What is the ELCA official position on In Vitro Fertilization?
In Vitro Fertilization refers to the fertilization of a living human egg in an artificial environment outside the human body. When this happens, it usually is done in order to bear and give birth to children when conception has not been possible by normal means. A fertilized egg will then be artificially implanted in the womb of a woman so that the process of pregnancy may begin. The ELCA currently has no policy regarding In Vitro Fertilization. In 1983, however, the standing committee of the Division of Theological Studies of the Lutheran Council in the USA received permission from the American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Church in America (both predecessor bodies of the ELCA), and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod to issue a report on In Vitro Fertilization (IFV). In the LCUSA report, there was agreement “that IVF in and of itself is not contrary to Christian values,” although there was some disagreement among members of the standing committee about some issues associated with thi
