For decades, faith leaders have been at the forefront of advocating for women’s autonomy in decisions related to our reprocuctive health, but we don’t always get to hear the stories of prochoice religious leaders in public dialogue and debate about family planning and abortion. This week on Through the Eyes of Women, host Amy Jester speaks with two women active in supporting and advocating for choice. Reverend Cindy Storrs is a member of Humboldt County Clergy for Choice (www.plannedparenthood.org/srpp/clergy-choice-32630.htm) and serves as Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Arcata. Reverend Rebecca Turner is the Executive Director of Faith Aloud (www.faithaloud.org), based in St. Louis Missouri and is a United Church of Christ Minister.
Reverend Turner wrote 40 Days of Prayer to Keep Abortion Safe and Legal, a collection of prayers for women’s empo
werment, choice, love, trust, and thanks for those that provide reproductive health services (posted below). She is often called to testify in the state legislature and works around the country with clinics, faith leaders, and communities to support and nurture women’s spirituality in times where they need to make challenging decisions about pregnancy and other issues related to physical and emotion health.
Reverend Storrs has been active in Humboldt Clergy for Choice for many years. Last year, the group used the 40 Days of Prayer as the foundation of a campaign to raise awareness throughout the region about the role of faith in women’s decisions on abortion, which drew national attention. Humboldt Clergy for Choice is part of a national network that works with abortion clinics, reproductive rights organizations, and Planned Parenthood affiliates.
They will continue the 40 Days campaign for 2013, which begins on March 13 and includes the following events:
- Monday, March 25th at noon at the Gazebo in Old Town Eureka – Join The Reverend Eric Duff in a celebration of women & reproductive rights.
- Tuesday, March 26th at sundown at Temple Beth El in Eureka – Hosted by Rabbi Naomi Steinberg during Passover Seder with prayer, discussion, refreshments and fellowship.
- Friday, April 5th at noon at Six Rivers Planned Parenthood in Eureka – A celebration hosted by Montanna Jones and Humboldt Faith Equality.
- Sunday, April 7th from 7-9 pm at the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bayside – Dances of Universal Peace (Sufi Dances) honoring the spiritual wisdom of women, past and present, Co-Hosted by Scott Sattler.
40 Days of Prayer to Keep Abortion Safe and Legal
by Faith Aloud
Day 1: Today we pray for women for whom pregnancy is not good news, that they know they have choices.
Day 2: Today we pray for compassionate religious voices to speak out for the dignity and autonomy of women.
Day 3: Today we pray for our daughters and granddaughters, that they will always know the power of making their own good decisions.
Day 4: Today we give thanks for the doctors who provide quality abortion care, and pray that they may be kept safe.
Day 5: Today we pray for medical students who want to include abortion care in their practice. May they receive good training and find good mentors.
Day 6: Today we ask for blessings upon the women who pass through hostile protesters on their way into an abortion clinic. May they be shielded from physical and emotional harm from those who do not know them.
Day 7: Today we pray for the 45 million American women who have had safe, legal abortions. May they stand tall and refuse shame.
Day 8: Today we pray for elected officials, that they may always support a woman’s right to make her own medical decisions.
Day 9: Today we pray for women who are afraid of their lovers. May they find the confidence to turn away from abuse and take care of themselves.
Day 10: Today we pray for women who were joyfully expecting a child, but have learned that the pregnancy is not sustainable.
Day 11: Today we pray for better access to all forms of birth control.
Day 12: Today we pray that women know the power of their own stories. May they find their voices and tell their truths.
Day 13: Today we pray for the men in our lives, that they may offer their loving kindness and support for women’s difficult decisions.
Day 14: Today we pray for Christians everywhere to embrace the loving model of Jesus in the way he refused to shame women.
Day 15: Today we pray for parents whose teen daughters are pregnant. May they help their daughters through this difficult time with kindness and openness.
Day 16: Today we pray for the counselors in abortion clinics that they may listen with their hearts and offer wise guidance.
Day 17: Today we pray for increased financial support for low income women to access contraception, abortion, and childcare.
Day 18: Today we pray for all the staff at abortion clinics around the nation. May they be daily confirmed in the sacred care that they offer women.
Day 19: Today we pray for all pregnant women. May they be surrounded by loving voices.
Day 20: Today we pray for the families of yesteryear who still mourn the loss of their mothers, sisters, and aunts due to illegal abortion.
Day 21: Today we pray for women in developing nations, that they may know the power of self-determination. May they have access to employment, education, birth control, and abortion.
Day 22: Today we pray for an end to all violence against abortion providers.
Day 23: Today we give thanks for the strong women in our lives who have given us examples of good decision-making.
Day 24: Today we pray for an end to hateful language that diminishes the dignity of women.
Day 25: Today we pray for women who have been made afraid of their own power by their religion. May they learn to reject fear and live bravely.
Day 26: Today we give thanks for the intelligence, talent, wit, and wisdom of all the women and girls in our lives.
Day 27: Today we give thanks for abortion providers around the nation whose concern for women is the driving force in their lives.
Day 28: Today we pray for the women who travel hundreds of miles to get an abortion. May their determination be rewarded with spiritual strength.
Day 29: Today we pray that all women will know that they are created in the image of God, good and holy, moral and wise.
Day 30: Today we pray for women to throw away their secrets and claim their histories with power and truth.
Day 31: Today we pray for all discrimination against women to cease.
Day 32: Today we pray for an end to the stigma perpetrated against women who have abortions.
Day 33: Today we offer a prayer of remembrance for abortion providers who lost their lives because of their commitment to women.
Day 34: Today we give thanks for abortion escorts who guide women safely through the hostile gauntlets of protesters.
Day 35: Today we pray for girls everywhere, that they may have every opportunity for education, sport, health, art, and vocation.
Day 36: Today we pray for the families we’ve chosen. May they know the blessing of choice.
Day 37: Today we pray for women to claim their equality and demand their rights as citizens.
Day 38: Today we pray for a cloud of gentleness to surround every abortion facility. May everyone feel calm and loving.
Day 39: Today we pray for a contagious love to overflow from our spirits.
Day 40: Today we give thanks and celebrate that abortion is still safe and legal.
Click the following link to hear the mp3 of Amy Jester’s conversation with Reverend Cindy Storrs and Reverend Rebecca Turner aired on Through the Eyes of Women 3/11/2013.
Through the Eyes of Women Radio 
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