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Under God

...With Liberty & Justice for All


Who We Are

Under God: With Liberty & Justice for All is St. Martin’s ongoing effort of “works of love” prompted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion in the United States.

In forming this ministry, we recognized that the decision is causing heartbreak, confusion, bodily harm, and fear. Swiftly proliferating state laws are preventing women from exercising their moral and physical autonomy, and criminalizing women and medical practitioners for receiving and providing safe medical care. The most vulnerable among us are bearing the brunt most harshly. Our ministry draws upon a long history of Christian support for reproductive justice, and seeks ways make public witness, educate, and advocate for equal access to safe reproductive services, including abortion, and provide practical support where needed for those seeking such care.

Who Is Involved

A steering committee leads the efforts of this ministry. Members include Bill Bixby, Huntly Collins, Barbara Dundon, Carolyn Green, Rob Jennings, Cary Nicholas, Kate Maus and Lydia Ogden.

Over 50 parishioners have participated in prayer, discussion, and discernment about how St. Martin’s should address the issue.

St. Martin’s Vestry has resolved to support the right of all women to make decisions about their reproductive health, including abortion, and to have equal access to reproductive health care services.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

Contact Cary Nicholas, [email protected], or any member of the steering committee.

ACTIONS TO DATE

Prayer, listening, discernment

In the summer of 2022, we led three information/listening sessions following Compline. From the approximately 50 parishioners who attended these sessions, we created teams charged with identifying possible local partners and coming up with a communications strategy geared to both the parish and, ultimately, the broader community.

Public Witness

In September 2022, the Vestry of St. Martin's approved a statement, expressing grief and distress over the harms being done, and our resolve to lift our Christian voices in support of women’s right to make decisions about their reproductive health, including the right to abortion. The St. Martin’s statement builds upon the firm foundation provided by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statement shortly after the Dobbs decision was rendered.

Education

In November 2022 St. Martin’s hosted a community-wide forum on the rise of white Christian nationalism and the threat it poses to democracy and an inclusive vision of Christianity. The speaker was Dr. Philip S. Gorski, a Yale University sociologist and co-author of a recently published book, “The Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy.” It was attended by more than 100 people, both parishioners and from the immediate community.

In March 2023, the Under God ministry encouraged St. Martin's to attend attend a lecture by The Rev. Dr. Pamela Cooper-White, on her recent book, The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn in, and How to Talk Across the Divide (Fortress, 2022). Her lecture explored White Christian Nationalism as “the dangerous belief that America is – and must remain– a Christian nation founded for its white Christian inhabitants, and that our laws and policies must reflect this premise. Such ideologies can lead to the erosion of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism and fascism. Rev. Dr. Pamela Cooper-White offered keen insights into the nature of this movement and how critical-thinking Christians can provide a much-needed counter-narrative to this fear-based rhetoric.” You can watch a recording of the series on YouTube by clicking here.

Advocacy

On Nov. 3, 2022, an op-ed on the subject of white Christian nationalism by Rector’s Warden Barbara Thompson was published in the Chestnut Hill Local.

On December 14, 2022, we submitted testimony to Philadelphia City Council in support of the Reproductive Freedom Platform, a suite of bills designed to support access and provide protections for abortion providers and patients. The Platform has been enacted into law with overwhelming support from City Council members.


Upcoming and Recent Events


Under God Abortion Care Kit Project

Under God Abortion Care Kit Project

Please consider joining St. Martin’s Abortion Care Kit project. In May, St. Martin’s volunteers will make these Care Kits to give to The Women’s Centers in Cherry Hill, NJ. The Women’s Centers have seen an influx of women, primaril...
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Volunteering as a Clinic Escort: Info Session Saturday, March 11, 1-2 p.m

Volunteering as a Clinic Escort: Info Session Saturday, March 11, 1-2 p.m

Can you imagine arriving at your doctor’s appointment only to discover you would have to walk past sign-waving protestors shouting epithets at you before you can get inside your doctor’s office? That’s what women across the country and in P...
Read More
Monday, March 20: The Psychology of Christian Nationalism

Monday, March 20: The Psychology of Christian Nationalism

Rev. Pamela Cooper-White, PhD, MDiv, MA, PhD, LCPC The Under God ministry encourages St. Martin parishioners to attend a lecture by the Rev. Dr. Pamela Cooper-White, on her recent book, The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People...
Read More
​Religion and Repro:  The role of modern religious voices play in securing abortion access and defending reproductive freedom

​Religion and Repro: The role of modern religious voices play in securing abortion access and defending reproductive freedom

Putting our faith into action . St. Martin’s has expressed support for reproductive freedom and justice. How shall we act on our beliefs? Come to Compline on February 1, at 7:00 pm, followed by a “Religion and Repro” program by...
Read More
Support for Reproductive Freedom Platform

Support for Reproductive Freedom Platform

The Church of St. Martin-In-The-Fields supports the Reproductive Freedom Platform for Philadelphia , a package of bills passed in City Council on December 15 designed to protect patients and providers and strengthen equal access to reproduct...
Read More

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Community Engagement Guatemala Companion Parish Ministry Jubilee School Racial Justice St. James School Under God Climate Action Team POWER Local Organizing Committee Refugee Resettlement Ministry

Calendar

Wednesday, 3/29 at 6:00 PM
Adult forum: Cabaret
Wednesday, 3/29 at 7:00 PM
Bell ringers rehearsal
Thursday, 3/30 at 8:15 AM
MP Coffee Gathering (Baker St)
Thursday, 3/30 at 8:15 AM
Silent Meditation
Thursday, 3/30 at 6:30 PM
A.A. (in-person)
Thursday, 3/30 at 7:00 PM
Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, 3/30 at 7:00 PM
ACA Meeting (Open)
Friday, 3/31 at 8:15 AM
Silent Meditation

Adult forum: Cabaret

Wednesday, March 29, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Learn more about Wednesday Evenings at St. Martin's:


https://www.stmartinec.org/blog/forum/


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Bell ringers rehearsal

Wednesday, March 29, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Click here to view on Google Calendar.

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MP Coffee Gathering (Baker St)

Thursday, March 30, 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM

Click here to view on Google Calendar.

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Silent Meditation

Thursday, March 30, 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM


All are welcome to join for silent meditation in the church at 8:15 am every weekday. For more information, please email Leslie Newbold at [email protected] . Free, No need to RSVP, just show up! Anyone in the community is welcome.


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A.A. (in-person)

Thursday, March 30, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Click here to view on Google Calendar.

Add to My Calendar
-0400 America/New_York 1 -464

Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 30, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Click here to view on Google Calendar.

Add to My Calendar
-0400 America/New_York 1 -464

ACA Meeting (Open)

Thursday, March 30, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Click here to view on Google Calendar.

Add to My Calendar
-0400 America/New_York 1 -464

Silent Meditation

Friday, March 31, 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM


All are welcome to join for silent meditation in the church at 8:15 am every weekday. For more information, please email Leslie Newbold at [email protected] . Free, No need to RSVP, just show up! Anyone in the community is welcome.


Add to My Calendar
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© 2023 St. Martin-in-the-Fields
8000 St. Martin's Lane · Philadelphia, PA 19118
215.247.7466
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Service Times

Join us online for Sunday morning worship!

  • 8:00 a.m. The Holy Eucharist (spoken)
  • 9:00 a.m. The Holy Eucharist for Children, Family, and Youth
  • 10:30 a.m. Choral Holy Eucharist

All services are available on our YouTube channel or by clicking here: StMartinEC.org/live

Location

St. Martin-in-the-Fields
8000 St. Martin's Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19118

Contact Us
215.247.7466

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