According to Stateline, the news service of the Pew Center on the States, 2012 brought “a near-record number of anti-abortion laws and provisions” at the state level. See other Stateline articles dealing with abortion, as well.

Lutheran Churches of the Common Confession, or LC3, is a network of conservative Lutherans lobbying for a more orthodox ELCA.

The ECLA’s social statement on sexuality, approved in August 2009.

An August 2009 story from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on the decision to allow gay clergy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

An August 24, 2009 story from Religion News Service about the ELCA’s decision to allow partnered gay clergy.

A May 28, 2008, commentary by the Rev. Walter B. Fenton posted by the United Methodist Reporter. Fenton maintains that gay-rights advocates’ continuing call for more dialogue about ordination and related topics amounts to their saying “Let’s keep talking until we have convinced you that you are wrong,” and he says rank-and-file Methodists are satisfied with the […]

A May 9, 2008, United Methodist Reporter story about the demonstration that followed the General Conference’s decision to uphold the position that homosexual activity and Christian teaching are incompatible.

Hadar Harris is executive director of the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. She is an international human rights attorney and has specialized in issues of civil and political rights, gender equality and fighting impunity for torturers.

Susan Niditch is professor of religion at Amherst College in Massachusetts and has expertise in Hebrew Bible, war and women.