the unborn, from conception.

Therefore, we as your constituents, appeal to you to make every possible effort to support and enact laws that prohibit abortion in our land, uphold justice for the unborn, encourage and help mothers in need, and promote the family unit as designed by God.

Be it further resolved that the Clerk of Presbytery be granted discretion to identify the several recipients with the help of other members of Presbytery and its Churches, format the letter to each recipient, and use discretionary funds for the needed paper, printing, envelopes, and postage.

Passed by Calvary Presbytery at its stated meeting of February 7, 2026.

You can find the petition posted on the Calvary Presbytery website here: https://calvarypresbytery.org/calvary-presbytery-petition-to-prohibit-abortion/