Lutherans For Life on In Vitro Fertilization

Our Position Statement

In vitro Fertilization

WHEREAS, God is the Creator and Giver of life and has provided human beings with the ability to procreate; and

WHEREAS, Medical science has attempted to assist persons with the procreative process by developing methods by which multiple human embryos may be produced, preserved, and implanted for continuing development; and

WHEREAS, Although such methods may help persons who had been unable to conceive naturally to conceive and bear children, inherent within such methods at the present time is the loss of life—as not all the embryos produced survive—and potential for the necessity of making decisions to dispose of unused, excess human embryos; and

WHEREAS, Lutherans For Life recognizes the pain of childlessness and that some people, desiring to have children, have used in vitro fertilization without realizing or considering the potential consequences for the embryos involved; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Lutherans For Life at the present time objects to and opposes the use of in vitro fertilization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Lutherans For Life does not condemn those married couples who have used in vitro fertilization but encourages ministry to them and to all people such that they may receive the comfort of Christ and His redeeming love.

(From Position Statements)

Lutherans For Life Resources on In Vitro Fertilization

In Vitro Fertilization: Moral or Immoral? – Since in vitro (Latin: in glass, referring to a petri dish) fertilization is a process involving issues within issues, there is often confusion resulting from attempts to answer that question. In this brochure (updated August 2019), Rev. Dr. Richard C. Eyer attempts to identify the separate issues and their moral standing so that the reader can evaluate the moral acceptability or unacceptability of in vitro fertilization.

Order: In Vitro Fertilization: Moral or Immoral?

In Vitro Fertilization – The Basics – An overview of the methods and procedures of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Download: In Vitro Fertilization – The Basics