Birth Control – The Anglican Overturn (1908-1958)
As the Anglican Communion is an international association of autonomous national and regional churches and is not a governing body, the Lambeth Conferences serve a collaborative and consultative function, expressing „the mind of the communion” on issues of the day.
Resolutions which a Lambeth Conference may pass are without legal effect, but they are nonetheless influential. So, although the resolutions of conferences carry no legislative authority, they „do carry great moral and spiritual authority.””Its statements on social issues have influenced church policy in the churches.”
These conferences form one of the communion’s four „Instruments of Communion”[1]
Lambeth Conference of 1908 of the Church of England Resolution 41
The Conference regards with alarm the growing practice of the artificial restriction of the family, and earnestly calls upon all Christian people to discountenance the use of all artificial means of restriction as demoralising to character and hostile to national welfare. [2]
Lambeth Conference of 1920 of the Church of England Resolution 68
Problems of Marriage and Sexual Morality
The Conference, while declining to lay down rules which will meet the needs of every abnormal case, regards with grave concern the spread in modern society of theories and practices hostile to the family. We utter an emphatic warning against the use of unnatural means for the avoidance of conception, together with the grave dangers – physical, moral and religious – thereby incurred, and against the evils with which the extension of such use threatens the race. In opposition to the teaching which, under the name of science and religion, encourages married people in the deliberate cultivation of sexual union as an end in itself, we steadfastly uphold what must always be regarded as the governing considerations of Christian marriage. One is the primary purpose for which marriage exists, namely the continuation of the race through the gift and heritage of children; the other is the paramount importance in married life of deliberate and thoughtful self-control. We desire solemnly to commend what we have said to Christian people and to all who will hear. [3]
Lambeth Conference of 1930 of the Church of England Resolution 15
The Life and Witness of the Christian Community – Marriage and Sex
Where there is clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, the method must be decided on Christian principles. The primary and obvious method is complete abstinence from intercourse (as far as may be necessary) in a life of discipline and self-control lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless in those cases where there is such a clearly felt moral obligation to limit or avoid parenthood, and where there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, the Conference agrees that other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles. The Conference records its strong condemnation of the use of any methods of conception control from motives of selfishness, luxury, or mere convenience. [4]
Voting: For 193; Against 67.
Lambeth Conference of 1958 of the Church of England Resolution 115
The Family in Contemporary Society – Marriage
The Conference believes that the responsibility for deciding upon the number and frequency of children has been laid by God upon the consciences of parents everywhere; that this planning, in such ways as are mutually acceptable to husband and wife in Christian conscience, is a right and important factor in Christian family life and should be the result of positive choice before God. Such responsible parenthood, built on obedience to all the duties of marriage, requires a wise stewardship of the resources and abilities of the family as well as a thoughtful consideration of the varying population needs and problems of society and the claims of future generations. [5]
Conclusion
So first the resolution of 1908 earnestly calls upon all Christian people to discountenance the use of all artificial means of restriction as demoralising to character and hostile to national welfare then they utter an emphatic warning against the use of unnatural means for the avoidance of conception in 1920. Later if there is a morally sound reason for avoiding complete abstinence, other methods may be used, provided that this is done in the light of the same Christian principles (1930) And in 1958 the end they ended up the issue in proclaiming that the responsibility for deciding upon the number and frequency of children has been laid by God upon the consciences of parents everywhere.
Resources
[1]: Wikipedia – Lambeth Conference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambeth_Conference
[2]: Resolution 41 – Index of Resolutions from 1908 – Lambeth Conference Resolutions Archive Index of Resolutions from 1908
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/127728/1908.pdf
[3]: Resolution 68 – Index of Resolutions from 1920 – Lambeth Conference Resolutions Archive Index of Resolutions from 1920
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/127731/1920.pdf
[4]: Resolution 15 – Index of Resolutions from 1930 – Lambeth Conference Resolutions Archive Index of Resolutions from 1930
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/127734/1930.pdf
[5]: Resolution 115 – Index of Resolutions from 1958 – Lambeth Conference Resolutions Archive Index of Resolutions from 1958
