The Summit 2015

Birth control, contraception, family planning—no matter the wording, the topic sparks debate among Christians. Globally, more than 225 million women lack access to family planning, in part due to religious and cultural resistance. In the United States, access to birth control has become controversial—though studies strongly suggest that offering free effective contraceptives may drastically lower rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion. Why is birth control controversial among U.S. Protestants, and why is access a matter of social justice? These questions and more will be explored in this session, inviting participants to envision contraceptive access as an important justice issue, while considering issues of race, geography, poverty, and (dis)ability.