It is with the greatest pride that RCRC announces the launch of a groundbreaking seminary course, Theology and Reproductive Choice. For the first time, seminarians have the opportunity to study theological perspectives on reproductive freedom as a distinct subject, rather than as a unit within a larger course. Many years in preparation, the course was developed under the direction of Dr. Laurel Schneider, Associate Professor of Theology, Ethics, and Culture at the Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), and reviewed by a panel of three theologians.

Learn about the development of the course.

Dr. Schneider is now creating four additional course outlines for seminary professors, professors of religion, clergy and religious educators. These courses will focus on feminist theological perspectives, pastoral care, comparative religion, and philosophy and ethics.

RCRC’s Theology and Reproductive Choice course and pioneering Seminarians for Choice project are developing and preparing the next generation of pro-choice clergy. Seven Seminarians for Choice groups are active, at United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Harvard Divinity School in Boston, Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Union Theological Seminary in New York, and Boston University School of Theology. The groups sponsor campus worship services to celebrate the Roe v. Wade anniversary, hold Peaceful Presence events in support of local clinics, and host and participate in All Options Clergy Counseling workshops for seminary students. The student leadership of Seminarians for Choice meets annually in Washington, D.C. to share ideas and learn about reproductive choice issues from a national perspective. For more information on this program, contact Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, RCRC’s Director of Clergy Programming, at bmargulis@rcrc.org.

Click here to view Professor Laurel Schneider's annotated bibliography of the course "Theology and Reproductive Choice." {Created in connection with the course.} (PDF)